spin and statistics

So far, I am really enjoying this new round of summer session courses. I am only two days into the summer semester II, so there is no pressure - yet. Sociology classes are always fun because you get to look at stats, spin them different ways, and see what kinds of conclusions you can draw (based upon your assumptions, your methodology, and the like).

When you are looking at stats it is also healthy to be a little bit cynical of the conclusions that are being drawn, but I have never heard it put in quite this way before:

"Statistics are like pornography, they give you a sense of intimacy you don't really have."

(Professor James Penner, quoting an associate)

I believe this is true of so much of the "scientific" data that we rely upon in the social sciences. Without question, there is value to be found in the research and findings, but there are also so many variables that cannot be controlled or measured when we turn the microscope upon ourselves.