CHERRY PICKING

The practice of selecting results that fit your claim,
and excluding those that don’t. The worst and most
harmful example of being dishonest with data.

When making a case, data adds weight – whether a study,
experiment or something you’ve read. However, people
often only highlight data that backs their case, rather than
the entire body of results. It’s prevalent in public debate
and politics where two sides can both present data that
backs their position. Cherry Picking can be deliberate or
accidental. Commonly, when you’re receiving data second
hand, there’s an opportunity for someone choosing what
data to share to distort the truth to whatever opinion
they’re peddling. When on the receiving end of data, it’s
important to ask yourself: ‘What am I not being told?’.