This is great. I wish this or something like it would appear everday on the front page of every news magazine and newspaper as well as at the beginning of every newscast. On Fox it should probably be at the end of every commercial break and before resuming programming.
Right on the money. But my poll(sample size 1; margin of error: +/- 1) says 87% of the population who need this information won't understand it.
Perhaps its time to consider whether elementary statistics should be a requirement for high school graduation, on the theory that those without it are not equipped to become functioning citizens in the information age.
Of course every new practice has side effects. If the majority of the electorate had a grasp of basic stats, any number of politicians would be chased out their respective capitals on the wrong end or a cattle prod. And certain institutions-- FOX News, for instance-- would cease to exist entirely.
Your title, "If only everyone took basic statistics", is what I've been thinking pretty much constantly for the last 2 years. I'd get it tattooed on my forehead if I thought it'd make any difference...
This is great. I wish this or something like it would appear everday on the front page of every news magazine and newspaper as well as at the beginning of every newscast. On Fox it should probably be at the end of every commercial break and before resuming programming.
Right on the money. But my poll(sample size 1; margin of error: +/- 1) says 87% of the population who need this information won't understand it.
Perhaps its time to consider whether elementary statistics should be a requirement for high school graduation, on the theory that those without it are not equipped to become functioning citizens in the information age.
Of course every new practice has side effects. If the majority of the electorate had a grasp of basic stats, any number of politicians would be chased out their respective capitals on the wrong end or a cattle prod. And certain institutions-- FOX News, for instance-- would cease to exist entirely.
Your title, "If only everyone took basic statistics", is what I've been thinking pretty much constantly for the last 2 years. I'd get it tattooed on my forehead if I thought it'd make any difference...