Statistics and the need for Critical Thinking

[corpus callosum]

Good Morning!

I'm sure most have heard the phrase regarding lies, damned lies and statistics.Although many find it a little easier on ones critical faculties to sometimes just accept the figures relating to any subject whilst harbouring some reservations about have the stats have been reached, its also very important to step back and consider the wording used.


Heres a good example:

Do those who retire early live longer?

It's often said that in some professions like teaching and prison security, the older you work, the shorter your retirement. Is that true?

www.bbc.co.uk

Its sometimes said that 'Presentation is key'; this is highly relevant to statistics.

 

[jonyshin]

Reading that article made me chuckle. I don't doubt that many people would nod their heads if we told them that retiring early means a longer life:thumb_up: :lol: It's so illogical to assume that everyone retires for the same reasons. Unfortunately for me, this is something I see in society all the time, but I guess often times they're happier believing it's so simple that their fate is predetermined....That they are simply all a 'statistical fact' and that foggy correlations are definite realities, only because they don't know any statistics proposing other ideas. I'm not familiar with that phrase you said though, what is that?