Page 38 - Statistics for Dummies

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Part I: Vital Statistics about Statistics

Until you do a controlled experiment, you can’t make a cause-and-effect con-
clusion based on relationships you find. (I discuss experiments in more detail
earlier in this chapter.)
Becoming a Sleuth, Not a Skeptic
Statistics is about much more than numbers. To really “get” statistics, you
need to understand how to make appropriate conclusions from studying data
and be savvy enough to not believe everything you hear or read until you
find out how the information came about, what was done with it, and how the
conclusions were drawn. That’s something I discuss throughout the book,
but I really zoom in on it in Chapter 20, which gives you ten ways to be a sta-
tistically savvy sleuth by recognizing common mistakes made by researchers
and the media.
For you students out there, Chapter 21 brings good statistical practice into the
exam setting and gives you tips on increasing your scores. Much of my advice
is based on understanding the big picture as well as the details of tackling sta-
tistical problems and coming out a winner on the other side.
Becoming skeptical or cynical about statistics is very easy, especially after
finding out what’s going on behind the scenes; don’t let that happen to you.
You can find lots of good information out there that can affect your life in
a positive way. Find a good channel for your skepticism by setting two per-
sonal goals:
✓ To become a well-informed consumer of the statistical information you
see every day
✓ To establish job security by being the statistics “go-to” person who
knows when and how to help others and when to find a statistician
Through reading and using the information in this book, you’ll be confident
in knowing you can make good decisions about statistical results. You’ll con-
duct your own statistical studies in a credible way. And you’ll be ready to
tackle your next office project, critically evaluate that annoying political ad,
or ace your next exam!

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