Chapter 17
Ten Common Errors That Arise in Statistical Analysis
IN THIS CHAPTER
Understanding logical fallacies that may arise in statistical analysis
Avoiding drawing incorrect conclusions from statistical results
Understanding the types of errors that can result in regression analysis
Understanding forecasting errors
Realizing how information may be presented incorrectly
In the For Dummies Part of Tens fashion, this chapter discusses ten ways people may draw incorrect conclusions from statistical tests. These erroneous conclusions can result from several sources, including incorrect assumptions, misunderstanding the meaning of a statistical test, use of inappropriate data, and measurement error.
Any one of these mistakes can lead to erroneous conclusions being drawn, no matter how sophisticated the techniques being used. Part of the art of statistics is knowing which techniques to use under different circumstances and how to correctly interpret them. The following sections discuss ...