Heath and Heath, using statistics...

"Particularly in the realm of politics, tinkering with statistics provides lucrative employment for untold numbers of issue advocates.  Ethically challenged people with lots of analytical smarts can, with enough contortions, make almost any case from given set of statistics".

"Of course, let's also remember that it's easier to lie without statistics than with them.  Data enfources boundaries.  Unless people are unethical enough to make up data, the reality of the data contrains them".

"...the rest of us, who aren't spinmeisters, will still be tempted to put the best possible spin on our statistics.  All of us do it.  "I scored 16 points for the church basketball team tonight!" (Not mentioned: 22 missed shots and the loss of the game).  "I'm 5´6 feet" (Not mentioned the 3 inch heels). "Revenue was up to 10% this year, so I think I deserve a bonus".  (Not mentioned: Profits tanked)."

"When it come to statistics, our best advice is to use them as input, not output.  use them to make up your mind on an issue.  Don't make up your mind and then go looking for the numbers to support yourself - that's asking for temptation and trouble".

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