Lies and Statistics

Lies, Damned Lies and Presenting Data

We all know the cliché: ‘there are lies, damned lies and statistics’. This is certainly true but there is another, far more common, way that we are misled – how data is presented. This short post dives into how data can be presented to draw various differing conclusions, so you’re aware and in the best place to make decisions.

Consider the following: ‘Our production capacity has doubled in 5 years’. Imagine how most busy people would have read the same information if more emphasis was placed on the time and less on the total capacity. Consider further the accompanying information: how have sales, productivity and market share varied during this time? The frame that data is presented in is critical to understanding the message that is conveyed.

Numbers, percentages and utility

We are often bombarded with facts, figures and data. All too often it does not actually mean very much. For example, instead of saying ‘approximately 400 children’ the size of the average primary school allows much faster visualizations. A ‘100 truck convoy’, for example, does not sound like a huge number but, if they are spaced at typical distances, ‘a 10km convoy’ may be more useful. The key of context should be clear but also trying to think what is it that I need to use this information for, can provide an insight into how exactly it should be presented.

Percentages can be similarly presented in all manner of ways. Pie charts are normally neutral but if bold colors are used then overall the focus can be easily, maybe intentionally, misrepresented. Sometimes small increases, expressed as a percentage, can sound more impressive than is actually the case. Similarly, a percentage must be related to some time period. If this time period is missing then you should automatically be skeptical.

We hope that these ideas, at the very least, arm you with the knowledge necessary to see the basic ideas behind the data. 

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