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Making Sense of Data in the Media
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Making Sense of Data in the Media



December 2019 | 272 pages | SAGE Publications Ltd

"There are two ways to learn about statistics. You could endure pages of maths and formulae, or you could learn from informative case studies exploring how, when and why data is used well or badly in today's society. I prefer the second option. Happily, the authors do too." - Richard Harris, University of Bristol

This is not your typical statistics textbook.

The amount of data produced by and presented in the media has never been greater. But can we trust what we are being shown? In an age of fake news, how can you understand what data is real, misleading, or simply plain wrong?

This book shows you how to critically evaluate the data you see in the media. It weaves everyday real-life examples with statistical concepts in a way that makes statistics come alive. No complex equations, no overly technical language.

This isn’t just learning the techniques needed to pass a stats course. This is a book for anyone who reads (or writes) the news, watches adverts, or goes on the Internet. It will give you tools and knowledge you can apply every day to make sense of the use, and misuse, of data in the media.



 
Chapter 1 Introduction
 
Chapter 2 How to make numbers sound big, or small, even when they aren’t: “Is that a lot?”
 
Chapter 3 Recognizing which numbers you should trust: “Where is the data from?”
 
Chapter 4 Making surveys representative: “Who you gonna call?”
 
Chapter 5 Graphics in the media and how to read them: “What does this mean?
 
Chapter 6 Maps in the media: “Where is this happening?"
 
Chapter 7 Mapping patterns and people: why does geography matter?
 
Chapter 8 Understanding uncertainty in estimation: “are you sure?”
 
Chapter 9 Ranking with league tables: “What's the best?"
 
Chapter 10 When a relationship (doesn’t) mean causality: “How did that happen?"
 
Chapter 11 Surprising quirks in the media: “Is that possible?"
 
Chapter 12 Conclusion

What a timely book. In a world drowning in data we all need to know how to critically evaluate the numbers we confront every day. This book will help you ask those all-important questions and demystify statistics. From ‘is that a lot?’ to ‘is that possible?’ the authors guide you through statistical techniques that are easy to understand and simple to apply. Read it, learn the techniques and use them to become a critical data consumer.

Jackie Carter
University of Manchester

There are two ways to learn about statistics. You could endure pages of maths, formulae and words that are, literally, 'so last century' (or more). Or you could learn from informative case studies exploring how, when and why data are used well or badly in today's society. I prefer the second option; happily, the authors do too.

Richard Harris
University of Bristol

This excellent new book goes beyond the familiar fundamental concepts of statistics to cover the vital, but often neglected issues of place and time. It is essential reading for students who want to understand the use and misuse of numbers.

Robert de Vries
University of Kent

a much needed text for contemporary research

Mr Ian Andrew
Business School, Oxford Brookes University
March 3, 2020

Students find this really easy to work with

Ms Paula Hearsum
School of Arts and Media, Brighton University
July 17, 2020

Sage College Publishing

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