Includes bibliographical references (p. 119-129) and index.
Contents
pt. 1. Getting started -- A. Spotting questionable numbers -- B. Background -- B.1. Statistical benchmarks -- B.2. Severity and frequency -- pt. 2. Varieties of dubious data -- C. Blunders -- C.1. The slippery decimal point -- C.2. Botched translations -- C.3. Misleading graphs -- C.4. Careless calculations -- D. Sources : who counted - and why? -- D.1. Big round numbers -- D.2. Hyperbole -- D.3. Shocking claims -- D.4. Naming the problem -- E. Definitions : what did they count? -- E.1. Broad definitions -- E.2. Expanding definitions -- E.3. Changing definitions -- E.4. The uncounted -- F. Measurements : how did they count? -- F.1. Creating measures -- F.2. Odd units of analysis -- F.3. Loaded questions -- F.4. Raising the bar -- F.5. Technical measures -- G. Packaging : what are they telling us? -- G.1. Impressive formats -- G.2. Misleading samples -- G.3. Convenient time frames -- G.4. Peculiar percentages -- G.5. Selective comparisons -- G.6. Statistical milestones -- G.7. Averages -- G.8. Epidemics -- G.9. Correlations -- G.10. Discoveries -- H. Debates : what if they disagree? -- H.1. Causality debates -- H.2. Equality debates -- H.3. Policy debates -- pt. 3. Stat-spotting on your own -- I. Summary : Common signs of dubious data -- J. Better data : some characteristics -- K. Afterword : If you had no idea things were that bad, they probably aren't -- L. Suggestions for those who want to continue stat-spotting -- Acknowledgments -- Notes -- Index.
