I have mentioned the most common mistakes that can lead to misleading or misuse of statistics. Bad Data Visualization: 5 Examples of Misleading Data Partner with community groups and other local organizations to prevent and address health misinformation. It usually falls down on the sample of people surveyed. Misinformation is information that is false, inaccurate, or misleading according to the best available evidence at the time. Advanced technology solutions like online reporting software can enhance statistical data models, and provide digital age businesses with a step up on their competition. As an exercise in due diligence, we will review some of the most common forms of misuse of statistics, and various alarming (and sadly, common) misleading statistics examples from public life. Learn everything there is to know about the power of professional area charts. Oftentimes, data fishing results in studies that are highly publicized due to their important or outlandish findings. Here are five techniques for fudging the numbers with misleading statistics examples: Technique #1: Citing Misleading "Averages" The first technique is using the word "average" without specifying what kind of average a figure represents. The field of statistics is concerned with collecting, analyzing, interpreting, and presenting data.. There is also the broader context here, which is counties with mask mandates are oftentimes counties that are more densely populated and are seeing larger numbers of cases prompting them to take action. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Reasons to use the Community Toolkit video, Talk to your community about health misinformation, Share Myths and facts about COVID-19 vaccines to Facebook, Share Myths and facts about COVID-19 vaccines to Twitter, Share Myths and facts about COVID-19 vaccines on LinkedIn, Share Myths and facts about COVID-19 vaccines in an email, Share Battling misinformation through health messaging to Facebook, Share Battling misinformation through health messaging to Twitter, Share Battling misinformation through health messaging on LinkedIn, Share Battling misinformation through health messaging in an email, Share Health misinformation video to Facebook, Share Health misinformation video to Twitter, Share Health misinformation video on LinkedIn, Share Health misinformation video in an email, Battling misinformation through health messaging. The cases start growing rapidly, but since March 26, the growth seems to slow down and come closer to the top of the curve. Population ageing is happening more quickly than in the past. The prevalence of health misinformation was the highest on Twitter and on issues related to smoking products and drugs. Likewise, another common practice with data is omission, meaning that after looking at a large data set of answers, you only pick the ones that are supporting your views and findings and leave out those that contradict them. 3099067 In the sections that follow we will show two cases of widely disseminated data visualizations that (mis)represent the situation they are describing. We then build on these examples to draw connections to how they could be used to enhance statistics teaching and learning, especially as it relates to secondary and introductory tertiary statistics and quantitative reasoning coursework. Fact 1: The world's population is rapidly ageing. The source of the initial criticism appears to have come from The Rachel Maddow Show (yes, the same one that shared a poorly crafted data visualization in Case 1, but carefully dissected the (mis)representation in this case), which can be viewed in a short video tweeted on May 15 by Acyn Torabi. This is a useful way to show how the use of two vertical axes can aid in visualizing association between two phenomena, particularly because the two vertical axes are different unitsallowing for a more accurate comparison. Provide training and resources for grantees working in communities disproportionately affected by misinformation (e.g., areas with lower vaccine confidence). The time an upside down y-axis made "Stand Your Ground" seem much more reasonable. A slideshow version of the Community Toolkit for educators and other community leaders. Quasi-experimental, single-center, before and after studies are enthusiastically performed. This plot (Figure 2) shows something quite different than the one shared by the Kansas Department of Health and Environment in the August 5 press conference. Reuters / Via reddit.com 2. 8 Examples of How Statistics is Used in Real Life - Statology Representative Jason Chaffetz of Utah explained: In pink, thats the reduction in the breast exams, and the red is the increase in the abortions. This is a case of misleading statistics that can be done purposely, to achieve a specific result, or accidentally. More recently, other studies led by Dr. Loeb found similarly misleading information about prostate cancer on TikTok and Instagram. What would your conclusion be about the importance of a mask mandate? examples of misleading statistics in healthcare a comment eurasia group chairman. Registered in England & Wales No. While numbers dont lie, they can in fact be used to mislead with half-truths. This video can be used for educational and training purposes. If all this is true, what is the problem with statistics? A 2009 investigative survey by Dr. Daniele Fanelli from The University of Edinburgh found that 33.7% of scientists surveyed admitted to questionable research practices, including modifying results to improve outcomes, subjective data interpretation, withholding analytical details, and dropping observations because of gut feelings. Survival Rates in Cancer Survival rates are often used as a measure of cancer treatment success. This example of a misleading use of statistics is perhaps one of the more clear cases of intent to mislead, despite attempts of the administration to make it appear accidentalsee May 19 story about the response in The Atlanta Journal-Constitution (Mariano and Trubey Citation2020). At the first glance, there may appear to not be anything inherently misleading about this plot (see Figure 1). The intent is to convey a shift in focus from cancer screenings to abortion. Citation2020), this very truth has now been laid bare for the world to see in the media and social media as the general public grapples with making, and making sense of, data-based arguments around COVID-19. In this article, we review government power for, and constitutional limits on, regulating health-related speech, particularly on the internet . With the rise of advanced technology and globalized operations, statistical analyses grant businesses insight into solving the extreme uncertainties of the market. Actually, there is no problem per se but there can be. The problem with correlations is this: if you measure enough variables, eventually it will appear that some of them correlate. It is worth mentioning that 1998 was one of the hottest years on record due to an abnormally strong El Nio wind current. As we mentioned earlier, the sample size is of utmost importance when it comes to deciding the worth of a study or its results. Sometimes, it is better to just make a simple bar or even a table with a couple of columns so that something like this won't happen. To avoid situations like this, there is a bunch of healthcare analytics software that assists analysts and average users in the creation of stunning and accurate visualizations for their data. This is just one of many examples of misleading statistics in the media and politics. From there naturally stems the question: who paid them? 1. Register a free Taylor & Francis Online account today to boost your research and gain these benefits: Data (Mis)representation and COVID-19: Leveraging Misleading Data Visualizations For Developing Statistical Literacy Across Grades 616, a School of Teacher Preparation, Administration & Leadership, New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, NM, b Department of Curriculum and Instruction, University of Houston, Houston, TX, GAISE College Report ASA Revision Committee. Do numbers lie? That said, a bigger sample size is always better, as it highlights statistical differences more accurately. . Example 8: Urban Planning. Source #1: A small sample size. Not using annotations 12. By Bernardita Calzon in Data Analysis, Jan 6th 2023, 3) Misleading Statistics Examples In Real Life. Now, if the issue here is not obvious enough, we can see that the Y-axis in this chart starts from 58% and ends at 78%, making the 12% drop from 2009 to 2019 look way more significant than it actually is. Independent university study group, lab-affiliated research team, consulting company? Next, in our list of bad statistics examples, we have the case of a popular toothpaste brand. This article provides guidance on best practices for detecting health misinformation and assessing the accuracy of different information sources. Incentivize coordination across grantees to maximize reach, avoid duplication, and bring together a diversity of expertise. The second problem with having two vertical axes is that the two axes are on different scales, despite the fact that, in this case, they are representing the same measurement (daily number of cases). It can be difficult to know which sources of information you can trust. Some misleading online posts are difficult to spot because they contain both good and bad medical advice. Here are common types of misuse of statistics: Now that you know them, it will be easier to spot them and question all the stats that are given to you every day. This can lead to poor decision-making due to misinformation. Data (Mis)representation and COVID-19: Leveraging Misleading Data It would be preposterous to say that they cause each other and that is exactly why it is our example. The case started when the giant pharmaceutical company, Purdue Pharma, launched its new product OxyContin, which they advertised as a safe, non-addictive opioid that was highly effective for pain relief. A plot with two vertical axes is inherently more complicated to digest, especially in this case, because the two axes are not designed to show a relationship between two different attributes. No, it isn't. The size of India's middle class was 50 . Why did the first plot look so different? 4 Plot published in Acquah (Citation2020, May) utilizing two vertical axes to compare ice cream consumption and drowning deaths across time to represent association. Misleading p-values showing up more often in biomedical journal . Statistics - Using the Truth to Mislead - The Health Care Blog Cherry picking data. Bias is most likely to take the form of data omissions or adjustments to prove a specific point. Average monthly temperature in New Haven, CT. This presents opportunities for statistics educators and statistics teacher educators to reflect on these (mis)representations and leverage them as teaching and learning opportunities to build statistical literacy. Using a clearly defined scale, here is what the information looks like: Once placed within a clearly defined scale, it becomes evident that while the amount of cancer screenings has in fact decreased, it still far outnumbers the amount of abortion procedures performed yearly. Cited by lists all citing articles based on Crossref citations.Articles with the Crossref icon will open in a new tab. A study of millions of journal articles shows that their authors are increasingly reporting p-values but are often doing so in a misleading way, according to a study by researchers at the Stanford University School of Medicine.P-values are a measure of statistical significance intended to inform scientific conclusions. Misinformation is information that is false, inaccurate, or misleading according to the best available evidence at the time. Here Are the Most Misleading Product Claims | Time Use a broader range of credible sourcesparticularly local sources. Although the hope would be that students recognize the misleading horizontal axis, it is important to point attention directly to it so that students begin to learn to dissect such visualizations by being critical of scalinga common point of intentional or unintentional misrepresentation of dataas they work toward becoming critical consumers. In this article, we showcase examples of how data related to the COVID-19 pandemic has been (mis)represented in the media and by governmental agencies and discuss plausible reasons why it has been (mis)represented. A quick look shows that counties with mask mandates (the orange line) in place have shown a stark decline in COVID-19 cases over the course of about 3 weeks that has led to lower case numbers than counties without a mask mandate. For instance, showing a value for 3 months can show radically different trends than showing it over a year. We apologize. These examples bring up several concepts that are, under the Common Core State Standards for Mathematics (CCSSM) (NGAC & CCSSO 2010), introduced beginning in the sixth grade, such as understanding differences between histograms and bar charts, as well as drawing comparisons between two samples, leading to an understanding of association (for both continuous data and categorical data) and correlation. During the initial stages of COVID, the general public was forced to consume scientific information in the form of data visualizations to stay informed about the current developments of the virus. Educate students and the public on common tactics used by those who spread misinformation online. Moreover, this is a common topic appearing in tertiary introductory statistics courses, as well as courses on quantitative reasoning. Knowing when data is accurate and complete, and being able to identify discrepancies between numbers and any . First of all, the X-axis does not have a label, even though according to the chart, it is meant to show the number of cases over time, this doesn't happen. Be prepared to be confused. As such, this is a great misleading statistics example, and some could argue bias considering that the chart originated not from the Congressman, but from Americans United for Life, an anti-abortion group. The lack of statistical literacy from the public, paired with the fact that organizations didnt always share accurate statistical information, lead to widespread misrepresentation of data. This misleading tactic is frequently used to make one group look better than another. In 2007, Colgate was ordered by the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) of the U.K. to abandon their claim: More than 80% of Dentists recommend Colgate. The slogan in question was positioned on an advertising billboard in the U.K. and was deemed to be in breach of U.K. advertising rules. As no one works for free, it is always interesting to know who sponsors the research. Accepted author version posted online: 12 Apr 2021, Register to receive personalised research and resources by email. Broad dissemination and consumption of false or misleading health information, amplified by the internet, poses risks to public health and problems for both the health care enterprise and the government. Mixing up linear and logarithmic scales. Learn how to identify and avoid sharing health misinformation. Use this checklist everytime you come across health-related content you are not sure about. Disinformation is when misinformation is used to serve a malicious purpose, such as to trick people into believing something for financial gain or political advantage. Any sensible person would easily identify the fact that car accidents do not cause bear attacks. If the sample size of the study is too small to prove its conclusion then you should be responsible enough and not use these results as an absolute truth as this paves the way for future misinformation. Why might the COVID-19 case rates be higher in counties with mask mandates than those without? Providing solely the percentage of change without the total numbers or sample size will be totally misleading. The 10 most-shared health news stories of 2018. (Warning - Advisory organization in the United States. The ASA continued, Because we understood that another competitors brand was recommended almost as much as the Colgate brand by the dentists surveyed, we concluded that the claim misleadingly implied 80 percent of dentists recommend Colgate toothpaste in preference to all other brands. The ASA also claimed that the scripts used for the survey informed the participants that the study was being performed by an independent research company, which was inherently false. Especially people with a low graph literacy are thought to be persuaded by graphs that misrepresent the underlying data. The growing number of places people go to for information has made it easier for misinformation to spread at a never-before-seen speed and scale. As mentioned, this is not the only time Fox News has been criticized because of these situations. The most common ways statistics are misused, besides misinterpretation, are the following: faulty polling, flawed correlations, misleading data visuals, selective bias and small sample size (Lebeid 2018). Misleading graphs are a source of misinformation that worry many experts. As a result, the lack of statistical literacy among the general public, as well as organizations that have a responsibility to share accurate, clear, and timely information with the general public, has resulted in widespread (mis)representations and (mis)interpretations. Ask a credible source, such as a doctor or nurse, if they have additional information. However, some have argued that it may have been unintentional (Cairo Citation2020, May 20). Surgeon General Our Priorities Health Misinformation Health Misinformation With the abundance of health information available today, it can be hard to tell what is true or not. This is with the same aim of making it seem like the cases are dropping. Now, as we learned throughout this post, we cant say with certainty that the law caused the rise in deaths as there are other factors that could influence that number. In the digital age, these capabilities are only further enhanced and harnessed through the implementation of advanced technology and business intelligence software. The birth rate for . (labels are clear, axes begin at 0, right chart type, etc) Is the research represented honestly and in an impartial manner? Given the importance of data in todays rapidly evolving digital world, it is important to be familiar with the basics of misleading statistics and oversight. Accurate vaccine information is critical and can help stop common myths and rumors. During the pandemic, health misinformation has led people to decline vaccines, reject public health measures, and use unproven treatments. 5) How To Avoid & Identify The Misuse Of Statistics? Cherry Picking 2. Example #1. These controlling measures are essential and should be part of any experiment or survey unfortunately, that isnt always the case. What information is missing from this data? Misleading Statistics - Real World Examples For Misuse of Data - Bad Spain and Italy have large populations, but enormous. This graph makes the argument that masks help "flatten the curve" (or lower the rate of growth of COVID-19 cases) by pointing out that countries with mask usage had lower growth rates than countries without mask usage. Did we forget to mention the amount of sugar put in the tea or the fact that baldness and old age are related just like cardiovascular disease risks and old age? Brian Kemp's said: "The x-axis was set up that way to show descending values to more easily demonstrate peak values and counties on those dates, our mission failed. The Cake Is a Lie. They can lead to misleading statistics that give you a faulty idea of customer satisfaction and product preferences. Data Sources for Health Care Quality Measures If you follow all the steps mentioned above, you should be able to make a clear analysis and correct use of data. Misleading Healthcare Graph Yes, spin. For these reasons, a firm understanding of data science is an essential skill for professionals. Another way of creating misleading statistics, also linked with the choice of sample discussed above, is the size of said sample. Although in 2007 the company was forced to pay a $600 million fine for its criminal actions, the consequences of this are still seen to date. Increase investment in research on misinformation. Misleading statistics in politics are quite common. In 2012, the global mean temperature was measured at 58.2 degrees. An official website of the In addition to our cases motivating discussion of association, the plots also offer an important consideration of how scaling modifications can mislead the consumer. If you see this graph, you would obviously think the UKs national debt is higher than ever. If you still want to use the data to make a point, you can make sure to mention the small sample size as a disclaimer. 1. For example, one popular video recommended injecting herbs into the prostate to treat cancer, which is unproven and potentially dangerous. Consider the following steps to determine if information is accurate: For more information on common types of health misinformation sources, check out our Health Misinformation Community Toolkit.