Question

Luis saw graph that showed over 75% of Germans have been to more than 4 countries. Even more amazing, over 50% of Germans have visited more than 8 countries. Meanwhile, in the United States only 25% have been to more than 5 countries. Clearly Germans visit more countries then Americans. The researcher concludes that Germans are more adventurous then Americans.

·       Do you have any concerns about the researchers statement? (Consider sample bias, Hawthorn effect, confounding variables, placebo effect)

·       Is this an example of a misuse of statistics? Explain your reasoning.

Answer 1

The researcher's conclusion that Germans are more adventurous then Americans. just because Germans visit more countries then Americans. is not correct because of the presence of the following Confounding variables present in the analysis: People of any country visit other countries not for adventure alone, but also for business, personal relatives, medical treatment etc. The researchers has not controlled such confounding variables and so the researcher's conclusion that Germans are more adventurous then Americans. just because Germans visit more countries then Americans. is not correct.

This is an example of a misuse of statistics because using an incorrect procedure the researcher has made conclusion favoring his own ideas in favor of Germans being more adventurous as compared to Americans. This mistake can be corrected at the survey time itself by covering only those people who visit other countries only for adventure and exclude all other reasons such as business, personal relatives, medical treatment etc. from the survey.