PODCAST: How to Misuse Statistics for Dummies

Our passion is to get evidence-based advice about marriage, sex and parenting into the hands of Christians.

But that means that we have to use science well! In the last of our three podcasts with Joanna where we talk stats, we tackle a few more ways that research is often handled poorly, using the research around spanking as one example.

And then we bring on Wendy Snyder from Fresh Start Families to talk about how to use discipline that connects with your child!

Listen to the Podcast Here

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Timeline of the Podcast

0:10 Announcements
1:45 “But, I disagree!”
13:00 If you use the data, you have to use the conclusion
19:00 Not understanding math
24:15 Wendy Snyder joins to talk Gentle Parenting
48:45 RQ: My husband uses harsh punishment on our kids!

Main Segment: How We Can Misuse Research

Two weeks ago we gave a case study of how Josh Howerton misrepresented research and claimed it said things it didn’t say. We looked at how easy it is to jump to false conclusions. 

Today we’re looking at a few more ways we can misuse research, including:

1. Saying you “disagree” with a huge study

Your opinion does not trump a very large, well-conducted study. We talked about levels of evidence, with anecdotal data (like your personal experience) being lowest, and meta-analyses and controlled random blind trials being the best. Specifically we were referring to a kerfuffle over the huge meta-analysis about how spanking either has neutral or negative effects that many people were disagreeing with on social media.

2. Quoting the study data but ignoring the study’s conclusions–or omitting some of the data to slant it

We looked at how Emerson Eggerichs did this with Gottman’s work, and how Focus on the Family routinely does this with the results about divorce on kids

3. Misunderstanding basic math and probabilities

And we went through the math of Love & Respect!

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We then interviewed Wendy Snyder from Fresh Start Families, who has an amazing ministry teaching parents how to connect with your kids as you discipline. We’ll bring her back next week for a whole podcast to talk more about specific scenarios and how to manage them!

 

 

Wendy Snyder is a Positive Parenting Teacher & Family Coach, helping families parent with great purpose and intention by creating healthy, respectful & cooperative relationships. She is a Certified Parent Educator of Redirecting Children’s Behavior (RCB) and an advocate for families.

Wendy Snyder

Fresh Start Families

Get Wendy’s FREE GUIDE on raising strong willed kids with integrity!

I then tackled a reader question where a husband wants to use discipline techniques that are actually abusive. Please hear me on this: Protect your kids. This is not about submitting to your husband. This is like being an Esther when there is injustice being done and people are at risk, and stepping up. If that is unsafe to do, please call a domestic abuse hotline. But do not allow your children to be abused if you can help it.

Things Mentioned in This Podcast:Our Patreon! Support us for as little as $5 a month as we work to get our research in peer-reviewed journalsKnix in the U.S. and Knix in CanadaWendy Snyder at Fresh Start Families–plus find Wendy on InstagramThe Gershoff metaanalysis about spankingOur articles on spanking, including Rebecca’s look at the research on spanking and a plea to stop spanking babiesThe problems with the way that Focus on the Family handles research on divorce: Gretchen Baskerville’s article and videoThe Math of Love & Respect and the problems with how Emerson Eggerichs handles probabilitiesOur article this week on the 4 attachment stylesI then tackled a reader question where a husband wants to use discipline techniques that are actually abusive. Please hear me on this: Protect your kids. This is not about submitting to your husband. This is like being an Esther when there is injustice being done and people are at risk, and stepping up. If that is unsafe to do, please call a domestic abuse hotline. But do not allow your children to be abused if you can help it.Things Mentioned in This Podcast:Our Patreon! Support us for as little as $5 a month as we work to get our research in peer-reviewed journalsKnix in the U.S. and Knix in CanadaWendy Snyder at Fresh Start Families–plus find Wendy on InstagramThe Gershoff metaanalysis about spankingOur articles on spanking, including Rebecca’s look at the research on spanking and a plea to stop spanking babiesThe problems with the way that Focus on the Family handles research on divorce: Gretchen Baskerville’s article and videoThe Math of Love & Respect and the problems with how Emerson Eggerichs handles probabilitiesOur article this week on the 4 attachment styles

 

What do you think? Have you seen people misuse statistics like we’ve talked about? Are you a fan of gentle parenting? Let’s talk in the comments!

The Attachment SeriesThe 4 Attachment Styles and what that means in parenting and marriageDo We Have to Tell Kids They're Dirty Rotten Sinners?How to Start Identifying Your Own Emotions and Learn to Express them (coming soon)How to Help Kids Identify their Emotions and Express Them (coming soon)How our Attachment Styles Can Affect our Marriages (coming soon)PODCAST: Attached to God--how does our attachment style to God affect our relationship with Him?PODCAST: What is connected parenting (last segment of podcast) plus how research around spanking is misused!PODCAST: How can we raise securely attached kids? (Coming soon)PODCAST: Our Love Styles with Mila and Kay Yerkovich (coming soon)

 

Sheila Wray Gregoire

Founder of To Love, Honor and Vacuum

Sheila is determined to help Christians find BIBLICAL, HEALTHY, EVIDENCE-BASED help for their marriage. And in doing so, she's turning the evangelical world on its head, challenging many of the toxic teachings, especially in her newest book The Great Sex Rescue. She’s an award-winning author of 8 books and a sought-after speaker. With her humorous, no-nonsense approach, Sheila works with her husband Keith and daughter Rebecca to create podcasts and courses to help couples find true intimacy. Plus she knits. All the time. ENTJ, straight 8 FacebookTwitter Related Posts On Kissing Before Marriage, Hilarious Reviews, and Horrifying Advice

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