Reading Public Data
Age-standardised rates compare populations using a shared age structure
Understand why age-standardised rates differ from crude rates and what to check before comparing health statistics across populations.
CONTEXT FOR EVERYDAY CURIOSITY
statistics
Reading Public Data
Compare Rates per Person Before Ranking Places by Raw Totals
Raw totals and rates per person answer different questions. Use a small worked example to compare places without losing the population behind the number.
Reading the Evidence
A Survey Margin of Error Does Not Cover Every Kind of Error
Read a poll’s margin of error alongside its sampling method, question wording and subgroup sizes before trusting a precise headline.
Understanding the News
A Seasonally Adjusted Number Answers a Particular Question
Seasonal adjustment helps compare periods without some recurring calendar patterns. Read the series label before turning a monthly change into a headline.
Reading the News
Provisional Figures Need a Date and a Route to the Revision
Provisional statistics can be useful without being final. Keep their release date, revision status, and comparison series visible when reading the news.
Understanding the numbers
An Average Can Be True and Still Hide the Story
Mean and median can tell different stories about the same figures. Use a small example to spot what an average includes—and what it hides.