Statistics

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Neil Postman claims that we have an obsession with numbers and statistics. He makes a generalization about social scientists, "Our psychologists, sociologists, and educators find it quite impossible to do their work without numbers. They believe that without numbers they cannot acquire or express authentic knowledge" (13). I will admit that social scientists, including sociologists and psychologists, use numbers and statistics in their work. These two fields are research oriented. In order to show a relationship exists between what is being studied, numbers are needed. I do believe, however, that Postman takes this use of statistics out of context. We use statistics to show relationships, but Postman makes it seem like we use numbers aimlessly without reason. Postman also thinks that statistics create useless information. Author Chamont Wang defends our use of statistics saying, "The world is full of problems that need to be solved, and in order to solve them numerical information is often required. Statistics is of use in any area where persons must depend upon reliable data and the use of sound techniques of analysis."

Statistics have influence on almost every aspect of our lives, but Postman claims they are "volumes of garbage." He even goes so far as to refer to the "idiotic statistic of the day" (137) found in USA Today. Apparently Postman is unaware of the importance of statistics. "Statistical techniques for controlling the quality of products and processes are used both in manufacturing and the service industries. Economic statistics affect business planning and wages for workers, health statistics affect medical care, and population counts affect the allocation of congressional seats and federal aid to the states" (Wang) . Statistics are very important in our every day life, and perhaps Postman is somewhat accurate when he says, "Statistics is almost the principle invisible technology in our culture" (Wilson) . It is ironic that Postman acknowledges that statistics are a large part of our culture, yet he deems them useless. He seems to contradict himself, in my opinion. Statistics are the principle "invisible technology", yet they are useless to us. Maybe Postman is saying that "invisible technologies" on the whole are useless. This means that he thinks credit cards and achievement tests are equally useless, since they are "invisible technologies", also. I don't think Postman looked at all the sides of his argument and how he contradicts himself throughout it. This makes his argument faulty and unbelievable.

Here are some web pages with useful statistics:

• Bureau of Justice Statistics
  
• World Tables of Economic and Social Indicators
  
• State of the World's Children