ABSTRACT
People frequently use statistics to lend credence to a point: however, numbers don’t necessarily denote facts. Misrepresented numbers give false impressions that may be entirely meaningless. This chapter offers strategies educators and students can use when they encounter claims supported by statistics in the media to determine if they are plausible. It includes a set of questions for reflection and a list of suggested resources. Numbers are regularly distorted by amateurs and professionals alike, both inadvertently and intentionally. In the end, it is up to consumers to question the statistics and data visualizations they come across. The chapter provides tips for making initial broad assessments of numbers cited in articles, television or radio broadcasts, and more. It offers suggestions for checking the plausibility of numbers in three common situations: misleading data visualization; misleading claims; and misleading correlations. When it comes to determining plausibility, the most important mathematics concept to rely on is number sense.
