Cited by 651Decision-Making and Behavioral EconomicsStatistics Education and MethodologiesRisk Perception and Management

Communicating Statistical Information

Open access
Hoffrage, Ulrich, Lindsey, Samuel, Hertwig, Ralph, Gigerenzer, Gerd·2000·Science

Abstract

Most people, experts included, have difficulties understanding and combining statistical information effectively. Hoffrage et al. demonstrate that these difficulties can be considerably reduced by communicating the information in terms of natural frequencies rather than in terms of probabilities. Several applications in medicine, legal decision-making, and education are discussed.

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Crossref · 10.1126/science.290.5500.2261

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  • There is ample room for improvement regarding the understanding of abstract statistical concepts by medical students and medical professionals.

    “Several studies suggest that there is ample room for improvement regarding the understanding of abstract statistical concepts by medical students and medical professionals (Hoffrage et al., 2000; Rutledge et al., 2004).”

    From Visualizing Uncertainty to Promote Clinicians’ Understanding of Measurement Error (2023) · cites this paper as Hoffrage et al., 2000

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Authors
Hoffrage, U., Lindsey, S., Hertwig, R., & Gigerenzer, G.
Affiliations
  • Max Planck Institute for Human Development (DE)
  • University of Virginia (US)
Corresponding author
Hoffrage, Ulrich
Venue
Science
Published
2000-12-22
Volume
290
Issue
5500
Pages
2261-2262
ISSN
  • 0036-8075 (ISSN-L)
  • 1095-9203
OpenAlex
W1815763400
Cited by
651
References
0
Citations by year
2026: 18 · 2025: 31 · 2024: 34 · 2023: 16 · 2022: 42 · 2021: 18 · 2020: 24 · 2019: 50 · 2018: 23 · 2017: 14 · 2016: 21 · 2015: 38 · 2014: 18 · 2013: 22 · 2012: 19
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
other-oa
Locations
  • Science (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • MPG.PuRe (Max Planck Society) (submittedVersion, other-oa)
  • Max Planck Institute for Plasma Physics (submittedVersion)
  • Max Planck Digital Library (submittedVersion, other-oa)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Decision Sciences › General Decision Sciences › Decision-Making and Behavioral Economics
  • Physical Sciences › Mathematics › Statistics and Probability › Statistics Education and Methodologies
  • Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Risk Perception and Management
Keywords
natural frequencies, probability understanding, statistical reasoning, conditional probability, clinical decision-making, legal decision-making
MeSH terms
Data Interpretation, Statistical, Humans, Predictive Value of Tests, Probability, Sensitivity and Specificity, Statistics as Topic, DNA Fingerprinting, Risk Assessment, Diagnostic Techniques and Procedures

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