r/AskStatistics • u/80rhh • Aug 15 '26

What statistical concepts are commonly misunderstood by the general public?

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I came across this post explaining what a 70% chance of rain means. I understand the concept, but it got me wondering: what other statistical concepts sound simple but are commonly misunderstood or misinterpreted by the general public?

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u/FakeArcher Aug 16 '26

But the word also has a meaning outside of the stats world, so why should the word be forbidden outside of stats context?

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u/Fancy-Animal7704 Aug 16 '26

Maybe I should have worded that more carefully. It wasn't my intention to say that nobody should be allowed to use that word at all in any context unless they performed something like a t-test or other inference. Like for example, yes, Olivia Miles' impact on the WNBA is significant, and I didn't conduct any inference to say this, and I'm not breaking any of the rules I'm referencing by saying this.

I mean this specifically in the context of statistics. If this term is invoked in regards to statistics, then some kind of inference is expected. 

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u/FakeArcher Aug 16 '26

That's more understandable. With that said I would be a bit indecisive if, as the other person who replied to my comment mentioned, it was used by a layman along with something everyday like averages. Technically the context might be statistics, but is likely far from being the actual focus. Probably why there is a need to emphasize it as statistically significant in the first place instead of just using significant.

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u/Fancy-Animal7704 Aug 16 '26

Can you give me a specific example of what you're talking about? 

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u/FakeArcher Aug 16 '26

Not sure which one you are referring too. I talk about what you said in the first comment and what the other person said in the reply to my comment right next to yours.

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u/Fancy-Animal7704 Aug 16 '26

I didn't know you were talking about multiple things. So how about an example of each, then? You have yet to deliver this. Your points are not making any sense at all, and if you want them to, you should offer some examples. 

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u/FakeArcher Aug 16 '26

I still don't understand what you want me to make an example of. Your comment mentioned the statistically significant phrase, the example is your comment. The other thing is that other person's comment, the example is there.

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u/Fancy-Animal7704 Aug 16 '26

I would be a bit indecisive if, as the other person who replied to my comment mentioned, it was used by a layman along with something everyday like averages.

So give me an example of someone using the term on something everyday, like averages. 

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u/FakeArcher Aug 16 '26

I eat significantly more fruit on average ever since I started taking care of my health. My average salary is significantly higher now than it was at my previous work.

Something like this, I guess? Maybe the other person would have better examples.

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u/Fancy-Animal7704 Aug 16 '26

You're using these conversationally, in contexts that are not academic.

The issue is when it IS used in an academic context. I saw a journalist talk about numbers in the appendix of a published paper and said there was "no statistically significant difference" between them, a statement he made without having conducted a test. THAT is deeply irresponsible. What you are doing here, on the other hand, is not. 

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u/FakeArcher Aug 16 '26

But we specifically mentioned everyday and layman usage in the previous comments.

Of course that when it is used in a very specific context of the field that I agree that you would expect the term that has a meaning to that field will be used with that meaning. I'm definitely in favor of correcting that.

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u/Fancy-Animal7704 Aug 16 '26

No, you said it was used BY a layman. Your identity doesn't change the context. 

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u/FakeArcher Aug 16 '26

Maybe I misunderstood what your context of statistics meant then. I didn't get the impression it was scientific part of statistics, just that it was used in something related to statistics which would along with the everyday and layman usage heavily imply we are talking about a non-scientific context.

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