The Misuse, Misrepresentation, and Politicization of Statistics in
American Society critically examines the early measurement efforts of
several government agencies responsible for some of the most widely
watched social indicators on unemployment, life expectancy, crime, and
population. It argues that official statistics are dubious at best,
better seen not so much as objective barometers of social life but
rather as socially constructed metrics that are easily manipulated and
often politicized. This book argues that official statistics
powerfully frame social reality, ultimately helping to determine who
counts and what matters in society. It makes the case that, as with
other types of official accounts, data derived from government sources
needs to be regarded skeptically and systematically investigated. This
book concludes that official statistics are a kind of sanctioned cover
up of everyday reality, hiding the true extent of joblessness,
distorting the real increase in life expectancy, obscuring where crime
actually happens, and understating the undeniable growth of minority
populations.
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Produktdetaljer
ISBN
9781793625533
Publisert
2022
Utgiver
Vendor
Lexington Books
Språk
Product language
Engelsk
Format
Product format
Digital bok
Forfatter