Mistakes in Experimental Design and Interpretation:
This is an excellent article discussing very common errors in how people use data. We have tendencies that lead us to draw faulty conclusions from data. Given that it is important to understand what common mistakes are made to help us counter the natural tendencies.
Related: Seeing Patterns Where None Exists - Illusions, Optical and Other - Understanding Data - Dangers of Forgetting the Proxy Nature of Data - How to Deal with False Research Findings - descriptive “theory” and normative theory
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January 1st, 2009 at 8:35 am
[...] Looking at random data people will find patterns. Sound scientific experimentation is how we learn, not trying to find anything that support our opinions. Statistics don’t lie but ignorant people draw faulty conclusions from data (when they are innumerate - illiteracy with mathematical concepts). [...]
January 13th, 2009 at 1:14 pm
[...] Mistakes in Experimental Design and Interpretation - Data Based Decision Making at Google - Freeware Math Programs - How Large Quantities of [...]