
The Data Detective

it is important to understand what is being measured or counted, and how.
Tim Harford • The Data Detective
by organizing and presenting the data, we are inviting people to draw certain conclusions. And just as a verbal argument can be logical or emotional, sharp or woolly, clear or baffling, honest or misleading, so too can the argument made by a chart.
Tim Harford • The Data Detective
Facts are valuable things, and so is fact-checking. But if we really want people to understand complex issues, we need to engage their curiosity. If people are curious, they will learn.
Tim Harford • The Data Detective
one of our stubborn defenses against changing our minds is that we’re good at filtering out or dismissing unwelcome information. A curious person, however, enjoys being surprised and hungers for the unexpected. He or she will not be filtering out surprising news, because it’s far too intriguing.
Tim Harford • The Data Detective
we make a forecast with the facts that are in front of our nose.
Tim Harford • The Data Detective
All this suggests that one cure for conformity is to make decisions with a diverse group of people, people who are likely to bring different ideas and assumptions to the table.
Tim Harford • The Data Detective
“When a measure becomes a target, it ceases to be a good measure.”)
Tim Harford • The Data Detective
The illusion of explanatory depth is a curiosity killer and a trap. If we think we already understand, why go deeper? Why ask questions?
Tim Harford • The Data Detective
It is not easy to master our emotions while assessing information that matters to us, not least because our emotions can lead us astray in different directions.