Home / Summaries / Elementary Statistics / number-precise-loaded

Introduction to Statistics - Statistical and Critical Thinking

5 important questions on Introduction to Statistics - Statistical and Critical Thinking

What is the Pitfall of 'Loaded Questions'?

The way how questions are asked towards subject may have effect on the results. They can be loaded in a way to elicit a desired result.

What is the Pitfall of 'Order of Questions'?

The order of items within questions can have effect on the results. By example:

"Would you say that traffic contributes more or less to air pollution than industry?" (45% blamed traffic; 27% blamed industry.)
"Would you say that industry contributes more or less to air pollution than traffic?" (24% blamed traffic; 57% blamed industry.)

What is the Pitfall of 'Nonresponse'?

When someone refuses to answer you can call them a nonresponse. This eventually has te be considered within the analysis.
A example for this is:
You're asking several questions about the vaccination-campaign, anti-vaxxers may refuse to answer and therefore you should consider your conclusions carefully. Because you didn't get their answers and they could have delivered significantly different results than the answers you did get.

What is the Pitfall of 'Precise Numbers'?

Using a precise number while it is a estimate could give people the wrong assumption that it is the exact number.
For example: It is estimated that the NL has 17.654.354 people. People will think that is the exact number, you could better state that there are 17.7 million people in the NL.

What is the Pitfall of 'Percentages'?

Percentages can be misunderstood. If there is a 100% improvement for let's say flights that go on time, it doesn't mean that all flights now go on time.