Mathematics as a tool of the media can influence the values, beliefs, and ideas of its readers and listeners. As a result, students and consumers of information must learn how to recognize sound and usable data in a wilderness of numbers.

Thinking Critically About Numbers

The use of critical thinking skills can enable information consumers to analyze and critique the mathematics, data, and statistics that are reported in the media. Statistical methods and statistical terms are frequently used in articles dealing with social and economic trends, business conditions, opinion polls, and the census. But writers often do not use these terms accurately, and results are usually presented within a limited context. Consequently, the jargon can seem like semantic nonsense for readers, listeners, and viewers. In addition, results may be misleading, depending on the argument of the writers.

Critical thinking ability...