Statistical Methods

Major Assignment #1 Name Institution Instructor Course Name Course Number Due Date Major Assignment #1 Statistics are universally acknowledged as a credible way of supporting an assertion. However, there are many cases where they are presented in such a way that they can mislead the audience, either purposefully or accidentally. Being aware of how to explore and interpret data is essential to a statistic student as it minimizes the likelihood of being manipulated. This essay explores how statistics can be wrongly or correctly used in advertisements and newspaper articles. Part 1 A problematic statistical claim presented in a toothpaste advertisement (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ULR68LTmbw) is that “only Colgate Total reduces plaque by up to 98 percent and gingivitis by up to 88 percent.” The claim suggests that the company conducted clinical experiment to determine the overall effectiveness of Colgate Total in improving oral health. Based on the phrasing of the statistic, the provided percentage is an indicator of the best-case outcome (reduction of plaque by "up to 98%" and gingivitis by "up to 88%”) for an individual who uses the toothpaste over a period (Croton Publishing, 2009). From the statistic, one can infer that there is variability in outcomes. The statistical conclusion drawn from the advertisement is that the use of Colgate Total significantly reduces plaque and gingivitis compared to other available brands or placebo. The 98% reduction in plaques and 88% reduction in gingivitis indicates that Colgate total is a highly effective toothpaste for ensuring oral health. Based on the provided data, there are several questions that arise. First, one would be interested in learning about the sample size and the demographic characteristics of the study participants to infer the extent to which the results can be generalized to the general population. Second, it would be informative to learn about the treatment of the control group in the study completed. Third, the advertisement would be more information if the duration of the study is discussed. Fourth, the advertisement should provide more data on the distribution of the results and the baseline data collected from the participants. To improve the presentation, the advertiser should consider reporting the average findings as opposed to an emphasis on maximum reductions. To this end, the advertiser can contextualize the data by including a bar graph or box plot showing the distribution of results. It would also be advisable for the advertisement to provide on the clarification on the statistic that is used in the advertisements. The use of “up to” as a phrase in the advertisement creates an ambiguity i...