Post Category → Data collection

How to lie with survey questions

In 1954, Darrel Huff wrote the bestseller, How to lie with statistics, in which he outlines the misuse and errors in the interpretation of statistics. In the same vein, Mark Monmonier wrote the book How to lie with maps where he describes how maps only present one of many possible stories about the places it depicts. The most recent book has is about data and has the word ‘lie’ in the title is How charts lie by Alberto Cairo, in which he explains that we are still ill equipped to interpret data visualisations.

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Ten misconceptions about mobile data collection

Above: This is not a pipe. The difference between reality and conception is sometimes hard to tell. Painting above: The Treachery of Images by René Magritte (Belgium, 1898-1967)

The number of smartphone users worldwide surpassed 2 billion this year. This rapid growth has given endless opportunities in the development of smartphone applications. It also brings many new possibilities to the field of data collection. Although mobile data collection is increasingly being used, I’ve noticed that some people still feel skeptical about it. Whether it has to do with the confidence that people have in the old means of collecting data (pen and paper) or the unfamiliarity of new techniques, most of the judgements I hear around me are based on false assumptions. In this blog I will refute the ten most commonly heard misconceptions about mobile data collection. Continue reading →