Morning BW and thanks for some interesting reading. I studied research with the OU a couple of years ago and finally bit the bullet to tackle statistics. So it's good to be reminded of the realities of using stats, appropriately or otherwise. I initially thought your post would address the latest unemployment (fiction) figures from the ONS until I opened up the links.

http://burningourmoney.blogspot.com/

Morning BW and thanks for some interesting reading. I studied research with the OU a couple of years ago and finally bit the bullet to tackle statistics. So it's good to be reminded of the realities of using stats, appropriately or otherwise. I initially thought your post would address the latest unemployment (fiction) figures from the ONS until I opened up the links.

http://burningourmoney.blogspot.com/

That's very odd: posted twice and in between I was unable to connect to your page. What are the statistical chances of that happening? Variables are aFriday morning; it's my day off so I am chilled; my dog is fed and isn't barking; I may well be barking; I may live in Barking and be well fed myself...

Interesting article.

I recall often almost tearing my hair out trying to explain that even my 95% + correlations on new microbiological methods didn't mean they were anything close to foolproof. Sadly those in power (in business as well as government) too often pick the data they want to illustrate the way they want things to be.

I always tried to view things in a "it looks like it's most probably this way but we'll never know for sure so I'll keep on monitoring". I think that's still the way I look at just about everything.

87% of statistics are made up anyway.