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Data Quote by Kaoru Ishikawa

“When you see data, doubt [them]! When you see measurements, doubt them!” quote by Kaoru Ishikawa
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“When you see data, doubt [them]! When you see measurements, doubt them!”

Kaoru Ishikawa

About This Quote

Source Book: Quality Control Handbook by Kaoru Ishikawa, 1985

Data and measurements can be misleading; always question their accuracy and context before trusting them.

In simple terms: Question data and measurements.

Key Takeaway

Never accept numbers at face value.

Themes

critical thinking quality skepticism

Mood

cautious analytical

Type

advisory cautionary

When to use this quote

  • scientific research
  • business analytics
  • engineering design
  • policy making

Key Concepts

measurement error bias interpretation

Questions to Reflect On

  • What assumptions underlie your data?
  • How could measurement bias affect your conclusions?
A Different Perspective

Data may be accurate but still irrelevant to the problem.

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