statistics what can you make from them

macafee2 · 8th August 2018, 11:31

statistics if correct tell you what?

Here is one I heard on the radio yesterday.

More people over 65 use then internet now then 10 years ago.

what exactly can you make from that?
The 55's and above from 10 years ago are now todays over 65's so yes I'd expect the figure to go up.
The people over 65 10 years ago, have the number of people in that category gone up in internet usage?. This would be more interesting.

another one but made up. The crime figure has gone up 100% in the last year. Is that 1 to 2 or 50,000 to 100,000. % is exactly the same
but which figure would worry you the most? where do you deploy the police resource where crime has gone from 1 to 2 of 50,000 to 100,000?

macafee2

Avulon · 8th August 2018, 12:27

Quote:

Originally Posted by macafee2

statistics if correct tell you what?

Here is one I heard on the radio yesterday.

More people over 65 use then internet now then 10 years ago.

As you say below, also it could also be a factor that there more people that are over 65 than there were 10 years ago. This isn't a (comparable) statistic it's a useless factoid.

Quote:

Originally Posted by macafee2

what exactly can you make from that?
The 55's and above from 10 years ago are now todays over 65's so yes I'd expect the figure to go up.
The people over 65 10 years ago, have the number of people in that category gone up in internet usage?. This would be more interesting.

By which you mean the people that were 65-75 10 years ago who are now 75-85? I'd be surprised if the number of people in this group had gone up! perhaps using the Internet makes you live longer (has the % of people using the Internet in this group gone up? lol).

Quote:

Originally Posted by macafee2

another one but made up. The crime figure has gone up 100% in the last year. Is that 1 to 2 or 50,000 to 100,000. % is exactly the same
but which figure would worry you the most? where do you deploy the police resource where crime has gone from 1 to 2 of 50,000 to 100,000?

macafee2

This last example I've just heard a similar statement on the radio last week. Some offence had gone up x% over last time period (year maybe?) - but no figures to give you an idea of the extent of the problem. And that was Radio 4.

Ironic that Radio 4 also broadcast the program(me) 'More or Less' (available on Iplayer via the Internet for all ages) which scrutinises the statistics and figures used in reporting the news and political debate - debunking many false arguments.... https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b006qshd

ratchet · 8th August 2018, 12:35

73.6% of all statistics are made up

https://www.businessinsider.com/736-...up-2010-2?IR=T

Groundsman Willie · 8th August 2018, 12:42

"There are three kinds of lies: lies, damned lies, and statistics."

Teflon · 8th August 2018, 13:30

Statistically, Mr or Mrs "Average UK" has, on average, less than 2 arms

.

Cliff

Groundsman Willie · 8th August 2018, 16:55

Quote:

Originally Posted by Teflon

Statistically, Mr or Mrs "Average UK" has, on average, less than 2 arms

.

Cliff

Hahaha, like it

MSS · 8th August 2018, 17:04

Another useful statistic is that anyone who has time to worry about the usefulness of statistics has, in all probability, too much time on their hands and needs a new hobby.

MSS · 8th August 2018, 17:05

Quote:

Originally Posted by Teflon

Statistically, Mr or Mrs "Average UK" has, on average, less than 2 arms

.

Cliff

Is factually and statistically incorrect.

Darcydog · 9th August 2018, 07:20

Statistically - six out of seven dwarfs are not happy.

Sprinter · 9th August 2018, 07:58

Statistics are like a woman in a bikini.

Wht they show isn't half as interesting as what they hide.

8th August 2018, 11:31	#1
macafee2 This is my second home Rover 75 Saloon & Tourer Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Lincoln Posts: 14,928 Thanks: 1,630 Thanked 3,032 Times in 2,181 Posts	statistics what can you make from them statistics if correct tell you what? Here is one I heard on the radio yesterday. More people over 65 use then internet now then 10 years ago. what exactly can you make from that? The 55's and above from 10 years ago are now todays over 65's so yes I'd expect the figure to go up. The people over 65 10 years ago, have the number of people in that category gone up in internet usage?. This would be more interesting. another one but made up. The crime figure has gone up 100% in the last year. Is that 1 to 2 or 50,000 to 100,000. % is exactly the same but which figure would worry you the most? where do you deploy the police resource where crime has gone from 1 to 2 of 50,000 to 100,000? macafee2

8th August 2018, 12:42	#4
Groundsman Willie Gets stuck in Rover 75 1.8t Join Date: Dec 2017 Location: Newbury Posts: 842 Thanks: 783 Thanked 423 Times in 264 Posts	"There are three kinds of lies: lies, damned lies, and statistics." __________________ Dave

8th August 2018, 13:30	#5
Teflon This is my second home Lagoon 2.0 V6 75 Conn SE Saloon Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Chertsey Posts: 5,203 Thanks: 2,825 Thanked 2,920 Times in 1,570 Posts	Statistically, Mr or Mrs "Average UK" has, on average, less than 2 arms . Cliff __________________ No. 4 of 6

9th August 2018, 07:58	#10
Sprinter Posted a thing or two Jag S-Type 4.2 V8 Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Derby Posts: 1,645 Thanks: 271 Thanked 427 Times in 293 Posts	Statistics are like a woman in a bikini. Wht they show isn't half as interesting as what they hide. __________________ “Time flies like an arrow. Fruit flies like a banana.”

8th August 2018, 12:35	#3
ratchet Posted a thing or two ZT-T + CTDI Join Date: Oct 2014 Location: Gone walkabout Posts: 1,185 Thanks: 179 Thanked 361 Times in 289 Posts	73.6% of all statistics are made up https://www.businessinsider.com/736-...up-2010-2?IR=T

8th August 2018, 17:04	#7
MSS This is my second home Rover 75CDT, Jaguar XF-S 3.0V6, V'xhall Omega V6 Estate, Twintop 1.8VVT, Astra Estate and Corsa 1.2 Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Suffolk Posts: 7,085 Thanks: 283 Thanked 624 Times in 440 Posts	Another useful statistic is that anyone who has time to worry about the usefulness of statistics has, in all probability, too much time on their hands and needs a new hobby.

9th August 2018, 07:20	#9
Darcydog This is my second home Join Date: Jul 2014 Posts: 5,428 Thanks: 3,123 Thanked 3,170 Times in 2,096 Posts	Statistically - six out of seven dwarfs are not happy.