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Module B Preface
================
In the previous module, you learned techniques to analyze data in Google Sheets.
Now, it's time to learn how to analyze even larger datasets. This is especially
important when you are trying to draw larger conclusions. One of the most
fundamental use cases for statistics is investigating the relationship between
multiple variables. When reading stories in the media, there is often discussion
about links between two or more variables. For example:
- `Does eating more chocolate increase your life
expectancy? `__
- `Do vaccines increase the chance of autism? `__
- `Does gun ownership rate increase gun
fatalities? `__
- `Does home field advantage in sports really
exist? `__
- `Does reading Harry Potter reduce a person’s
prejudice? `__
However, for every article with a statistical study that argues for one thing,
there is usually at least one for the other side. Since there is so much news
from so many diverse sources, it has become increasingly important to decipher
which studies are trustworthy, what statistics are reliable, and what findings
are legitimate.
In the next few chapters, you will learn more about analyzing the relationship
between variables. This will help you investigate the relationship between pairs
of variables for your own analysis, as well as critically assess the statistical
findings you read about in the media.