The best means (?) to get a fair analysis is through independent verification of results. Where the independent body has similar vested interests to the originating body then a double pinch of salt is required. What evidence is there to back this research up? For a politician to attempt to rub out one line in a report is one thing; to rebuke accepted wisdom is another thing altogether.

On Wed, 31 Aug 2005 04:00:42 -0400, Jim Groeneveld <jim1stat@YAHOO.CO.UK> wrote:

>Hi Ron, > >Interesting and striking story. I bet it isn't unique. What could you do as >a straight statistician or researcher? I think, first of all to make sure >even more firmly for yourself, that the conclusions you have drawn, are >correct indeed, though not exaggerated. Secondly, talk, talk and talk to >try to convince your supervisors of the justification of the inclusion of >them. Thirdly, you might succeed in reporting the case to their >supervisors. Fourthly, as the whole situation wouldn't be acceptable to you >anyway, and your position would not be maintainable to yourself either, you >could try to change jobs on your own initiative. Fifthly, and possibly next >to that, you could try to make things public via other means, including the >pressure, which has happened in this case. You might be called a "bell- >ringer" (as we say here). And even then your position often may be >intolerable anyway. > >Well, easy said, difficult to do, and I am hardly in such a situation. > >Regards - Jim. > >On Tue, 30 Aug 2005 17:33:16 -0400, Fehd, Ronald J <rjf2@CDC.GOV> wrote: > >>All the news that fits, I fwd >>you may need to register if you have not previously read the NYT online. >> >>-----Original Message----- >>FYI. New York Times article below about the replacement of the director >>of the Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS). >> >>-----Original Message----- >>From: Teaching and Learning Statistics [mailto:EDSTAT-L@lists.psu.edu] >>Sent: Wednesday, August 24, 2005 9:45 AM >>Subject: Lies, Damned Lies, and Official Statistics >> >>From Today's New York Times. What should one do >>when one is asked to "spin" statistical results to make a >>situation "look better" or "less offensive"? >> >>http://www.nytimes.com/2005/08/24/politics/24profiling.html >> >>Profiling Report Leads to a Demotion >>By ERIC LICHTBLAU >>Published: August 24, 2005 >> >>WASHINGTON, Aug. 23 - >>The Bush administration is replacing the director >>of a small but critical branch of the Justice Department, months after >>he complained that senior political officials at the department were >>seeking to play down newly compiled data on the aggressive police >>treatment of black and Hispanic drivers. >> >> >>... >>Subscription, posting, archives, etc. can be found at >>http://lists.psu.edu/archives/edstat-l.html