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Experimental data, however, can never prove that the hypotheses (h) is true, but relies on an inductive inference by measuring the probability of the hypotheses relative to the empirical data. The proof is in the rational demonstration of using the logic of inference, math, testing, and deductive reasoning of significance. [1] [2] [6]
The misuse of Statistics can trick the observer who does not understand them into believing something other than what the data shows or what is really 'true'. That is, a misuse of statistics occurs when an argument uses statistics to assert a falsehood. In some cases, the misuse may be accidental.
"Lies, damned lies, and statistics" is a phrase describing the persuasive power of statistics to bolster weak arguments, "one of the best, and best-known" critiques of applied statistics. [2] It is also sometimes colloquially used to doubt statistics used to prove an opponent's point.
Simpson's paradox is a phenomenon in probability and statistics in which a trend appears in several groups of data but disappears or reverses when the groups are combined. This result is often encountered in social-science and medical-science statistics, [ 1 ] [ 2 ] [ 3 ] and is particularly problematic when frequency data are unduly given ...
Misuse of statistics can be both inadvertent and intentional, and the book How to Lie with Statistics, [72] by Darrell Huff, outlines a range of considerations. In an attempt to shed light on the use and misuse of statistics, reviews of statistical techniques used in particular fields are conducted (e.g. Warne, Lazo, Ramos, and Ritter (2012)).
Popper's theory presents an asymmetry in that evidence can prove a theory wrong, by establishing facts that are inconsistent with the theory. In contrast, evidence cannot prove a theory correct because other evidence, yet to be discovered, may exist that is inconsistent with the theory. [9]
It has become one of the best-selling statistics books in history, with over one and a half million copies sold in the English-language edition. [1] It has also been widely translated. Themes of the book include "Correlation does not imply causation" and "Using random sampling." It also shows how statistical graphs can be used to distort reality.
Statistical inference makes propositions about a population, using data drawn from the population with some form of sampling.Given a hypothesis about a population, for which we wish to draw inferences, statistical inference consists of (first) selecting a statistical model of the process that generates the data and (second) deducing propositions from the model.