Data For Decision

RUNNING HEAD: DATA FOR DECISION

DATA FOR DECISION

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We all read about polls, studies, surveys and experiments in the news. Where do they come

from? What do number mean? Why do they seem that “they” ask someone else? Can you trust

their conclusions?

Most of the polls, studies, surveys and experiments are carried out by different organisations

e.g. Pew Research Centre, based on their interest or what is trending during the specified period.

For instance, during election period polls are carried so as to determine who is most preferred

candidate to rule at that specific moment based on various people’s opinion. Also, experiments

are carried out by researchers to examine the effect of one variable to another e.g. the most

common experiment carried out is the impact of smoking to lungs. Surveys are done by most

organisation as a way of coming out with a conclusion e.g. how do you spend your money in a

month? This is a survey which is aimed at study behavioural finance on various.

The numbers which are generated after the study or poll is carried out shows the

characteristics of the data collected or the result of the experiment. The mean of the data shows

the average of the data collected, Median shows the middle number of the collected data

whereas Mode shows the most occurring number in the data. Standard Deviation measures the

variability of how data are spread from the mean. The researchers always seem to ask other

people since they aim at representing the population and thus samples have to be carried out

from the population so that they can draw conclusion on the whole population. Most of the

conclusion that the researchers come with cannot be trusted since the sampling method they use

are bad and biased. Most researchers use convenience sample method whereby they reach

members of the population whom they are easy to reach and of whom they are comfortable with.

This tend to produce biased conclusion. Also using voluntary response sampling e.g. when the

survey is carried out only people with strong opinion are likely to respond and this will make the

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conclusion drawn to be biased. The method used determine how biased the outcome will be thus

method like simple random sample (SRS) should be encouraged.

Discussion about how people “lie with Statistics”

Re: Discussion Forum

by JOHN

What a topic to discuss on! Lying with statistics is a strategy which is done by people for

various selfish reasons. There are different ways in which people “lie with statistics”. The first

way in which I would like to consider is data omission and spin. For instance, if you are in

business and want to market your product, a survey which was carried about the people who

prefer your product may not be omitted or twisted so as to lure people on buying the product, this

is as deceptive as lying. Many people when requiring a certain response to people either you can

spin the story based on what time frame of data are presented, or what aspects of the results are

presented. Every action is certain to have some positive and some negative results. Most of the

people tend to filter the data to only present one side of the argument. Also, most people reject

information automatically support their opinion in a way, thus they tend to “lie with statistics”

and accepts the data which favours their opinion. According to me, it takes efforts to be open-

minded and honest to try and present balanced argument no matter how statistics looks.

Re: Discussion Forum

by JANE

Hi John,

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Thank you for the insight. Nowadays statistics are generated every day by various organisations.

How do we know if the statistics which we read are legitimate or not? I am looking forward to

hearing from you.

Re: Discussion Forum

by JOHN

Thank you, Jane, for posting. Determining whether a given statistic is legitimate or not calls for

an examination of the statistics given while comparing with the statistics which were given on

previous years which if they vary largely it will show that the statistics given is not legitimate.

There are other ways in which it can be done is by carrying observational studies.

Re: Discussion Forum

by JANE

Thank you, John, for posting answer to my question. I agree with what you said. If I may ask

another question, why do people lie with statistics? What motivates them. I look forward hearing

from you.

Re: Discussion Forum

by JOHN

Thank you, Jane, for the question. Before I can answer your question. What is statistics?

Statistics is the number that describe some characteristic of the sample. Thus people tend to lie

with the statistics because the actual statistics given may not be impressive or may not give the

opinion they expect. E.g. for a given survey taken about the product. If the survey did not favour

the product, most people may “lie with statistics” as a marketing strategy. People lie with

statistics for selfish reasons so that they can favour their opinions.

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Re: Discussion Forum

by DANIEL

Thank you for the insight, John and Jane. This topic i.e. “lie with statistics” has become common

nowadays. What are some of the strategies that people do when lying with statistics? I look

forward to hearing from you.

Re: Discussion Forum

by JOHN

Thank you, Daniel, for posting. One of the strategy that people use so as to “lie with statistics” is

the way they word the question which is used to collect statistics e.g. Do you think Smokers

should be allowed to smoke in their rooms? This question is designed in a way to attract

particular question thus the result will be biased in a way. Also, another strategy which they use

is by carrying out convenience sample to the specific people. Definitely, this strategy will

produce biased statistics

Re: Discussion Forum

by DANIEL

Thank you, for the insight John. Still, on this topics, how can you verify that the media is

accurately reporting statistics? I look forward to hearing from you.

Re: Discussion Forum

by JOHN

Thank you, Daniel for posting, the way to verifying whether statistics given by media is first by

determining the method media used to correct data i.e. to check the presence of biases. Another

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way one can verify is to study the sample where the survey was carried out and how they were

chosen.

What Americans Pay for and How

Paying the monthly bills for Americans have drastically change from generations ago. Various

means for paying for good and services which are used by Americans are Cash, Electronic,

Check and online. According to research which was carried out by pew Research Centre (What

Americans Pay For – and How, 2007) it clearly shows that most people make payment for their

goods and services online or electronic payment. Different services which are paid for include

Internet connection, Cell phone services, cable and satellite services, water, energy,

mortgage/rent, insurance and car payment. The following pie chart shows how American pays

for their goods and services based on research carries by PewResearchCenter

This shows that most people pay for their services given to them through check (54%),

Electronic or online (28%), Cash (15%) and others (3%). According to the research carried out

shows that consumers have more choices than ever before when it comes to making transactions

whereby debit card and credit card have side by side with cash and check. Those people with

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lower income rely mostly on cash for everyday living expenses. Convenience and short-term

financing are one of the reasons why most people used credit card to make transaction for the

people who are low-income earner whereas for the people who are earn high-income use credit

card as a matter of convenience and because of the reward programs. (What Americans Pay For

– and How, 2007).

Expenses vary differently from different Americans based on their level of income, Various

expenses which are cited in the research are dining out, vacation, medical, housing and dental

bills. The survey which was carried out the people who earn high income suggested that their

major expenses were vacation and dining out whereas medical expenses and housing were the

most expenses by people who earn low income. These are some of the thing which Americans

pays money for. Most American uses cash for their everyday expenses while the rest uses debit

cards, credit cards and checks.

The statistics shows that most people spend most of the money on expenses i.e.

housing/mortgage, daily expenses and how pay for the goods and services depends on the how

much they are paying for the goods and services i.e. most people pay using credit cards or checks

for the large sum of money whereas pay cash for the expenses which does not involve large

amount of money. Also, convenience determine which method is used to pay for good services.

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References

1.What Americans Pay For – and How. (2007, February 7). Retrieved from Pew Research Centre:

http://www.pewsocialtrends.org/files/2010/10/Expenses.pdf

2 COMAP. (2015). Data for Decision. In For All Practical Purposes(High School),

Mathematical Literacy in Today’s World, (10th ed., p. 912). W. H. Freeman,

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