Name: 3 ways to spot a bad statistic
Uploaded: 2017-03-24T14:48:55Z
Duration: 11 min 35 s
Description: Sometimes it's hard to know what statistics are worthy of trust. But we shouldn't count out stats altogether ... instead, we should learn to look behind them. In this delightful, hilarious talk, data journalist Mona Chalabi shares handy tips to help question, interpret and truly understand what the numbers are saying.

Mona Chalabi: 3 ways to spot a bad statistic

3 ways to spot a bad statistic

Sometimes it's hard to know what statistics are worthy of trust. But we shouldn't count out stats altogether ... instead, we should learn to look behind them. In this delightful, hilarious talk, data journalist Mona Chalabi shares handy tips to help question, interpret and truly understand what the numbers are saying.

Statistics shape policy and public opinion, yet four out of ten Americans distrust government economic data. When numbers are misunderstood or misused, society risks losing the ability to measure problems like discrimination or poverty. By learning to question uncertainty, context, and data collection, anyone can cut through misleading averages and flashy charts to find what really matters. The power to question statistics keeps both governments and private interests accountable.

Distrust In Numbers Is Dangerous, But Blind Trust Is Worse

Follow Mona Chalabi on Instagram

Follow Mona Chalabi on Twitter

Mona Chalabi at The Guardian

*Am I Normal? with Mona Chalabi*

social change

storytelling

communication

statistics

visualizations

math

society

data

journalism

TED Stage Talk