Good Data Gone Bad: playing fast and loose with data!

Our complex world requires a sophisticated understanding to identify the causal relationship between variables e.g. how is crime affected by more cops on the beat, will UK’s economy suffer if it leaves the EU? This is particularly hard in the social sciences as several things are changing simultaneously. Yet, some simple rules of thumb can rule out many common sources of error.

However, the proliferation of experts offering opposing views leads to confusion and a general distrust in expert opinion. This may create ideological polarisation: when experts can’t agree, the superficial perception is created that any views are just opinions, none better than any other. This can lead to an echo chamber in which one consumes news to confirm what one already believes in.

In this ESRC Festival of Social Science event we shall present and illustrate some rules of thumb, to help you sort through competing claims more judiciously and make more informed decisions.

This event is free but can you please register online if you wish to attend.