Statistics Rant
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So many articles that give statistics refer to the median of this and the median of that. Why does no one give averages anymore? And no, a median is not the same as an average. I suspect that more and more writers *think* that median = average.
The difficult we do right away... ...the impossible takes slightly longer.
And they now site stats without a basis like a graph trending over time for example. "We said it, believe it, don't think to wonder why.
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So many articles that give statistics refer to the median of this and the median of that. Why does no one give averages anymore? And no, a median is not the same as an average. I suspect that more and more writers *think* that median = average.
The difficult we do right away... ...the impossible takes slightly longer.
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Richard Andrew x64 wrote:
Why does no one give averages anymore
Can't ignore the possibility they just do not know the difference. Especially since they might be pulling from another source and even that source might not know the difference.
For journalists, that is highly probable. With one minor comment: In Norwegian, 'average' (or in Norwegian: gjennomsnitt) is the common, everyday term that everyone knows and uses. I'd guess that 80% of common people would not be able to correctly explain what 'median' is. Maybe 'median' is more commonly known in English speaking countries, but my impression is that 'average' is a more common term in English as well. An uninformed journalist would be more likely to use 'average', because that is what he knows and understands. And then: Maybe he doesn't really understand 'median', but for that very reason he may be using it to make it sound more 'advanced' and impressing. That could very well happen here in Norway!
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So many articles that give statistics refer to the median of this and the median of that. Why does no one give averages anymore? And no, a median is not the same as an average. I suspect that more and more writers *think* that median = average.
The difficult we do right away... ...the impossible takes slightly longer.
Richard Andrew x64 wrote:
I suspect that more and more writers *think* that median = average.
:thumbsup:
Jeremy Falcon
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So many articles that give statistics refer to the median of this and the median of that. Why does no one give averages anymore? And no, a median is not the same as an average. I suspect that more and more writers *think* that median = average.
The difficult we do right away... ...the impossible takes slightly longer.
For those of you who can make sense of Swedish, and enjoy standups about statistics: Om sannolikhet (About probability)[^] will give you a good laugh (even with this worn-out-VHS-tape-quality from 1969). There are so many puns and so much word play that any subtitling to English would be losing a whole lot of it. It looks as if noone has given it a try. Sorry for you non-Swedish speakers.
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Like with many other things, both have they usage and are the best when appropiated. You can't put nails with scissors and you can't cut a paper with a hammer. People need to learn the differences and use them in the right context.
M.D.V. ;) If something has a solution... Why do we have to worry about?. If it has no solution... For what reason do we have to worry about? Help me to understand what I'm saying, and I'll explain it better to you Rating helpful answers is nice, but saying thanks can be even nicer.
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Richard Andrew x64 wrote:
I suspect that more and more writers *think* that median = average.
:thumbsup:
Jeremy Falcon
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For journalists, that is highly probable. With one minor comment: In Norwegian, 'average' (or in Norwegian: gjennomsnitt) is the common, everyday term that everyone knows and uses. I'd guess that 80% of common people would not be able to correctly explain what 'median' is. Maybe 'median' is more commonly known in English speaking countries, but my impression is that 'average' is a more common term in English as well. An uninformed journalist would be more likely to use 'average', because that is what he knows and understands. And then: Maybe he doesn't really understand 'median', but for that very reason he may be using it to make it sound more 'advanced' and impressing. That could very well happen here in Norway!
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The set of "as simple as possible" solutions frequently has no overlap with the "as complicated as needed" solutions. That is frequently a result of different people determining the two subsets.
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So many articles that give statistics refer to the median of this and the median of that. Why does no one give averages anymore? And no, a median is not the same as an average. I suspect that more and more writers *think* that median = average.
The difficult we do right away... ...the impossible takes slightly longer.
I was always taught that "average" is a generic term that can indicate any of mean, median, or mode. The Oxford dictionary definition tends to support that though is even more vague about the meaning of "average". However the Open University[^] seems to agree. Personally it therefore really winds me up when so-called "academic" papers refer to "average", as it doesn't supply enough information. Maybe in the US "average" has taken on the meaning of "mean", but what term do you then use to encompass mean, median and mode?
Telegraph marker posts ... nothing to do with IT Phasmid email discussion group ... also nothing to do with IT Beekeeping and honey site ... still nothing to do with IT
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I was always taught that "average" is a generic term that can indicate any of mean, median, or mode. The Oxford dictionary definition tends to support that though is even more vague about the meaning of "average". However the Open University[^] seems to agree. Personally it therefore really winds me up when so-called "academic" papers refer to "average", as it doesn't supply enough information. Maybe in the US "average" has taken on the meaning of "mean", but what term do you then use to encompass mean, median and mode?
Telegraph marker posts ... nothing to do with IT Phasmid email discussion group ... also nothing to do with IT Beekeeping and honey site ... still nothing to do with IT
DerekT-P wrote:
but what term do you then use to encompass mean, median and mode?
Lies? :-\
Freedom is the freedom to say that two plus two make four. If that is granted, all else follows. -- 6079 Smith W.
