Comments on: The plural of anecdote is not data http://strange.corante.com/2009/07/13/the-plural-of-anecdote-is-not-data Picking out patterns in the chaos Tue, 22 May 2012 21:41:42 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.1 By: Anecdote http://strange.corante.com/2009/07/13/the-plural-of-anecdote-is-not-data#comment-7650 Anecdote Tue, 13 Oct 2009 23:19:32 +0000 http://strange.corante.com/2009/07/13/the-plural-of-anecdote-is-not-data#comment-7650 Just came across this little ditty. I write anecdotal articles for my weekly blog and I wouldn't dream of calling my observations "data" or "research". I'm not even certain how helpful this report will be. It seems to be a decent indicator of how teens view media based on research already done - not much else. Just came across this little ditty. I write anecdotal articles for my weekly blog and I wouldn’t dream of calling my observations “data” or “research”. I’m not even certain how helpful this report will be. It seems to be a decent indicator of how teens view media based on research already done - not much else.

]]> By: Mneiae http://strange.corante.com/2009/07/13/the-plural-of-anecdote-is-not-data#comment-7550 Mneiae Wed, 07 Oct 2009 03:00:08 +0000 http://strange.corante.com/2009/07/13/the-plural-of-anecdote-is-not-data#comment-7550 I laughed quite a bit when I read Robson's report. I'm a Gen Yer myself and one thing that nobody seemed to comment on was that he's speaking for Gen Y in the UK. Costs for gaming systems, cell phone usage, TV habits, etc. are different over there. One concrete example: when I got to the part about not using Twitter, I immediately posted the article via Twitter. Unlimited text messaging is more prevalent over here, which is why services like ChaCha and Twitter are more widely used than somewhere like the UK where you pay per message. I've never used some of the services he calls popular and I think that taking this report seriously in the US, beyond recognizing that Gen Y is more dependent on technology, is ludicrous. I laughed quite a bit when I read Robson’s report. I’m a Gen Yer myself and one thing that nobody seemed to comment on was that he’s speaking for Gen Y in the UK. Costs for gaming systems, cell phone usage, TV habits, etc. are different over there. One concrete example: when I got to the part about not using Twitter, I immediately posted the article via Twitter. Unlimited text messaging is more prevalent over here, which is why services like ChaCha and Twitter are more widely used than somewhere like the UK where you pay per message. I’ve never used some of the services he calls popular and I think that taking this report seriously in the US, beyond recognizing that Gen Y is more dependent on technology, is ludicrous.

]]> By: Suw Charman-Anderson http://strange.corante.com/2009/07/13/the-plural-of-anecdote-is-not-data#comment-7528 Suw Charman-Anderson Mon, 05 Oct 2009 11:38:27 +0000 http://strange.corante.com/2009/07/13/the-plural-of-anecdote-is-not-data#comment-7528 KC, the title, "The plural of anecdote is not data" is a quote - one that's been attributed to a number of people but probably coined by economist George Stigler. (See http://bearcastle.com/blog/?p=408) The point is that a well-researched anecdote is a case study, but even a well researched case study does not give us information about an entire population. The dictionary definition of "anecdote" is: a short and amusing or interesting story about a real incident or person • an account regarded as unreliable or hearsay • the depiction of a minor narrative incident in a painting. Only the first part of the definition could possibly be considered to be "data", and even then I think one could fairly say that the anecdote might, but does not necessarily, contain data. Data, on the other hand is: facts and statistics collected together for reference or analysis. • Computing: the quantities, characters, or symbols on which operations are performed by a computer, being stored and transmitted in the form of electrical signals and recorded on magnetic, optical, or mechanical recording media. • Philosophy: things known or assumed as facts, making the basis of reasoning or calculation. "Anecdote" is not, therefore, a synonym for "data", although one *may* include data. Collecting anecdote does not guarantee one is collecting data. In this particular instance, people were taking anecdote as representative data regarding an entire generation. I'm sure you can see the fallacy there. KC, the title, “The plural of anecdote is not data” is a quote - one that’s been attributed to a number of people but probably coined by economist George Stigler. (See http://bearcastle.com/blog/?p=408)

The point is that a well-researched anecdote is a case study, but even a well researched case study does not give us information about an entire population.

The dictionary definition of “anecdote” is:

a short and amusing or interesting story about a real incident or person
• an account regarded as unreliable or hearsay
• the depiction of a minor narrative incident in a painting.

Only the first part of the definition could possibly be considered to be “data”, and even then I think one could fairly say that the anecdote might, but does not necessarily, contain data.

Data, on the other hand is:

facts and statistics collected together for reference or analysis.
• Computing: the quantities, characters, or symbols on which operations are performed by a computer, being stored and transmitted in the form of electrical signals and recorded on magnetic, optical, or mechanical recording media.
• Philosophy: things known or assumed as facts, making the basis of reasoning or calculation.

“Anecdote” is not, therefore, a synonym for “data”, although one *may* include data. Collecting anecdote does not guarantee one is collecting data.

In this particular instance, people were taking anecdote as representative data regarding an entire generation. I’m sure you can see the fallacy there.

]]> By: KC http://strange.corante.com/2009/07/13/the-plural-of-anecdote-is-not-data#comment-7493 KC Fri, 02 Oct 2009 06:13:12 +0000 http://strange.corante.com/2009/07/13/the-plural-of-anecdote-is-not-data#comment-7493 I agree with everything in this article, except the title. Anecdotes are a valuable form of data. They may not be definitive or statistical, but they are valid data. This is supported by the dictionary definition of "data" as well as best practice in quality management, marketing and customer experience management. Like all data, issues of sample size, accuracy, etc come into play, as well as how you use the data (as others have pointed out). I agree with everything in this article, except the title. Anecdotes are a valuable form of data. They may not be definitive or statistical, but they are valid data. This is supported by the dictionary definition of “data” as well as best practice in quality management, marketing and customer experience management. Like all data, issues of sample size, accuracy, etc come into play, as well as how you use the data (as others have pointed out).

]]> By: Weekly links for 29th July | USiT http://strange.corante.com/2009/07/13/the-plural-of-anecdote-is-not-data#comment-6961 Weekly links for 29th July | USiT Wed, 29 Jul 2009 06:51:44 +0000 http://strange.corante.com/2009/07/13/the-plural-of-anecdote-is-not-data#comment-6961 [...] The kid’s view: Giving up my iPod for a Walkman & Twitter is for old people, work experience whiz-kid tells bankers - & a cautionary note that the “The plural of anecdote is not data” [...] [...] The kid’s view: Giving up my iPod for a Walkman & Twitter is for old people, work experience whiz-kid tells bankers - & a cautionary note that the “The plural of anecdote is not data” [...]

]]> By: Too many anecdotes, not enough data - Bokardo http://strange.corante.com/2009/07/13/the-plural-of-anecdote-is-not-data#comment-6905 Too many anecdotes, not enough data - Bokardo Mon, 20 Jul 2009 12:32:36 +0000 http://strange.corante.com/2009/07/13/the-plural-of-anecdote-is-not-data#comment-6905 [...] Charman-Anderson wrote this in reference to a story published last week about a 15-year-old intern at Morgan Stanley who wrote a report on [...] [...] Charman-Anderson wrote this in reference to a story published last week about a 15-year-old intern at Morgan Stanley who wrote a report on [...]

]]> By: Yishay Mor http://strange.corante.com/2009/07/13/the-plural-of-anecdote-is-not-data#comment-6890 Yishay Mor Fri, 17 Jul 2009 08:33:38 +0000 http://strange.corante.com/2009/07/13/the-plural-of-anecdote-is-not-data#comment-6890 The only data I see here is suggestive that Morgan Stanley execs are a bunch of absent parents. You're right to quote danah boyd, as an example of good science on youth and social media. There's nothing wrong about the Robson report, except that for anyone who has bothered to speak to a teenager recently for more than 5 minutes, its plain common sense. Like I said, imagine Morgan Stanley's shock when they hear that teens have sex. The only data I see here is suggestive that Morgan Stanley execs are a bunch of absent parents.
You’re right to quote danah boyd, as an example of good science on youth and social media.
There’s nothing wrong about the Robson report, except that for anyone who has bothered to speak to a teenager recently for more than 5 minutes, its plain common sense.
Like I said, imagine Morgan Stanley’s shock when they hear that teens have sex.

]]> By: How teenagers really consume media / we are social http://strange.corante.com/2009/07/13/the-plural-of-anecdote-is-not-data#comment-6875 How teenagers really consume media / we are social Wed, 15 Jul 2009 14:47:04 +0000 http://strange.corante.com/2009/07/13/the-plural-of-anecdote-is-not-data#comment-6875 [...] as Suw Charman-Anderson notes, the main problem with Robson’s report is that he thinks his experiences are emblematic of [...] [...] as Suw Charman-Anderson notes, the main problem with Robson’s report is that he thinks his experiences are emblematic of [...]

]]> By: All Points North » How 31 year olds consume media http://strange.corante.com/2009/07/13/the-plural-of-anecdote-is-not-data#comment-6874 All Points North » How 31 year olds consume media Wed, 15 Jul 2009 13:52:44 +0000 http://strange.corante.com/2009/07/13/the-plural-of-anecdote-is-not-data#comment-6874 [...] sensible reaction here Share and [...] [...] sensible reaction here Share and [...]

]]> By: How teenagers consume media, apparently - Roo Reynolds http://strange.corante.com/2009/07/13/the-plural-of-anecdote-is-not-data#comment-6872 How teenagers consume media, apparently - Roo Reynolds Wed, 15 Jul 2009 08:59:26 +0000 http://strange.corante.com/2009/07/13/the-plural-of-anecdote-is-not-data#comment-6872 [...] I think it’s time to get some perspective about a piece of writing that is purely anecdotal. Suw is particularly eloquent on this: “The City, and sections of the media, are getting a touch over-excited by a “research [...] [...] I think it’s time to get some perspective about a piece of writing that is purely anecdotal. Suw is particularly eloquent on this: “The City, and sections of the media, are getting a touch over-excited by a “research [...]

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