Explain the impact resulting from the selective reporting of ...

[PhilipSeeMore]

Explain the impact resulting from the selective reporting of statistical results by the media.

Question 2

Suppose a researcher conducts 100 hypothesis tests on her large data set and reports on the five results that were found to be significant, but doesn't inform the reader about the other 95 tests that were done. Is there a problem with this? Explain why or why not.

[blakcmamba]

Answer to Question 1

THE MEDIA LIKES TO SELECTIVELY REPORT THE MOST INTERESTING/SHOCKING RESULTS; WHEN THEY LEAVE OUT THE INFORMATION ON LESS INTERESTING STUDIES OR RESULTS, THEY ARE CREATING BIAS IN THEIR REPORTING OF RESEARCH RESULTS, AND ARE TAKING RESULTS OUT OF CONTEXT. THIS IS NOT ETHICAL.

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Answer to Question 2

YES. EITHER OF THE FOLLOWING REASONS IS OK: 1) IT IS UNETHICAL NOT TO GIVE READERS THE WHOLE PICTURE; 2) CHANCE ALONE WOULD GIVE YOU 5 SIGNIFICANT RESULTS OUT OF 100 TESTS ON AVERAGE, SO HER RESULTS COULD VERY WELL BE MEANINGLESS.