Reply #30: I second the idea of statistics for everyone [View All]

[Rabrrrrrr]

I think a lot of stupidity would be eliminated if people actually knew how statistics were generated, what they mean, and how to "fool" them, and how graphics and things - such as USA Today seems to like to pull (or at least used to) - can be used to obfuscate the truth.

And we need to figure out a way to get people to learn the difference between a percentage increase and an absolute increase. (Such as the statement "The number of high school students who drop out of school is at an all-time high!" - well, in absolute numbers? probably - the number of students is at an all-time high. But how is it on a percentage basis? The drop out rate might actually be lower than previous years, even though the number is higher)

Argh.

Math stupidity is a real bane on the existance of a society.