It’s all too easy to make mistakes involving statistics. Powerful statistical software can remove a lot of the difficulty surrounding statistical calculation, reducing the risk of mathematical errors, but correctly interpreting the results of an analysis can be even more challenging.

No one knows that better than Minitab’s technical trainers, all seasoned statisticians with years of quality improvement experience. They spend most of the year traveling around the country (and the world) helping people learn to make the best use of Minitab software for analyzing data and improving quality.

A few years ago, Minitab trainers compiled a list of common statistical mistakes—the ones they encountered over and over again. Below are a few of their most commonly observed mistakes that involve drawing an incorrect conclusion from the results of analysis.

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