Statistics are often misunderstood as truths in our culture, which gives them fetish-like status and treats them as if they were endowed with divine powers. Today, there are many instances of “spinning the truth,” some are discriminatory and malevolent, while others have more altruistic motivations (Controversy & Debate: Can People Lie With Statistics?, n.d.). The fabricated numbers have a tremendous potential to mislead because our society gives them too much weight in societal debates. Hence, being able to distinguish truth from numerical data should be a crucial skill.
Statistics are often used as a primary form of evidence to support an argument. Studies form the backbone of statistics as they seek to establish causal relationships between seemingly unrelated events. People’s defenses are down, and they feel compelled to accept when information is presented to them in the form of figures, ratios, and data records (Oprandi, 2022). In all fields of study, the fabrication of numerical data is often cited as an illustration of unethical behavior. For instance, in biological studies, data falsification poses a significant risk to public health and safety. Thus, such behavior is considered scientific malpractice and is not tolerated by the scientific community. However, it might be acceptable when attempting to promote a social shift that would be good for the people at large. In this context, inaccurate statistical interpretation means presenting one’s own beliefs as factually neutral so as to bolster one’s argument and advocate for social change.
It is no secret that in today’s age of ubiquitous and overwhelming data, statistics and analyses are prone to bias. For instance, one widely cited statistic states that homosexual teens have a threefold higher suicide rate compared to their straight counterparts (Smith, 2019). However, coroners are not always able to determine whether or not a death was a suicide, and sexual preference is not recorded on death records. Since unidentifiable groups are not included in suicide figures, these statistics are likely skewed.
Statistics are strong proof that can successfully reinforce any case because they appear to be free of the fuzziness and uncertainty of words, but they are not always true. Figures, for all their apparent ease and simplicity, can actually cause more issues than they resolve if not addressed with caution. Therefore, it is preferable to regard it as evidence that needs to be interpreted, the results of which can vary greatly depending on who does the analysis.
References
Controversy & debate: Can people lie with statistics? (n.d.). Web.
Oprandi, G. (2022). Don’t believe every statistic you see, here’s what you need to know about statistics | Geek culture. Medium. Web.
Smith, L. (2019). Putting a spin on the truth with statistics and studies – Los Angeles times. Los Angeles Times. Web.