How To Lie With Statistics by Darrell Huff
- 1. In 'How to Lie with Statistics', Darrell Huff presents a witty and insightful exploration of the ways in which statistics can be manipulated to mislead and misinform the public. Published in 1954, the book serves as both a practical guide and a critical examination of the misuse of statistical data in various fields, including economics, politics, and advertising. Huff delves into various techniques and strategies employed by statisticians and researchers to present data in misleading ways, such as cherry-picking data, using deceptive graphs, and failing to consider sampling bias. He illustrates these concepts with engaging examples and anecdotes, demonstrating how statistics, while inherently objective, can be skewed to serve subjective purposes. The book emphasizes the importance of critical thinking and skepticism when interpreting statistical claims, advocating for a more informed public that can discern fact from fiction. By blending humor with serious topics, Huff encourages readers to question the evidence presented to them and to recognize the power of statistics as both a tool for uncovering truths and a weapon for deception.
Which graphical method does Huff criticize for distorting proportions?
A) Pictograms
B) Histograms
C) Box plots
D) Scatter plots
- 2. What does Huff call the practice of selectively presenting data that supports one's argument?
A) Cherry-picking
B) Random sampling
C) Data mining
D) Hypothesis testing
- 3. Which measure of 'average' does Huff warn can be misleading when data is skewed?
A) Range
B) Mode
C) Mean
D) Median
- 4. Huff criticizes surveys that suffer from what type of biased sample?
A) Stratified
B) Random
C) Self-selected
D) Cluster
- 5. Huff criticizes the use of statistics without considering what important factor?
A) Font sizes
B) Page layout
C) Color schemes
D) Context
- 6. Which sampling bias occurs when only certain types of people respond?
A) Selection bias
B) Measurement bias
C) Recall bias
D) Response bias
- 7. What misleading technique uses precise numbers to imply accuracy?
A) Approximation
B) Rounding error
C) Estimation
D) Spurious precision
- 8. Huff criticizes the manipulation of what time frame in trend analysis?
A) Calendar systems
B) Clock precision
C) Time zones
D) Starting point
|