Comments on Bradley Wright's Blog: Review of UnChristian: Should research on Christia...

Thank you... yes, it isn't entirely clear that the...

2009-05-23T19:25:03.121-04:00

Thank you... yes, it isn't entirely clear that the conclusions in the book flow directly from the data.

I try to teach my science students about the error...

2009-05-23T15:16:05.583-04:00

I try to teach my science students about the error of pre-determining the outcome of their research and find it harder each year. Data mining to support a researcher's postulated outcome has become way too acceptable. Great job in pointing out the obvious weakness in the apparent "research" design that is the basis for the book.

I think that what we are seeing is an appeal to the presumed trustworthy nature of a claim if it is supported by data that is presented as being acquired in a scientific manner. As a scientist, I'd rather have no data for a contention (then I know that it is opinion) rather that pseudoscientific "data" that may actually be misleading the reader.
Keep up the good work.

Great series!Very helpful in so many ways and one ...

2008-07-21T19:25:00.000-04:00

Great series!
Very helpful in so many ways and one of the reasons I know longer read anything by Barna. When the assumptions and agenda begin to influence the way the questions are asked it begins to seem fairly obvious and transparent.
As you said it begins to raise questions as to their usefulness.

Thanks JR and Ray. Good suggestion on a book, JR....

2008-07-21T15:19:00.000-04:00

Thanks JR and Ray. Good suggestion on a book, JR.

Anonymous, yeah, you're right... I think that I meant being as accurate as we can be or something like that.

I'm well aware of how my own research is far, far from 100% accurate.

Great series...BUT:You say: "And yet... if we're n...

2008-07-21T15:13:00.000-04:00

Great series...

BUT:

You say: "And yet... if we're not 100% accurate in our creation or use of research, then that starts to eat away at the credibility of our work."

But no research is 100% accurate -- that is a straw man you are making.

If sampling and observation and human beings are involved, it won't be 100% accurate.

If that was the standard, no research would pass your test.

I'm not sure how accurate it needs to be, but I am certainly comfortable with some margin of error, as long as you know that going in...

Great series, Brad. I just linked to it over at m...

2008-07-21T15:05:00.000-04:00

Great series, Brad. I just linked to it over at my blog. I think it is too easy for us to take what is published in the Christian world for granted, and I hope your posts will help us to be a little more discerning. I know I have learned a lot from them.

Bradley, you also have me thinking now, "how do th...

2008-07-21T14:54:00.000-04:00

Bradley, you also have me thinking now, "how do these stats fit in with George Barna's larger goal for the church?" It seems all his stats are leaning this way of late, and now I wonder, "are hey accurate or useful?"

Great series. It motivated me to post this series...

2008-07-21T14:50:00.000-04:00

Great series. It motivated me to post this series of statistics from a book about the American church in crisis.

Have you looked at these statistics? I think your post here drives at the questions I was asking; the the value of stats is sometimes determined by usefulness to an end goal.

Ultimately, I appreciate your work here and I am learning a lot on how to read and apply statistics.