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Margin of Error

Margin of Error #5: Don't just preserve the long-form census. Set its data free

allison martell

I suspect you already know why I think scrapping the long-form census is a terrible idea. Good data is good for society. Done right, statistical research keeps us all honest, forcing us to interact with the world as it actually is, rather than imagining ourselves as part of a reality that is personally or politically […] More »

Margin of Error #4: Inside Maclean's dangerously empty statistics on teenagers

allison martell

The online version of Maclean’s recent piece on young women really doesn’t do the print version justice. “Inside the Dangerously Empty Lives of Teenage Girls” was splashed across the cover, along with two dangerously empty looking girls. As usual, the cover suggested something more comprehensive and controversial than the actual article inside the magazine—in this […] More »

Margin of Error #3: Why journalists of the future must be math-literate

allison martell

A year of layoffs and anaemic ad buys has given journalists an excuse to turn inwards like never before. By now, even folks outside the industry must be sick of hearing about the Future of Journalism — my own fervent hope is to never read another article about social media for reporters. But I do […] More »

Margin of Error #2: Why charter schools may not be as good as you think

allison martell

The charter school movement is enjoying something of a renaissance in the United States. Charter schools—which receive public funding but are privately run, thus removing some features of normal public schools, notably established teachers’ unions—are one of President Obama’s priorities.  They are also the cause du jour for New York City’s hedge fund managers. Education […] More »

Margin of Error #1: How much is a university degree really worth?

allison martell

[Editor’s note: Today, we introduce a new regular feature on the blog: Allison Martell will write “Margin of Error” once a month, looking at numbers and statistics in the news. Visit her website or follow her on Twitter.] Welcome to Margin of Error. Each month, I will be picking apart some number or statistical problem […] More »