Damned Lies and Statistics: Untangling Numbers from the Media, Politicians, and Activists Essay

This report depends on the book â€Å"Damned Lies and Statistics: Untangling Numbers from the Media, Politicians, and Activists†, composed by Joel Best and distributed by University of California Press in 2001. Joel Best, a teacher of humanism and criminal equity at the University of Delaware, has composed an exceptionally lucid treatise on measurements, and how we can turn out to be better customers of the factual data that saturates the earth wherein we live. Joel Best is a humanist and, thus, this isn't a book about the arithmetic of insights, however about its human science. That is, a book about the manners by which terrible measurements are created and spread through society. The title of the book originates from Mark Twain’s celebrated expression â€Å"lies, accursed untruths, and statistics†, which is typically deciphered as gathering measurements with lies. A progressively basic title would originate from the expression â€Å"figures don’t lie, however liars can figure†. In spite of its pessimistic title, Best’s book is perhaps the most ideal approaches to figure out how to stop being awestruck by insights, and to begin basically assessing them. In direct exposition loaded up with true models, Joel Best deconstructs the procedures by which social measurements are made and take on their very own existence, essentially through visually impaired and unquestioning redundancy by the media. He likewise depicts how such insights are now and again transformed, misconstrued, twisted, and controlled. In his view, there are no ideal insights, simply better or more awful ones. Each measurement includes human decisions: characterizing what to gauge, deciding how to quantify it, concluding whom to tally or how to tally it, and picking how to manage unreported cases (the dim figure) of whatever is being tallied. Not exclusively does each measurement contain recognizable, however by and large unrecognized qualities, shortcomings, and dim figures, yet a considerable lot of the most dubious and vigorously announced insights are made by individuals in promotion positions. Social measurements †insights about social issues, for example, prostitution or self destruction †are frequently created by activists who are worried about the issue, and may misrepresent it. When not delivered by activists, measurements are regularly a result of government, which might be spurred the other way of the activists, to make light of an issue. A speedy synopsis of the issues and subjects in this book offers a decent review of reliable discernment on measurable issues. Section 1, â€Å"The Importance of Social Statistics†, clarifies where measurements originate from, how we use them, and why they are significant. Section 2, â€Å"Soft Facts†, talks about wellsprings of awful measurements. Speculating, poor definitions, poor measures, and awful examples are the essential wellsprings of terrible insights. Great insights require great information; clear, sensible definitions; clear, sensible measures; and suitable examples. Section 3, â€Å"Mutant Statistics†, depicts the strategies for damaging numbers. The majority of these emerge from disregarding the four prerequisites of good insights, however another issue emerges here. While it is generally simple to spot terrible measurements, freak insights require a second degree of comprehension. As measurements transform, they take on a history, and it gets important to unwind the history to see exactly how and why they are freak. Change, disarray, and compound mistakes make chains of terrible measurements that become hard to follow and sort. Section 4, â€Å"Apples and Oranges†, talks about the risks of unseemly examination. Risks emerge when correlations after some time include changing and constant measures, and projections. Examinations among spots and gatherings lead to issues not only in the information estimated, yet in the manners in which the information might be assembled and ordered. Examination among social issues additionally makes one of a kind challenges. Best offers rationale of correlation with assistance the peruser see how to comprehend great examination and terrible correlation. Section 5, â€Å"Stat Wars†, portrays the issues that emerge when pushed utilize sketchy numbers to put forth a defense. Part 6, â€Å"Thinking About Social Statistics†, summarizes Best’s exhortation on understanding measurements †don’t be awestruck despite numbers, and don’t be skeptical about them, he proposes, be basic and insightful.

Free Catcher in the Rye Essays: Manic-Depressive Holden :: free essay writer

Hyper Depressive Behavior Exhibited in The Catcher in the Ryeâ â â â â â â â â â â The Catcher in the Rye, by J.D. Salinger, depicts Holden Cawfield a New York City adolescent in the 1950's as a hyper burdensome. Holden's downturn begins with the demise of his sibling, Allie . Holden is ousted from various schools because of his poor scholastics which are welcomed on by his depression.â Manic despondency, enthusiastic lying, and youthfulness all through the novel describe Holden.  â â â â â â â â â â Events throughout Holden's life lead him to get discouraged. Holden's downturn focuses on Allie. The way that Holden sees himself and how he sees others drives him to be ousted from school. The speaker communicates, One thing about pressing discouraged me somewhat, (51). Holden communicates these emotions when he gathers his sacks in the wake of being advised that he is expelled.â Holden leaves school and heads for New York City, where he ends up to be more desolate and discouraged than any other time in recent memory. He is in solitude and he regrets, What I truly wanted to do was ending it all. I wanted to leap out of the window, (104). Holden says this while he is in solitude in his inn room. He is excessively embarrassed about himself to get back, he realizes that his mom will be disturbed and his dad will be furious with him. He additionally includes that I wasn’t feeling tired or anything, however I was feeling kind of lousy. Discour aged and all, I nearly wished I was dead, (90). Holden states this during one of the primary evenings that he is remaining in New York.â Holden communicates numerous contemplations of depression.â  â â â â â â â â â â Compulsive lying is another trademark thatâ Holden displays. Holden would tell individuals lies to make sure they couldn't turn out to be nearer to the genuine Holden. Holden lies on various events to gain.â Holden disgracefully tells Mrs. Morrow, I must have a little operation†¦ it isn't intense. I have this small little tumor on my mind (58). She discloses to Holden that she is exceptionally heartbroken and she is confident that he will be well soon. Holden then gets him self in a falsehood and he remarkes, When I begin, I can continue for a considerable length of time on the off chance that I have a feeling that it, (58). This impulsive lying shows that Holden isn't happy with himself and that he feels that individuals will pass judgment on him basically.

Washington D.C. Career Conference COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY - SIPA Admissions Blog

Washington D.C. Career Conference COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY - SIPA Admissions Blog One topic that sometimes will come up when prospective students are considering where to do go to school are the pluses and minues of geographical location.   Geographical location of a school is a logical topic to consider and I thought I would provide a bit of input to complement the entry below, submitted by current student Lacey Ramirez. There are certain tangible benefits of going to school in a particular place.   If you go to school in New York you will be close to the United Nations for example.   However, if you were to go to the United Nations today and stop ten people that work there, it would be highly unlikely that all ten graduated from a school in New York. I would say the same for Washington D.C.   I have several friends that work in D.C., however none of them went to school in the greater D.C. area.   In short, and I am not providing earth shattering insight here, you do not need to go to school where you wish to work.   I went to school in Portland, Oregon and have worked in Pusan, South Korea, Santa Clara, California, and New York City. Another fact that you might be interested in is that the second largest network of SIPA alumni in the world is located in Washington D.C.   We do understand the desire of our students to have exposure to what Washington D.C. has to offer and one part of this is our annual Washington D.C. Career Conference. In addition to the article below on the 2011 Conference, I think you will find the following former blog entries to be useful as well: Interview with organizer of the 2010 Career Conference A SIPA alumnus, now working in Washington, D.C. reflects on his time in New York City A blog entry by a student that attended the D.C. Conference in 2009 Without further delay, here is the entry composed by Lacey that she wrote after attending this years conference. _____________________ A very important question one has in choosing a graduate school is what kinds of employment opportunities will come from a particular school.   This was a central question when I was looking at programs, and I was especially interested in those that offered some kind of professional development.   At SIPA professional development is a core component of the curriculum. Each year we are required to take a day-long professional development course.   The courses are tailored to meet different interests of students in the program, and include the following topic areas: private sector, international students, career changers, media and communications, and international/nonprofit sectors.   Courses are taught by successful SIPA alumni and professional recruiters.   I have often used the resources and materials that I gained from these courses in my internship and job searches. Another really interesting professional development experience offered at SIPA is the Washington DC Conference, which is a 3-day event offered during winter break.   I participated in the conference this year, and it truly was a great experience and central to the job search I am initiating as I enter my last semester.   The conference provided a great opportunity for me to gain exposure to my different fields of interest and practitioners.   Also, the conference is only open to SIPA students making it really easy to maneuver and feel comfortable. The first day of the conference included panels on different sectors and covered topics such as corporate social responsibility, urban and social policy, international development consulting, security policy, energy policy, multilaterals, and the list goes on and on.   It was challenging for me to narrow the ones I wanted to participate in!!   Admittedly, I am not typically a huge fan of panels, but I was incredibly impressed with the practitioners who led them.   The panels were also mediated by a staff member from the SIPA Career Center, and the audiences were just the right size for questions.   The best part was being able to approach the practitioners after the panel and exchange contact information!!! The second day of the conference was a series of site visits.   The visits included many different offices in the federal government, consulting firms, development banks, think tanks, and private practitioners.   It was a whirlwind of visits and also provided an opportunity to connect with specific offices of interest.   I also realized in a site visit that I am extremely interested in a particular organization that I will be applying to this spring.   The best part is that I have a series of contacts that I now know, and I can email them for guidance through my application process. The evening of the second day of the conference the Career Center organized an event at the Four Seasons Hotel in Georgetown that was a little more informal event with hors doeuvres and drinks.   SIPA alumni in the DC area were all invited to the event, and it gave us another venue to get advice from seasoned professionals and recent grads.   I also appreciated that it was a little more of a relaxed environment in which to network. The final day is reserved for one-on-one informational interviews.   The SIPA Career Center sends out a list of SIPA alumni available to participate in the interviews. I then sent out a number of emails to alumni working in offices of particular interest to me.   I was able to set up about five interviews, and it was a fantastic process.   The ones I chose were different from the ones I visited on the 2nd day, and it really helped me to narrow down organizations that I am specifically interested in and the potential job opportunities that fit my interests. The best part of the conference is it provided current students exposure to a number of varying fields ranging from security policy, humanitarian affairs, development, and even included private sector opportunities in finance and economics.   I was able to cover my range of professional interests, and I know several other people who also felt satisfied with the experience.   I have made some amazing contacts through the whole process, and I have a new sense of confidence about applying for jobs.   I am very pleased that I chose to participate in the conference, and it truly was a great benefit to me.