Problem
Misuse of statistics
Other Names:
Biased adjustment of statisticsMisleading reports
Misreporting of statistics
Misinterpretation of statistics
Biased adjustment of official statistics by government
Unethical use of statistics
Corruption of statisticians
Statistical malpractice
Official abuse of statistics
Nature:
Numerical reports are deliberately slanted in order to make a situation appear more as the writer or his employers would like to have it. Incidence:
Police in the UK are reported to improve the rate of crimes they have solved by extracting "confessions" from cooperative prisoners. USA military personnel exaggerated deaths of enemies. Investment fund managers choose periods of comparison to maximize the sales value of their fund. Governments change methods of determining unemployment and then compare rates developed from the different methods. In the UK, between 1979 and 1988, 19 changes were make to the way unemployment was calculated; all but one decreased the amount of unemployment. The government also masked for two years the widening gulf in living standards between rich and poor by a statistical mistake. In the statistics published by the United Nations, including the World Bank, certain countries are treated for political reasons as though they do not exist. Thus Taiwan, despite its productivity, is not mentioned, nor is South Africa. This makes the UN data of questionable value for any global comparative study, especially with respect to the economic future of particular regions. Broader Problems:
Incorrect informationAbuse of government powerUnethical professional practicesUnethical practices of regulatory inspectors Narrower Problems:
Misleading public opinion polls Related Problems:
Statistical errorsCorruption of documentsInadequate social and demographic statistics Aggravates:
Irresponsible tobacco and cigarette advertisingSuppression of information concerning social problemsIncreasing scepticism about the accuracy of official information Strategies:
Developing codes of conduct for public servantsReducing government corruptionRegulating public sector with independent bodyReducing public sector corruptionDisseminating informationAbolishing unethical use of statisticsAbolishing unethical use of statisticsAbolishing unethical use of statisticsUsing statisticsReporting statistical malpracticeInterpreting statisticsMisinterpreting statisticsProducing reportsReporting statisticsMisreporting statistics Subject(s):
Fundamental Sciences → StatisticsCommunication → Journalism
Communication → Censorship
Societal Problems → Corruption
Societal Problems → Maltreatment
Societal Problems → Imbalances
Government → Government
Innovative change → Change
Related UN Sustainable Development Goals:
Problem Type:
F: Fuzzy exceptional problems Date of last update
01.01.2000 – 00:00 CET