How Not to Lie with Statistics: Avoiding Common Mistakes in Quantitative Political Science
Citation
King, Gary. 1986. How not to lie with statistics: Avoiding common mistakes in quantitative political science. American Journal of Political Science 30(3): 666-687.Abstract
This article identifies a set of serious theoretical mistakes appearing with troublingly high frequency throughout the quantitative political science literature. These mistakes are all based on faulty statistical theory or on erroneous statistical analysis. Through algebraic andinterpretive proofs, some of the most commonly made mistakes are explicated and illustrated. The theoretical problem underlying each is highlighted, and suggested solutions are provided throughout. It is argued that closer attention to these problems and solutions will
result in more reliable quantitative analyses and more useful theoretical contributions.
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http://gking.harvard.edu/files/mist.pdfTerms of Use
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http://nrs.harvard.edu/urn-3:HUL.InstRepos:4455012
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