Lecture 001

Chapter 1

Q: Why do we need to interpret data

• because different way of saying data can leads to emotional difference (we associate 20 as low number where as 90 as high number)

• because different reader probably care about different aspects of data

Q: What is the importance of presenting data accurately

• I may say something increase 100% (1 -> 2) but in fact only 1 is increased.

Data: not just numerical, include words, observations, experiences

Discussion

The Challenger memo

Second question: use of the word "small"

Statistics on depression

1. women are twice likely to experience depression in lifetime
2. 1 in 10 men have experience depression in lifetime 3. 4.

Chapter 2

Presenting data for different people

Subtitles of data charts should tell story:

• "Table 2.2below illustrates the difference between describing data and telling a story about data." instead "Figure 2.1 shows Twitter use and relationship length"

• 

Unethical ways:

• hope readers will misinterpret data

• believe small differences are large (or vice-versa)

• leaving off important context

• exaggerating the conclusion

Unethical Examples

Correlation != Causation

Class

story: interpretation of significance of data describing data: numbers from the graph hedging: using words like "appear to"