Unit 1

1. Unit 1 Section 1-6

2. 1-6: Uses and Misuses of Statistics • Suspect Samples: • Is the sample size large enough? • How was the sample selected? • Is there a built-in-bias? • Was the sample a convenience sample or a volunteer sample? • For example: • “Three out of four doctors recommend using _______”

3. Section 1-6 • Ambiguous Averages: • There are four types of measures that are commonly used as “averages:” • Mean • Median • Mode • Midrange • These values can vary greatly, therefore can change data. • Changing the Subject: • Using different values to represent the same data. • For Example: • Obama might say “During my administration, expenditures increased 3%.” • Romney might say “During my opponent’s administration, expenditures increased $6,000,000.”

4. Section 1-6 • Detached Statistics: • A claim where no comparison is made. • For example: • “Our product has ½ the calories” • Implied Connections: • A claim that attempts to imply connections between two variables that may not actually exist. • For example: • “Eating vegetables daily may help reduce your cholesterol.”

5. Section 1-6 • Misleading Graphs: • If graphs are drawn inappropriately, they can misrepresent the data. • Misrepresented data can lead a reader to false conclusions. • Faulty Survey Questions: • A researcher needs to ensure that questions are properly written since the way questions are phrased can often influence the way people answer them. • For Example: • “Should Eastern have air-conditioned classrooms?” • “Should taxes be increased to all homeowners in order to air-condition classrooms at Eastern?”

6. Homework • Complete pgs. 27-28 • #’s 20 - 29 • Complete pg. 29 • #’s 12, 13, 20