Misleading Use of Statistics Term Paper

Total Length: 395 words ( 1 double-spaced pages)

Total Sources: 1+

Misleading Use of Statistics

The use of statistics by the media can sometimes mislead the readers. Consider the media's reporting of crime rates. The statistics they issue are manipulated such that a bias emerges dependent on the event being highlighted.

Take for example Alexandra Mark's article "U.S. Crime Rate Up, Ending Decade of Decline" in The Christian Science Monitor; the author has compared the crime rate of the year 2002 to the previous decades. Although most of the statistics used in the article are accurate a few lines analyzing the statistics cause the reader to be misled creating a psychological motivation to read on. Factually crime rates have decreased significantly and according to the statistics released by the Justice Department they will continue to decrease.
However, the author has made the statement that the rime rate has increased "for the first time in a decade" [Marks, 2002]. The author does not cite the year of the statistics released, leaving the reader to assume that the issue at hand is current for the year 2002. However, so far the Justice Department has not released the statistics for the year 2002 proving the writers inaccuracy in interpreting the statistical….....

     Open the full completed essay and source list


OR

     Order a one-of-a-kind custom essay on this topic


sample essay writing service

Cite This Resource:

Latest APA Format (6th edition)

Copy Reference
"Misleading Use Of Statistics" (2002, November 11) Retrieved May 23, 2025, from
https://www.aceyourpaper.com/essays/misleading-use-statistics-138441

Latest MLA Format (8th edition)

Copy Reference
"Misleading Use Of Statistics" 11 November 2002. Web.23 May. 2025. <
https://www.aceyourpaper.com/essays/misleading-use-statistics-138441>

Latest Chicago Format (16th edition)

Copy Reference
"Misleading Use Of Statistics", 11 November 2002, Accessed.23 May. 2025,
https://www.aceyourpaper.com/essays/misleading-use-statistics-138441