Sometimes it’s hard to know what statistics are worthy of trust. But we shouldn’t count out stats altogether … instead, we should learn to look behind them.

1. Symptoms of
bad statistics
Sayantini Biswas

2. INSIGHTS:
• Why people are growing more sceptical of statistics?
• How to identify a bad statistic?

5. Taking a proper decision is always easy if we have

9. Well-chosen averages:
Averages are compelling statistics
because they give us a clean and
simple number, but as a sceptical
thinker you also have to pay attention
to how the numbers are distributed,
which often gives you a more complete
picture of what’s going on.

11. 1. Be Wary of Statistics in Promotions:
First, be sceptical of stats in promotional pieces.They are trying to convince you to consume an ideology or a
product.
Statistics are effective at moving people toward action, but it can border on manipulation, depending on how
you use or change the numbers and information.

12. 2. Be Wary of Stats that Cannot beVerified:

13. 3. Be Wary of Stats that do not Line up with Reality:
Thirdly, be sceptical about statistics that do not line up with your reality. For example,
one statistic seems to indicate that Christians and non-Christians divorce at the same
rate.