You've heard it said that you can lie with statistics. You can also distort or spin. Depending on which number you feature first or how you combine the numbers, you can adjust the facts to suit your case.
Take today's front page story in USA Today. The headline is "Most Americans OK with Big Government - for Now." I guess that the "for now" qualifier makes the story true, but it isn't the overwhelming consensus that the headline would have us believe.
Take today's front page story in USA Today. The headline is "Most Americans OK with Big Government - for Now." I guess that the "for now" qualifier makes the story true, but it isn't the overwhelming consensus that the headline would have us believe.
When I hear or see the word "most" I think of "nearly all," "the vast majority," or "a sizeable percentage." That's because I'm supposed to think that way. That's the power of words. From a purely statistical definition, "most" can mean either the majority (50.1%) or the mode (the most frequent response regardless of the percentage).
Back to the article. It turns out that just 13% (notice how I minimize this with the word "just") approve of the size and role of the federal government and want it to remain. This is roughly one-eighth (12.5% is one-eighth) of those surveyed - hardly "most."
Another 39% (or basically two-fifths, which is 40%) approve of the size for now but want it reduced over time - this is where the "for now" comes from.
When you combine the 13% and the 39%, you get 52% (just over half) that supports the position of big government either permanently or temporarily. While more than half, this is not what one thinks of when they hear or read the word "most."
Actually, the largest response (the mode), and what "most" people actually do feel is that they disapprove of the expanded government role.
Regardless of how you feel about this issue or other issues that are reported - and surveys in general - look beyond the headlines to see what the real story is.
Back to the article. It turns out that just 13% (notice how I minimize this with the word "just") approve of the size and role of the federal government and want it to remain. This is roughly one-eighth (12.5% is one-eighth) of those surveyed - hardly "most."
Another 39% (or basically two-fifths, which is 40%) approve of the size for now but want it reduced over time - this is where the "for now" comes from.
When you combine the 13% and the 39%, you get 52% (just over half) that supports the position of big government either permanently or temporarily. While more than half, this is not what one thinks of when they hear or read the word "most."
Actually, the largest response (the mode), and what "most" people actually do feel is that they disapprove of the expanded government role.
Regardless of how you feel about this issue or other issues that are reported - and surveys in general - look beyond the headlines to see what the real story is.
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