Statistical Evidence

Water reserves on the West Coast are dangerously low. Oh, no! But how low, exactly? This is the perfect time to use statistical evidence, to explain what “dangerously low” means.

Such statistics can be huge components of an argument. In fact, statistics can be so influential that they can both create and win arguments. You need to be especially careful when using and analyzing statistical evidence, though, because what can win you an argument can also lose you an argument.

Statistical Evidence: Definition

The words get bandied about a lot, but what is a statistic, and what is evidence?

Put them together and what do you get? You get statistical evidence.

A statistic is often derived from a study or a survey and becomes evidence when employed in a new thesis.

Statistical evidence can be collected through a variety of methods, such as surveys, experiments, and observational studies. Statistical evidence is often used in fields such as science, economics, and social sciences, but can be applied to any area where objective data is needed to support an argument or claim in an essay.

Statistical Evidence: Examples

Examples of statistical evidence include surveys, polls, census data, experiment results, economic data, and crime statistics. Statistical evidence can be an effective way to support arguments and provide objective evidence for claims. However, it is important to use statistical evidence responsibly and accurately and to be aware of potential biases and limitations in the data.

Let’s see a piece of statistical evidence, and then use it.

This statistic could then be used to support a thesis statement like this one:

The statistic from our survey would obviously not prove this entire thesis (if it did, it wouldn’t be a good thesis). However, this statistic can certainly help to prove that flying insects are on the decline. Further statistical evidence would be needed to link this decline to climate change, and scientific explanation would be needed to link these two things to the “terrestrial ecosystem.”

Fig. 1 - What is the significance of my statistical decline?

Already, you can see what a pivotal role statistical evidence plays in proving a scientific thesis.

Significance of Statistical Evidence

There are many ways to support an argument, but statistical evidence often feels like the most credible and significant way to do so. Why?

The reason is numbers. Of all the things you are taught in school, math is perhaps the most rigid. There is a right way to add numbers, to subtract numbers, and to use numbers in formulas. Bad math can be slashed up with a red pen, using relentless objectivity. In math class, you will not be asked for your opinion on the effectiveness of the quadratic formula, for instance.

Numbers provide a baseline for people. One plus one equals two is where you begin to compose the world around you. To use the quadratic formula again as an example, you do not provide evidence to support the quadratic formula. You use the quadratic formula as a means to learn something about something else.

So, when someone hears a statistic, it has a sense of finality to it. What could be more fundamental than a rock-solid number? The use of statistical evidence is a powerful way to appeal to logic, also called an appeal to logos.

Fig. 2 - A number has got to be right, right?

Unfortunately, this is where many people go wrong, because despite the fact that statistical evidence is numerical, it is far from indisputable. This is because statistics are not created by the use of formulas in a classroom. Statistics are derived from observation.

Human observation, it should go without saying, is not perfect.

Gathering Statistical Evidence

Statistics are numbers, but numbers can lie: both when they are incorrectly gathered and when they are incorrectly applied.

Incorrectly gathered statistical evidence can be the result of scientific error.

Note the description, “a scientific observation.” This means that scientific errors are honest mistakes. Although they are errors, they are errors committed by neutral researchers. If a study fails to account for the environment, or uses a faulty procedure, or uses malfunctioning instruments, these are often scientific errors. This is different from the other source of statistical error.

The other source of incorrectly gathered statistical evidence is bias.

For instance, if someone conducts the study expecting a certain outcome, that bias might affect their conclusions. If a study blasting the use of video games was conducted by an anti-video-gaming group, you have good reason to pause and question those results, which might well be biased!

Application of Statistical Evidence

Incorrectly applied statistical evidence is the result of manipulation or ignorance.

Here's a way to look at it. Have you ever read an article that cites a study? Of course you have, many times. All right, so how frequently have you read those studies? Probably many fewer times! In itself, this isn’t a bad thing. You can’t be expected to get to the bottom of everything you read, because that’s impossible. However, this issue does shine a light on who you should trust.

When writing your essay, be sure you cite reliable sources, or you will be guilty of ignorance. Ignore your ignorance, and you will be guilty of manipulation!

Here’s the bottom line, essayists. If you use faulty statistical evidence, or you use accurate statistical evidence in a biased way, your essay will suffer. Want to know the better way?

Correctly Gathering and Applying Statistical Evidence

When you use accurate statistical evidence in a neutral and objective manner, your numbers are solid. Correct statistical evidence should not be ignored, and you can leverage the power of those numbers to great effect.

To be sure your statistical evidence is correct, here’s a checklist.

1. Check the source of the statistical evidence. Do you trust it? If you don’t trust it, who does trust it? Is it partisan or fearmongering, or is it a solid research institution you just haven’t heard of? If needed, look into the study. Look into the study anyway, if you really want to show off!

2. Understand the context of the statistical evidence. Be sure you understand what the study means, and what the article means. Be unbiased in your approach.

3. Connect the statistical evidence to your own thesis, using logic. Always follow a line of reasoning.

4. Employ the statistical evidence without manipulation. Don’t inflate it, deflate it, or use it to say anything it doesn’t mean.

Using Statistical Evidence in Your Essay

With accurate statistics in hand, how do you use them?

You want to synthesize your evidence to support your thesis. Here's a step-by-step routine that you can use during your outlining phase.

1. Discard evidence that is redundant.

2. See how your figures relate to each other. Tell a story. Usually, you will want to either go from less general to more general, more general to less general, or chronologically.

3. Sort your statistics under each main point (in each body paragraph). This way, you will know exactly when to use your statistical evidence.

You’re now a legend of the proper use of statistical evidence. Give yourself a pat on the back!