why we are so suspicious of statistical data taken in isolation, or out of context, or from a highly partisan source, or when delivered with such obvious relish.
The Truth depends on the Teller, and the Fact on the Interpreter. Its not that there is necessarily any prevarication involved, its because information can be selectively assembled, emphasized and chosen, often subconsciously, to influence conclusions. This happens all the time in in the physical sciences; in the social sciences it is endemic. In politics and economics, it is inevitable.
In the long run, even in fields like cosmology and particle physics, peer review, professional consensus, even intellectual fashion, plays a bigger role in determining objective reality than we care to admit.
Current Events » in reply to The Famous Poll...
Perhaps you can see now,
The whole thread (24 posts)
- "The Six Big Takeaways From the Government Shutdown"
- I agree
- Republicans vowed to paralyze Obama's political efforts, and they have.
- Superfluous tripe. Who gives a shit how it will affect politicians. n/t
- Good piece. Are you heartened?
- My big takeaway:
- Seems to have been written before yesterdays' release of the NBC/WSJ poll