Statistical Questions to Ask
Strategic questions that help you understand data, statistics, and research findings, covering methodology, interpretation, and implications to help you make informed decisions based on evidence.
1What is the sample size of this study, and how was it selected?
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What is the sample size of this study, and how was it selected?
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Why this works
Helps you understand the scope and representativeness of the data, which is crucial for assessing the reliability and generalizability of the findings.
2What is the margin of error for these statistics, and how confident can we be in the results?
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What is the margin of error for these statistics, and how confident can we be in the results?
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Why this works
Gives you insight into the precision of the data and helps you understand the level of uncertainty in the statistical findings.
3What methodology was used to collect this data, and are there any potential biases?
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What methodology was used to collect this data, and are there any potential biases?
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Why this works
Reveals the data collection process and helps you understand potential sources of bias that could affect the validity of the results.
4How do these statistics compare to previous studies or historical data?
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How do these statistics compare to previous studies or historical data?
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Why this works
Provides context for the findings and helps you understand whether the results are consistent with other research or represent a change.
5What are the key variables in this analysis, and how are they defined and measured?
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What are the key variables in this analysis, and how are they defined and measured?
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Why this works
Clarifies the scope of the analysis and helps you understand what factors are being examined and how they're being assessed.
6What statistical tests were used to analyze this data, and are they appropriate for the research question?
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What statistical tests were used to analyze this data, and are they appropriate for the research question?
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Why this works
Reveals the analytical approach and helps you understand whether the statistical methods are suitable for the type of data and research question.
7What are the limitations of this study, and what conclusions can we safely draw?
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What are the limitations of this study, and what conclusions can we safely draw?
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Why this works
Identifies the boundaries of the research and helps you understand what can and cannot be concluded from the data.
8How do these statistics account for different demographic groups or populations?
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How do these statistics account for different demographic groups or populations?
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Why this works
Explores the representativeness of the data and helps you understand whether the findings apply to different groups or populations.
9What is the correlation between different variables, and does correlation imply causation?
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What is the correlation between different variables, and does correlation imply causation?
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Why this works
Clarifies the relationships between variables and helps you understand the difference between correlation and causation.
10How do these statistics handle outliers or extreme values, and what impact do they have?
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How do these statistics handle outliers or extreme values, and what impact do they have?
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Why this works
Reveals how unusual data points are treated and helps you understand their influence on the overall results.
11What is the confidence interval for these statistics, and what does it tell us about the range of possible values?
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What is the confidence interval for these statistics, and what does it tell us about the range of possible values?
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Why this works
Provides information about the precision of the estimates and helps you understand the range of possible values for the population parameter.
12How do these statistics account for different time periods or trends over time?
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How do these statistics account for different time periods or trends over time?
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Why this works
Explores the temporal aspects of the data and helps you understand whether the findings are stable or changing over time.
13What are the assumptions underlying this statistical analysis, and are they reasonable?
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What are the assumptions underlying this statistical analysis, and are they reasonable?
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Why this works
Reveals the theoretical foundations of the analysis and helps you understand whether the statistical approach is appropriate for the data.
14How do these statistics handle missing data or incomplete information?
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How do these statistics handle missing data or incomplete information?
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Why this works
Explores data quality issues and helps you understand how gaps in the data are addressed and their potential impact on the results.
15What is the effect size of these findings, and is it practically significant?
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What is the effect size of these findings, and is it practically significant?
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Why this works
Clarifies the magnitude of the effects and helps you understand whether the findings are meaningful in real-world terms.
16How do these statistics account for different geographic regions or locations?
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How do these statistics account for different geographic regions or locations?
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Why this works
Explores the spatial aspects of the data and helps you understand whether the findings apply across different locations.
17What are the potential confounding variables in this analysis, and how are they controlled?
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What are the potential confounding variables in this analysis, and how are they controlled?
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Why this works
Identifies other factors that might influence the results and helps you understand how they're accounted for in the analysis.
18How do these statistics handle different measurement scales or units of analysis?
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How do these statistics handle different measurement scales or units of analysis?
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Why this works
Explores the measurement aspects of the data and helps you understand how different scales or units are handled in the analysis.
19What is the statistical power of this study, and is it sufficient to detect meaningful effects?
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What is the statistical power of this study, and is it sufficient to detect meaningful effects?
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Why this works
Reveals the study's ability to detect effects and helps you understand whether the sample size is adequate for the research question.
20What questions do you have for me about my understanding of these statistics, and what would you like me to clarify?
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What questions do you have for me about my understanding of these statistics, and what would you like me to clarify?
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Why this works
Shows your engagement and interest in the data while giving you insight into what the analyst values in statistical communication.
How to Understand and Interpret Statistics
Expert tips and techniques for getting the most out of these questions.
Best Practices
Ask About Methodology
Focus on questions that help you understand how the data was collected and analyzed to assess the quality and reliability of the findings.
Understand Context and Limitations
Ask about the scope, limitations, and context of the statistics to understand what conclusions can and cannot be drawn.
Explore Relationships and Causation
Ask questions that help you understand the relationships between variables and whether correlation implies causation.
Question Sequences
The Methodology Sequence
The Analysis Sequence
Common Pitfalls
Don't Assume Causation
Understand that correlation does not imply causation and ask questions that help you distinguish between the two.
Don't Ignore Context
Ask questions that help you understand the context and limitations of the statistics rather than taking them at face value.
Don't Overlook Methodology
Focus on understanding how the data was collected and analyzed rather than just the final numbers.