Numbers and statistical claims dominate today's news. Politics, budgets, crime analysis, medical issues, and sports reporting all demand numbers. Now in its third edition, News & Numbers focuses on how to evaluate statistical claims in science, health, medicine, and politics. It does so by helping readers answer three key questions about all scientific studies, polls, and other statistical claims: "e;What can I believe?"e; "e;What does it mean?"e; and "e;How can I explain it to others?"e; Updated throughout, this long overdue third edition brings this classic text up-to-date with the 21st century with a complete updating of examples, case studies, and stories. The text emphasises clear thinking and common sense approaches for understanding, analyzing and explaining statistics, and terms throughout the book are explained in easy-to-understand, nontechnical language. Much new material has been added to ensure the text maintains its pertinent approach to the subject, including: A section on computer modelling Additional chapters on risks and 'missing numbers' Updated sections on health plans and insurance, including updates on President Obama's health system overhaul & new material on health care costs and quality

Numbers and statistical claims dominate today's news. Politicsbudgets, crime analysis, medical issues, and sports reporting alldemand numbers. Now in its third edition, News & Numbersfocuses on how to evaluate statistical claims in science, healthmedicine, and politics. It does so by helping readers answer threekey questions about all scientific studies, polls, and otherstatistical claims: "What can I believe?" "What does it mean?" and"How can I explain it to others?"Updated throughout, this long overdue third edition brings thisclassic text up-to-date with the 21st century with a completeupdating of examples, case studies, and stories. The textemphasises clear thinking and common sense approaches forunderstanding, analyzing and explaining statistics, and termsthroughout the book are explained in easy-to-understandnontechnical language. Much new material has been added to ensurethe text maintains its pertinent approach to the subjectincluding:* A section on computer modelling* Additional chapters on risks and 'missing numbers'* Updated sections on health plans and insurance, includingupdates on President Obama's health system overhaul & newmaterial on health care costs and quality

A Note to Our Readers viiA Tribute to Victor Cohn, 1919-2000 ixForeword xiAcknowledgments xiiiNotes on Sources xvPart I Learning the Basics 1A Guide to Part I of News & Numbers 21 Where We Can Do Better 32 The Certainty of Uncertainty 83 Testing the Evidence 154 What Makes a Good Study? 375 Your Questions and Peer Review 54Part II Now Down to Specifics 69A Guide to Part II of News & Numbers 706 Tests and Drug Trials 717 Vital Statistics 838 Health Costs, Quality, and Insurance 979 Our Environment 10810 Writing About Risks 12411 Polls 13312 Statistical Savvy for Many Types of News 145Epilogue 161Glossary 163Bibliography 170Index 173