Let's check those mistakes. 1 Plot shared by Rachel Maddow on Twitter and live on The Rachel Maddow Show on August 6th, 2020. Mixing up linear and logarithmic scales. 13 Graphs That Are Clearly Lying - BuzzFeed News We use cookies to improve your website experience. With the rise of advanced technology and globalized operations, statistical analyses grant businesses insight into solving the extreme uncertainties of the market. The misuse of statistics is a much broader problem that now permeates multiple industries and fields of study. So, let's explore some interesting choices of using data visualization tools and discuss why they are misleading. The plot that was originally posted to the Georgia Department of Public Health website (image provided by Twitter user Calling Bullshit, Figure 3) appears to show that the number of COVID-19 cases in the top five counties in the state, at the time, were consistently dropping over the previous month. In the digital age, these capabilities are only further enhanced and harnessed through the implementation of advanced technology and business intelligence software. This makes it appear that KFCs wrap has half the calories as the ones from Taco Bell, Burger King, or Wendys when is actually just 70 calories less. Tufte (Citation2001) talked about this in his book, The Visual Display of Quantitative Information, making a point that having two vertical axes on a time series plot can be very useful when attempting to show a plausible association between two things. In CCSSM, students gain experiences with histograms beginning in grade 6, and they begin comparing multiple plots as early as the seventh grade. The time 7 million was 5x more than 6 million. Much like abortion, global warming is another politically charged topic that is likely to arouse emotions. We found 18 examples of false advertising scandals that have rocked big brands some are still ongoing and not all companies have had to pay up, but each dealt with a fair amount of negative. The case started when the giant pharmaceutical company, Purdue Pharma, launched its new product OxyContin, which they advertised as a safe, non-addictive opioid that was highly effective for pain relief. If all this is true, what is the problem with statistics? In this article, we review government power for, and constitutional limits on, regulating health-related speech, particularly on the internet . Data (Mis)representation and COVID-19: Leveraging Misleading Data To illustrate this point further, lets assume that a study has found a correlation between an increase in car accidents in the state of New York in the month of June (A), and an increase in bear attacks in the state of New York in the month of June (B). This is just one of many examples of misleading statistics in the media and politics. Why did the first plot look so different? Seeking a relationship between data isnt a misuse per se, however, doing so without a hypothesis is. The top 10 most-shared articles that were reviewed by clinicians and scientists for accuracy were: This a sad representation of how dangerous misinformation can be. Misleading Data Visualization Real Life Examples - XB Software Omitting data 10. Statistics is regularly used by urban planners to decide how many apartments, shops, stores, etc. Now, you might be wondering, how can this be misleading? Bad Data Visualization in the Time of COVID-19 - Medium How does the second plot cause you to reconsider the weight of evidence (e.g., Pfannkuch Citation2006; Engledowl and Gorham Blanco Citation2019) supporting your conclusion? Examples of Misleading Statistics in Healthcare 1. Proactively address the publics questions. The selective bias is slightly more discreet for those who do not read the small lines. 5) How To Avoid & Identify The Misuse Of Statistics? While it is quite clear that statistical data has the potential to be misused, it can also ethically drive market value in the digital world. To the question "can statistics be manipulated? Survival Rates in Cancer Survival rates are often used as a measure of cancer treatment success. This is a clear situation in which the axes are manipulated to show a specific result that is misleading. The image below shows a graph advertising KFCs crispy chicken twister wrap and comparing its calories with other brands with a similar product. Misuse of Statistics- What Leads to The Misuse of Statistics Whatever the types of graphs and charts you choose to use, it must convey: - The method of calculation (e.g., dataset and time period). . Now, as we learned throughout this post, we cant say with certainty that the law caused the rise in deaths as there are other factors that could influence that number. Misinformation is information that is false, inaccurate, or misleading according to the best available evidence at the time. Lets explain this better with an example. To illustrate, a survey asks 20 people a yes-or-no question. Six brands that have made false health claims in advertising - Econsultancy Surgeon General Our Priorities Health Misinformation Health Misinformation With the abundance of health information available today, it can be hard to tell what is true or not. Misleading pie chart 4. Over the next few paragraphs, we provide some possible ways of using the two previous cases to support learning of comparing samples and association, as well as how data visualizations can (mis)lead both unintentionally and intentionally if the consumer is not critically examining them. Scientists! Omitting baselines, or the axis of a graph, is one of the most common ways data is manipulated in graphs. The most common one is of course correlation versus causation, which always leaves out another (or two or three) factors that are the actual causation of the problem. Learn how to identify and avoid sharing health misinformation. After showing this plot to students, some useful questions could be: Fig. Businesses and analysts are exposed to making biases when a single person is doing an entire analysis. Top 10 Most Flawed Sports Statistics - TheSportster Do numbers lie? Misleading Graphs: Real Life Examples - Statistics How To This is not to say that there is no proper use of data mining, as it can in fact lead to surprise outliers and interesting analyses. Recently, Kellogg's UK was hit with a ban from the ASA (Advertising Standards Authority) after making false health claims in its advert for Special K cereal. Another unfair method of polling is to ask a question, but precede it with a conditional statement or a statement of fact. If you follow all the steps mentioned above, you should be able to make a clear analysis and correct use of data. For these reasons, a firm understanding of data science is an essential skill for professionals. A controversial representation of this happened in 2014 when a graph depicting the number of murders committed using firearms in Florida from 1990 to 2010 was published in the context of the Stand Your Ground law, enacted in 2005 to give people the right to use deadly force for self-defense. An analysis of misinformation from five samples across the United States, Europe, and Mexico showed that substantial portions of each populationanywhere from 15% to 37%believed misinformation about COVID-19 in April and May 2020, representing what the authors call a "major threat to public health.". Editors, clients, and people want something new, not something they know; thats why we often end up with an amplification phenomenon that gets echoed and more than it should. should be built in a certain area based on population growth patterns. Oftentimes, data fishing results in studies that are highly publicized due to their important or outlandish findings. This is known as the misuse of statistics. It is often assumed that the misuse of statistics is limited to those individuals or companies seeking to gain profit from distorting the truth, be it economics, education, or mass media. Each year, millions of research hypotheses are tested. Institute of Medicine (US) Committee on Quality of Health Care in America. But, what about causation? This is a useful way to show how the use of two vertical axes can aid in visualizing association between two phenomena, particularly because the two vertical axes are different unitsallowing for a more accurate comparison. At a first glance, the graph, which is displayed below, shows a descending trend that starts the year the law was enacted, concluding that Stand Your Grown is responsible for the apparent drop in the number of murders committed using firearms in the years after it was implemented. Take care to apply data responsibly, ethically, and visually, and watch your transparent corporate identity grow. Misleading Statistics - Real World Examples For Misuse of Data Strengthen the monitoring of health questions, concerns, and misinformation. Understand the value of data types with this beginner's introduction! Representative Jason Chaffetz of Utah explained: In pink, thats the reduction in the breast exams, and the red is the increase in the abortions. Rather its politicians trying to make a point for their own interest or just someone not understanding the information behind the graphs and charts they create, crime statistics are not free of being misleading. Absent these elements, visual data representations should be viewed with a grain of salt, taking into account the common data visualization mistakes one can make. First of all, the X-axis does not have a label, even though according to the chart, it is meant to show the number of cases over time, this doesn't happen. They sure can. Intermediate data points should also be identified and context is given if it would add value to the information presented. An official website of the United States government. Collecting data from too small a group can skew your survey and test results. The Worst Covid-19 Misleading Graphs - DataScienceCentral.com Using the pair of graphs in the first case, a question that could spur thinking about these two phenomenacounties with vs without a mask mandatecould be something like: What does this graph (Figure 1, the one with two axes) make it appear is happening? Why might the COVID-19 case rates be higher in counties with mask mandates than those without? to the .gov website. Confusing statistics refers to the improper of numberic data moreover intentionally or by . You are not required to obtain permission to reuse this article in part or whole. If you really want to make a shocking statement, make sure you only include part of the data. Here is a guide from the CDC on the myths and facts about COVID-19 vaccination. For example, let's say you're comparing mammal weights. Another way of creating misleading statistics, also linked with the choice of sample discussed above, is the size of said sample. We start by showing a less obvious example of how having statistical literacy, including an understanding of the art of data visualization, can cause speculation about (mis)representations of data. Misleading Statistics Can Be Dangerous (Some Examples) What is a conclusion you could draw from this plot that would not make much sense (i.e., pushing them to make the causation error)? On Sept. 29, 2015, Republicans from the U.S. Congress questioned Cecile Richards, the president of Planned Parenthood, regarding the misappropriation of $500 million in annual federal funding. It is fixed". For instance, of 100 patients that arrived in poor condition in Hospital A, 30 survived. . Doing a quick research, you find that 900 out of 1000 patients that went into surgery at Hospital A survived, while 800 out of 1000 survived at Hospital B. If youre not sure, dont share. Statistics - Using the Truth to Mislead - The Health Care Blog However, closer inspection reveals that the dates along the horizontal axis are not in order of time, with, for instance, May 1 appearing before April 30 and April 26 appearing in between May 7 (on the left) and May 3 (on the right). The example above is an example of selective bias; the biologists were recruited, not randomly selected. Prevalence of Health Misinformation on Social Media - PubMed Did we forget to mention the amount of sugar put in the tea or the fact that baldness and old age are related just like cardiovascular disease risks and old age? However, upon closer inspection, you might notice that there are two vertical axes. Lets take a look at some of the evidence for and against. Misleading graphs are a source of misinformation that worry many experts. However, in the case of Figure 3, because the purpose is to draw attention to the misleading horizontal axis, it can be a useful plot for secondary students who have not yet been exposed to side-by-side histograms. Learn everything there is to know about the power of professional area charts. You can see a graph that shows the UK National debt from 1995 to 2016. 3 Tweet on May 16 by Calling Bullshit showing a misleading plot produced by the Georgia Department of Public Health. By Nikki Gilliland July 25th 2016. They're infallible, concrete, impossible to argue with -- however you want to spin it, they make one solid point. Here are five techniques for fudging the numbers with misleading statistics examples: Technique #1: Citing Misleading "Averages" The first technique is using the word "average" without specifying what kind of average a figure represents. Look at the About Us page on the website to see if you can trust the source. 2 Steven Strogatzs Twitter comment to show a recreation of a plot showing the number of daily cases of COVID-19 per 100,000 in the population of Kansas. For example, if an urban planner sees that population growth in a certain part of the city is increasing at an exponential rate compared to other . Partner with community groups and other local organizations to prevent and address health misinformation. First of all, this plot was created for use by the Kansas Department of Health and Environment, and it was showcased during an August 5 press conference (video is available here on their Facebook page), and then this plot and the description of what it means was picked up and amplified by multiple news media organizations. It demonstrates the change in air temperature (Celsius) from 1998 to 2012. The graph shows the growth of COVID-19 cases from March 5 to March 31. Three Misleading, Dangerous Coronavirus Statistics The below graph is the one most often referenced to disprove global warming. No matter how good a study might be, if it's not written using objective and formal language, then it is at risk to mislead. It is, therefore, argued by global warming opponents that, as there was a 0.1-degree decrease in the global mean temperature over a 14-year period, global warming is disproved. What Is A Misleading Statistic? Tread carefully, for either knowingly or ignorantly, correlation hunting will continue to exist within statistical studies. Misleading graphs in context: Less misleading than expected Christopher Engledowl & Travis Weiland wrote an insightful article called Data (Mis)representation and COVID-19: Leveraging Misleading Data Visualizations For Developing Statistical Literacy Across Grades 616. The growing number of places people go to for information has made it easier for misinformation to spread at a never-before-seen speed and scale. Research 101: Descriptive statistics - American Nurse Today For example, the objective graph literacy scale is a test with 13 items. Accurate vaccine information is critical and can help stop common myths and rumors. For this last question, it would be important to make sure students are not merely concluding mask mandates lead to higher case rates than not having them. Misleading statistics refers to the misuse of numerical data either intentionally or by error. We all need access to trusted sources of information to stay safe and healthy. examples of misleading statistics in healthcare a comment eurasia group chairman. However, when taking a closer look at the graph, we can see that the y-axis is reversed, starting with the highest numbers at the bottom and reaching 0 at the top. An example of misleading statistics is when determining whether to take a medical test for a rare but serious disease like spina bifida. If you still want to use the data to make a point, you can make sure to mention the small sample size as a disclaimer. Ioannidis JP. Uncover the power of spider charts with this complete guide including examples, best practices, and more! Misrepresenting COVID-19: Lying With Charts During the Second Golden It was this unethical and misleading graph, which was also FDA approved, that helped in initiating one of the biggest health crises in the US, opioid addiction. In the sections that follow we will show two cases of widely disseminated data visualizations that (mis)represent the situation they are describing. Omitting the baseline 5. People also read lists articles that other readers of this article have read. Effects related to COVID-19 During the pandemic, health misinformation has led people to decline vaccines, reject public health measures, and use unproven treatments. The below chart expresses the 30-year change in global mean temperatures. What if the measured variables were different? Quasi-experimental, single-center, before and after studies are enthusiastically performed. Any sensible person would easily identify the fact that car accidents do not cause bear attacks. Convene federal, state, local, territorial, tribal, private, nonprofit, and research partners to explore the impact of health misinformation and establish best practices for prevention. Statistics are infamous for their ability and potential to exist as misleading and bad data. As a result, the lack of statistical literacy among the general public, as well as organizations that have a responsibility to share accurate, clear, and timely information with the general public, has resulted in widespread (mis)representations and (mis)interpretations. As you saw throughout this post, illustrated with some insightful bad statistics examples, using data in a misleading way is very easy. Misuse of statistics is present everywhere and news outlets are no exception. A plot with two vertical axes is inherently more complicated to digest, especially in this case, because the two axes are not designed to show a relationship between two different attributes. Address health misinformation in your community by working with schools, community groups, and health care professionals to develop local strategies against misinformation. What information is missing from this data? The size of India's middle class is 300 million people. At the first glance, there may appear to not be anything inherently misleading about this plot (see Figure 1). These are the fake health news that went viral in 2019 The intent is to convey a shift in focus from cancer screenings to abortion. (, Adults Statistical Literacy: Meaning, Components, Responsibilities, National Governors Association Center for Best Practices & Council of Chief State School Officers. What would your conclusion be about the importance of a mask mandate? Home Uncategorized examples of misleading statistics in healthcare. In 2007, Colgate was ordered by the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) of the U.K. to abandon their claim: More than 80% of Dentists recommend Colgate. The slogan in question was positioned on an advertising billboard in the U.K. and was deemed to be in breach of U.K. advertising rules. Not using annotations 12. Considering the vast differences between, say, mice and elephants, it can be hard to fit 3 ounces and a ton on the same graph. Root Cause Analysis and Medical Error Prevention On the other side, of 400 patients that arrived in poor condition at Hospital B, 210 survived at a survival rate of 52.5%. To get this trip started, let's look at a fallacious statistics definition. Definition of Misleading Statistics Statistics is the practice of collecting, organizing, and representing large amounts of numerical data. Data Sources for Health Care Quality Measures What is a conclusion you could draw from this plot that would be more accurate (i.e., pushing them to consider association or correlation concepts)? It can be difficult to know which sources of information you can trust. According to a definition by the Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy, a Simpsons Paradox is a statistical phenomenon where an association between two variables in a population emerges, disappears or reverses when the population is divided into subpopulations. Each of these sources may have other primary purposes, so there are advantages and challenges when they are used for the purposes of quality measurement and reporting. When creating a graph to portray a statistic, it is natural to assume that the X and Y axes start at zero. Although the hope would be that students recognize the misleading horizontal axis, it is important to point attention directly to it so that students begin to learn to dissect such visualizations by being critical of scalinga common point of intentional or unintentional misrepresentation of dataas they work toward becoming critical consumers. Examples of misuse of statistics in the media are very common. Ebola, for example, kills 50% of the people it infects on average, which is why the doctors who treat it wear hazmat suits. Sears' Bamboo fabric > Parent Company: Sears > Ad changed: yes > Settlement Amount: $475,000 Sears Holdings agreed to pay $475,000 and. The graph generated a big controversy on social media, especially on Twitter, where users pointed out that the Georgia Health Department had repeatedly used misleading statistics during the COVID-19 outbreak. Stopping COVID-19 with Misleading Graphs | by Nikita Kotsehub | Towards For example, are visualizations representing the data accurately? Grueskin shared some of these insightful examples of misleading statistics in the news in a Twitter thread that became very popular. Share sensitive information only on official, This is paired with the fact that counties are not always depicted in the same order, but instead in descending order of cases. Misleading Statistics in Healthcare - E Phlebotomy Training There is also the broader context here, which is counties with mask mandates are oftentimes counties that are more densely populated and are seeing larger numbers of cases prompting them to take action. After a discussion, and a conclusion that attempts to make a generalized claim beyond the data (i.e., an inference; also a seventh-grade standard), the adjusted plot (Figure 2) could be shared with questions such as: Does the conclusion still hold when the plot is adjusted to accurately depict the two situations? A first good thing would be, of course, to stand in front of an honest survey/experiment/research pick the one you have beneath your eyes , that has applied the correct techniques of collection and interpretation of data. If you are the one performing the analysis, for instance generating reports for your job, you can ask yourself a few relevant questions to avoid using misleading statistics. For example, while France had almost 150 years to adapt to a change . Several Twitter users began attempting to make sense of what the data were actually saying. The name and date of birth used in this example are imaginative, used for illustrative purposes, and do not represent an actual patient. If the sample size of the study is too small to prove its conclusion then you should be responsible enough and not use these results as an absolute truth as this paves the way for future misinformation. Omitting the baseline. Example 8: Urban Planning. We then build on these examples to draw connections to how they could be used to enhance statistics teaching and learning, especially as it relates to secondary and introductory tertiary statistics coursework. This graph makes the argument that masks help "flatten the curve" (or lower the rate of growth of COVID-19 cases) by pointing out that countries with mask usage had lower growth rates than countries without mask usage. Yes, spin. But you cannot know until you ask yourself a couple of questions and analyze the results you have in between your hands. 10 Bogus -- And Widely Believed -- Statistics - Seeker Which saw an increase of millions of visitors in just a couple of years, so far, everything looks normal. Now, you might argue that The Times is telling the truth, as they are actually leading over their competitors. It is generally agreed upon that the global mean temperature in 1998 was 58.3 degrees Fahrenheit. Misleading Graphs: Incomplete Data. The power of words is huge, therefore, carefully looking at the way a study is written is another great practice to assess its quality. PLoS Med. As mentioned, this is not the only time Fox News has been criticized because of these situations. This is with the same aim of making it seem like the cases are dropping. The company agreed to change Vitaminwater labels.. The graph was later republished with organized dates and counties. The second problem with having two vertical axes is that the two axes are on different scales, despite the fact that, in this case, they are representing the same measurement (daily number of cases). As no one works for free, it is always interesting to know who sponsors the research. An infographic with tips on how to talk to your community about health misinformation. Developed in collaboration with the Office of Evaluation Sciences (OES). The birth rate for . In critical scenarios such as a global pandemic, this becomes even more important as misinformation can lead to a higher spread and more deaths. When an experiment or a survey is led on a totally not significant sample size, not only will the results be unusable, but the way of presenting them - namely as percentages - will be totally misleading. For example, one popular video recommended injecting herbs into the prostate to treat cancer, which is unproven and potentially dangerous. Engage with your friends and family on the problem of health misinformation. That marked the highest percentage since at least 1968, the earliest year for which the CDC has online records. Misleading Statistics - Real World Examples For Misuse of Data Accepted author version posted online: 12 Apr 2021, Register to receive personalised research and resources by email.
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