reading, data and table, statistic

2021/3/10 Extra Credit - Suspicious or Sound: Evaluating Statistics

https://seattleu.instructure.com/courses/1595282/assignments/6900980?module_item_id=17231830 1/1

Extra Credit - Suspicious or Sound: Evaluating Statistics

Due Friday by 11:59pm Points 0 Submitting a file upload Available until Mar 12 at 11:59pm

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Suspicious or Sound: Evaluating Statistics Extra Credit Activity

Due March 12th at 11:59pm

Point value: Worth anywhere from 0 to 10 points added to your Problem Set grade depending on the quality of the work.

You'll need: Best's Damned Lies and Statistics - Introduction & Chapter 1 (located in the Week 10 module on the Home Page) "Misleading Statistics and Data" https://www.datapine.com/blog/misleading-statistics-and- data/ (https://www.datapine.com/blog/misleading-statistics-and-data/)

The purpose of this assignment is to identify a statistic that you read from the news, an advocacy group or NGO, or social media and identify whether it is a suspicious or sound statistic (and why). This is a 1-2 page paper that is typed and double-spaced.

The paper should include: 1. The statistic and where you found it. (Provide a link to the source) 2. Identification of how the statistic was created. Where did the information come from? 3. An evaluation of the validity of the statistic. Using Best's Damned Lies and Statistics as a

framework, think about what might make us question this statistic. Is there anything misleading about how the statistic is portrayed (in the media source or by an organization) vs. how it was measured and what it actually means?

Assessment: You will be assessed based on the degree to which your piece:

Uses the different criteria suggested by Joel Best to assess your statistic. Rationale and accuracy of your interpretation of the validity of the statistic (sometimes we’re too suspicious. Think critically about whether this is a valid statistic). Writing. Clearly and concise paragraphs, grammatically correct sentences, spelling.