Dear Simon and all,
This is really thought provoking and testing it objectively would make a
first class research project...It really is a key for transforming evidence
into practice. Thank you for sharing this.
I was math phobic and finally took maths so I could understand statistics.
It was the only way I could see to analyse what was in front of me and
project future probability. As to the question are statisticians less
generous/sensitive to human need....I think not for instance on this list
serve many have helped above and beyond for all of us starting out. Maybe as
humankind we are event orientated for fight/flight survival reasons...
In my experience statistical knowledge has empowered me to make more
accurate choices when faced with anecedotal evidence and not get mired down
with the drama.
I have learned that the most difficult emotion for me to face is
helplessness and to say there is nothing more I can do. In this situation
objective evidence provides a critical balance between compassion and
refusing to face the obvious.
Best,
Amy
Amy Price
Http://empower2go.org
Building Brain Potential
-----Original Message-----
From: Evidence based health (EBH)
[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Steve Simon,
P.Mean Consulting
Sent: 11 July 2011 08:07 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Anecdotes versus evidence
Thanks for all the links to articles discussing the emotional impact of
anecdotes. Nicholas Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn have an interesting
summary related to this topic in their book "Half the Sky: Turning
Oppression into Opportunity for Women Worldwide." The bottom line is
that anecdotes are effective at raising money for a worthy cause, but
statistics tend to backfire. Perhaps it's their impersonal nature or the
impression they give that the problem is so big that it is insurmountable.
I wrote up a brief summary for the Chance News website (issue 58, item #9):
-->
http://www.causeweb.org/wiki/chance/index.php/Chance_News_58#Statistics_make
_you_stingy
--
Steve Simon, [log in to unmask], Standard Disclaimer.
Sign up for the Monthly Mean, the newsletter that
dares to call itself average at www.pmean.com/news
|