Chris- Good catch. On the other hand, I do wonder if the 13:1 and population statistics don't likely reflect a slight increase for vets. Which, at that sample size would likely be significant statistically. Then we have to add in that age is likely a factor- was that considered in the original data? I haven't seen the actual numbers, btw. I'm grading so maybe being a little lazy in not checking for myself. :) At any rate you are correct that these statistics are an exaggeration, at least. Tim
_______________________________ Timothy O. Shearon, PhD Professor and Chair Department of Psychology The College of Idaho Caldwell, ID 83605 email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] teaching: intro to neuropsychology; psychopharmacology; general; history and systems -----Original Message----- From: Christopher D. Green [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Wed 11/14/2007 6:31 PM To: Teaching in the Psychological Sciences (TIPS) Subject: [tips] 120 Veteran Suicides a Week (Updated) | Danger Room from Wired.com Here is a very interesting item showing how easily statistics can be misinterpreted. http://blog.wired.com/defense/2007/11/120-veteran-sui.html Essentially, CBS News has claimed the US veterans of the Iraq war commit suicide at up to four times the rate of non-veterans within the same age range. But someone has written back to point out that men outnumber women 13:1 among veterans, and that men commit suicide at four times the rate of women. So what we have here is a group of mostly men committing suicide at the rate typical of men, not a group of (sex non-identified) "veterans" committing suicide at a rate four times that of (sex non-identified) "non-veterans." Regards, Chris Green York U. Toronto, Canada --- ---
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