Friday, April 27, 2007
How to Misinterpret Statistics
(Story from the BBC):
Sensible Person's Interpretation: These statistics tell us nothing. What are the circumstances of the children who are drinking too much? Were they introduced to alcohol at an early age in a home environment, or were they prevented from drinking it and thus went to the park at the earliest opportunity to gulp down as many cans of Special Brew as possible?
Thankfully, Public Health Minister Caroline Flint, speaking on Today, seemed to be sensible enough to mention that there is no evidence that introducing alcohol to children in the home led to alcohol abuse.
Figures published by the NHS's information centre last November, showed boys aged 11 to 13 drank an average of 12 units of alcohol a week in 2006 compared to eight in 2000. The figure for girls increased from five units to eight.Charity Concern's Blairite interpretation: We must stop children drinking alcohol so ban them from drinking it!
Sensible Person's Interpretation: These statistics tell us nothing. What are the circumstances of the children who are drinking too much? Were they introduced to alcohol at an early age in a home environment, or were they prevented from drinking it and thus went to the park at the earliest opportunity to gulp down as many cans of Special Brew as possible?
Thankfully, Public Health Minister Caroline Flint, speaking on Today, seemed to be sensible enough to mention that there is no evidence that introducing alcohol to children in the home led to alcohol abuse.
