Miscellaneous

What are some steps you can take to avoid being deceived by statistics that you encounter?

What are some steps you can take to avoid being deceived by statistics that you encounter?

Originally published to wide acclaim, this lively, cleverly illustrated essay on the use and abuse of maps teaches us how to evaluate maps critically and promotes a healthy skepticism about these easy-to-manipulate models of reality. Monmonier shows that, despite their immense value, maps lie. In fact, they must.

When should you use statistics in a speech?

True/False: the main purpose of using statistics in a speech is to make the speech more vivid. False: Feedback: The main value of using statistics in a speech is to quantify the speaker's ideas; examples are used to make a speech more vivid.

How do you lie with data?

One of the easiest ways to misrepresent your data is by messing with the y-axis of a bar graph, line graph, or scatter plot. In most cases, the y-axis ranges from 0 to a maximum value that encompasses the range of the data. However, sometimes we change the range to better highlight the differences.

How do you use statistics in a speech?

First, using a statistic demonstrates that you've done research and are working hard for the audience. Second, using statistics from trusted sources (e.g. the World Health Organization) boosts your credibility by association. Statistics can be memorable, sticking with your audience beyond the duration of your speech.