Fecundity | Independent, evidence-based inquiry

Anecdotes Are Not Evidence

January 31, 2021
7,817 words (~39 minutes) Tags: reasoning about evidence fallacies statistics psychology third-person

While alluding to valuable criticism, the maxim “anecdotes are not evidence” is insufficient to describe the evidentiary uses and misuses of anecdotes. This article elucidates the flaws of anecdotal evidence that preclude anecdotes from being informative regarding inferences about larger populations or about cause and effect. It goes on to explore valid uses of anecdotal evidence, such as in investigation of specific incidents, while advising – in light of the findings of psychology regarding the fallibility of memory – scrutiny of anecdotes even in cases in which they are useful.

About

My name is Joshua Born. I am an M.S.-level statistician. I would have liked to have been a professional scholar, but for many years I worked a previous career as a software developer, tried out different things, etc. etc., and life passed me by.

This blog is an outlet for me to explore my own interests in my personal time, including scholarly interests. Most of my empirical research interests are around birth control and abortion. I am also interested in critical thinking in the analysis and interpretation of empirical evidence.