Data Duped : How to Avoid Being Hoodwinked by Misinformation

Teaches readers to identify and avoid deceit and misinformation online.

We are commonly deceived by numbers in our everyday lives. From lotteries, product warranties, and weight loss fads to misleading headlines, numbers are used in manipulative ways to lure us into making decisions about our life. Data Duped will help you avoid common pitfalls and develop a sense of ‘data defense’ by learning what types of questions to ask and how to maintain a healthy level of curiosity and data skepticism. Data Duped gives readers a super power, or at least we hope so. Knowledge is power. With knowledge of how data can be manipulated, how it can influence our decisions and how it can deceive, readers will face data with a new empowered approach.

This book purposefully raises more questions than answers and guides readers to seek the differences between the plausible and the ridiculous along a journey of informed critical thinking and data literacy. With historical parallels and both practical and relatable examples, readers will learn how to separate the ‘malarkey’ from the truth, become able to comfortably bring a little more data into their lives, and ultimately avoid being hoodwinked by misinformation.