statistical manipulation

[/stəˈtɪstɪkəl məˈnɪpjəleɪʃən/]
nounfemininepl: manipulações estatísticas
manipulação estatística
1. The deliberate misuse, distortion, or misrepresentation of statistical data to support a predetermined conclusion or mislead an audience
The politician was accused of statistical manipulation when he presented cherry-picked data to support his policy.
O político foi acusado de manipulação estatística quando apresentou dados selecionados para apoiar sua política.
2. Selective presentation of statistics that are technically accurate but presented in a misleading context
The company engaged in statistical manipulation by showing sales increases without accounting for inflation.
A empresa se engajou em manipulação estatística ao mostrar aumentos de vendas sem contabilizar a inflação.
3. The use of misleading graphs, charts, or statistical methods to distort the true interpretation of data
Statistical manipulation through axis scaling can make minor changes appear dramatic.
A manipulação estatística através de dimensionamento de eixos pode fazer pequenas mudanças parecerem dramáticas.
The phrase 'statistical manipulation' reflects growing concern in both American and Brazilian societies about misinformation and data literacy. In the US, it's frequently discussed in media criticism and political discourse. In Brazil, the term gained prominence during recent political debates and electoral periods. Understanding statistical manipulation is increasingly important for media literacy in both cultures, with educational institutions emphasizing critical evaluation of data presented by government agencies, corporations, and news media.
NYC Slang
cooking the books / massaging the numbers (when referring to financial statistics)
Synonyms / Sinônimos
data distortionstatistical deceptionmisrepresentation of datastatistical fraudselective data presentationlies with statistics
Antonyms / Antônimos
statistical honestydata integritytransparent reportingaccurate representation

Regional Variations

General Brazilian
manipulação estatística
Standard term used in academic and professional contexts
Rio de Janeiro
manipulação de dados estatísticos
More formal variant, sometimes extended with 'de dados'
São Paulo
distorção de estatísticas
Alternative term emphasizing the distortion aspect, common in business discourse
Portugal
manipulação estatística / falsificação de estatísticas
Both terms are used; Portuguese Portuguese may slightly prefer 'falsificação' in legal contexts

Related Words

data falsificationstatistical biasconfirmation biascherry-pickingmisleading statisticsstatistical literacydata science ethicscorrelation and causation

Related Idioms & Phrases

lies, damned lies, and statistics
there are three kinds of lies: lies, damned lies, and statistics
to cook the books
to massage the numbers
to spin the data
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