Five questions to ask about any statistic you read in the news

A number can make a claim sound scientific. But the same data can be presented in ways that exaggerate or hide the truth. Ask these questions before you believe or share a statistic.

1. Where does it come from?

Look for the source: a government office, a university, a company or an unnamed "study". Reliable reports tell you who collected the data and how.

2. How many people or items were counted?

A survey of 20 people cannot speak for a whole country. Look for the size and make-up of the group.

3. What is it compared with?

"Sales increased by 50 percent" sounds big, but not if it moved from two items to three. Ask about the starting point, the time period and the comparison.

4. Who benefits from this number?

If the person sharing the figure is selling something or promoting a cause, they may choose the data that supports them. That does not make them wrong, but it is a reason to check.

5. Does it show cause or just a link?

Two things happening together do not prove that one caused the other. For example, ice cream sales and heat both rise in hot weather, but ice cream does not cause heat.

A quick habit

When you see a surprising figure, search for the original report, read what it actually says and see whether other reliable sources agree. If you cannot find the source, treat the number with care.

Written by the EarnNaija team at EarnNaija Digital Technologies.

This article is general information, not financial or legal advice. Earnings are never guaranteed. See our fees page for the exact costs.