The office and role of Speaker
A research briefing on the office and role of the Speaker of the House of Commons

How are statistics most commonly spun or used incorrectly and what are some of the best ways to tell when this has happened?
How to spot spin and inappropriate use of statistics (460 KB , PDF)
Statistics can be misused, ‘spun’ or used inappropriately in many different ways. This is not always done consciously or intentionally, and the resulting facts or analysis are not necessarily wrong. They may, however, present a partial or overly simplistic picture. Darrell Huff said in the book How to Lie with Statistics:
The fact is that, despite its mathematical base, statistics is as much an art as it is a science. A great many manipulations and even distortions are possible within the bounds of propriety.
Here to spin means to deliberately draw conclusions from statistical evidence which are not supported by this data alone, or to present statistics in a way which is intended to lead their audience to draw such conclusions.
This briefing sets out some common ways in which statistics are used inappropriately or spun and gives some tips to help spot this. The tips are explained in more detail below, but the three essential questions to ask yourself when looking at statistics are:
Compared to what? Since when? Says who?
How to spot spin and inappropriate use of statistics (460 KB , PDF)
A research briefing on the office and role of the Speaker of the House of Commons
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