For each of the three course topics listed below, find a relevant misrepresentation of statistical information in the media or popular press and answer the questions provided. Typically the source material will include a chart or table with accompanying text or a chart/table alone. Provide a photo or screen capture representing what you have chosen as well as the details (reference) to the source of the material. Note: there are a plethora of sources that have compiled examples as well as analyses of misleading statistics or charts – do not rely on these – you must find your own.
- Data and Sources: Find a representation of statistics represented in the media or popular press that has an ambiguous, problematic or misleading sampling or data collection method or does not tell the “whole picture” with respect to the data.
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- What story are the authors trying to tell with these statistics (what is the apparent message)?
- What is ambiguous, problematic or misleading with respect to the sampling or data collection?
- What would the clear, accurate message be, based on what is there?
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- Communicating Data: Find an example of quantitative and/or quantitative data employed in the media or popular press that is presented in an ambiguous, problematic or misleading way.
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- What story are the authors trying to tell with these statistics (what is the apparent message)?
- What is ambiguous, problematic or misleading with respect to the presentation of the qualitative/quantitative data? Note: your example must be specific to issues around qualitative/quantitative data.
- What would the clear, accurate message be, based on what is there?
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- Relationships and Modelling: Find an example of a relationship between two variables or a “prediction” or modelling, based on the relationship between two variables employed in the media or popular press that is presented in an ambiguous, problematic or misleading way.
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- What story are the authors trying to tell with these statistics (what is the apparent message)?
- What is ambiguous, problematic or misleading with respect to the presentation of the relationship or modelling? Note: your example must be specific to issues around relationships, predictions or modelling.
- What would the clear, accurate message be, based on what is there?
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