Statistics was not a favorite class of mine in high school or college. I enjoyed math, algebra, geometry and calculus in grade school, but never enjoyed statistics. I could never understand the concepts fully.
As a “grown up”, I have been thrown into the world of statistics mercilessly. I currently manage multiple websites for businesses and myself, therefore, I review various traffic reports. I review multiple reports–from revenue projects to budget allocations–statistics has taken a foothold in my life. I have learned the advantages and disadvantages of not conceptually grasping the fundamentals of statistics. Thus, I felt the need to share the information below.
I reviewed the following two statistical quotes this morning and thought they would help you appreciate the role statistics plays in your life.
Statistics will, and should, almost always be used to illustrate a relationship. It’s more important for people to remember the relationship than the number.
When it comes to statistics, our best advice is to use them as input, not output. Use them to make up your mind on an issue. Don’t make up your mind and then go looking for the numbers to support yourself.
Both quotes are courtesy of Chip and Dan Heath
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