{"id":278,"date":"2022-02-19T08:32:39","date_gmt":"2022-02-19T13:32:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pressbooks.library.ryerson.ca\/criticaldataliteracy\/?post_type=chapter&p=278"},"modified":"2022-02-27T15:17:53","modified_gmt":"2022-02-27T20:17:53","slug":"ensure-your-comparisons-are-meaningful","status":"publish","type":"chapter","link":"https:\/\/pressbooks.library.torontomu.ca\/criticaldataliteracy\/chapter\/ensure-your-comparisons-are-meaningful\/","title":{"raw":"Ensure Your Comparisons Are Meaningful\u00a0","rendered":"Ensure Your Comparisons Are Meaningful\u00a0"},"content":{"raw":"Data visualization helps to compare information. You hear the term \u201capples to apples\u201d comparisons. This means comparing data sets that are alike. Two sets of statistics that are being used to derive a comparison need to be meaningful comparators.<\/span>\r\n

Common Descriptive Statistics<\/h1>\r\nBrowse through the list below for commonly used descriptive statistics:\r\n\r\n[h5p id=\"7\"]\r\n\r\nYou may also need to adjust for time.\u00a0 For example, when looking at household income data from 1970 to 2021, you will need to adjust for inflation.\u00a0 [See the Bank of Canada\u2019s Inflation Calculator<\/a>.]\u00a0 Often, economists distinguish between nominal data (unadjusted) versus real data (adjusted over time). See Figure 3.1[footnote]Statistics Canada. Table 14-10-0204-01 Average weekly earnings by industry, annual. Data is reproduced and distributed on an \"as is\" basis with the permission of Statistics Canada. Retrieved February 9th, 2022. DOI: https:\/\/doi.org\/10.25318\/1410020401-eng. Statistics Canada Open Licence: https:\/\/www.statcan.gc.ca\/en\/reference\/licence[\/footnote] for a line graph example of how nominal and real data differ.\r\n
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\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_430\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"692\"]\"A Figure 3.1. The \"real\" salary in this graph considers inflation as of 2021 by showing what the 2021 equivalent of the \u201cnominal\u201d salary is.[\/caption]\r\n\r\nCheck your knowledge using the line graph in Figure 3.2[footnote]Statistics Canada. Table 32-10-0364-01 Area, production and farm gate value of marketed fruits. Data is reproduced and distributed on an \"as is\" basis with the permission of Statistics Canada. Retrieved January 9th, 2022. DOI: https:\/\/doi.org\/10.25318\/3210036401-eng. Statistics Canada Open Licence: https:\/\/www.statcan.gc.ca\/en\/reference\/licence[\/footnote] with the activity that follows.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_429\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"690\"]\"A Figure 3.2. Canadian fruit production shows how much fruit is produced in Ontario and the change in Quebec\u2019s fruit farm gate value, 2016-2020.[\/caption]\r\n\r\n[h5p id=\"8\"]\r\n

Avoid Confirmation Bias<\/h1>\r\nWhen looking for data, we may be seeking to confirm what we already believe. While this may be human nature, it is important to find objective sources of data and let the analysis speak for itself.\u00a0 Reviewing good quality data can help to challenge our assumptions and ensure that we retain as much objectivity as possible.\r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>","rendered":"

Data visualization helps to compare information. You hear the term \u201capples to apples\u201d comparisons. This means comparing data sets that are alike. Two sets of statistics that are being used to derive a comparison need to be meaningful comparators.<\/span><\/p>\n

Common Descriptive Statistics<\/h1>\n

Browse through the list below for commonly used descriptive statistics:<\/p>\n

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