The Ecological fallacy: how to spot one and tips on how to use one to your advantage

Hume F. Winzar

The Ecological fallacy: how to spot one and tips on how to use one to your advantage

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference proceeding contribution › peer-review

Abstract

The ecological fallacy is a common and little understood error in the interpretation of statistical data wherein inferences about individuals are based on the aggregate of the group from which they belong. The paper overviews the importance of avoiding the error and illustrates the ease with which mistakes in inference can be made by examining a paper presented at the last ANZMAC conference, and by demonstrating with artificial data representing Hofstede’s cultural dimensions. It concludes with an appeal for caution when considering the combination of aggregate data with our surveys of individuals.

Original language	English
Title of host publication	ANZMAC 2005
Subtitle of host publication	conference proceedings : broadening the boundaries
Editors	Sharon Purchase
Place of Publication	Fremantle, WA
Publisher	ANZMAC
Pages	151-158
Number of pages	8
ISBN (Print)	064645546X
Publication status	Published - 2005
Externally published	Yes
Event	Australian and New Zealand Marketing Academy Conference (2005) - Fremantle, WA Duration: 5 Dec 2005 → 7 Dec 2005

Conference

Conference	Australian and New Zealand Marketing Academy Conference (2005)
City	Fremantle, WA
Period	5/12/05 → 7/12/05

Access to Document

http://pandora.nla.gov.au/pan/25410/20060410-0000/smib.vuw.ac.nz_8081/WWW/ANZMAC2005/cd-site/pdfs/9-Marketing-Int-C-Cultural-Env/9-Winzar.pdf

Cite this

@inproceedings{a8f5d42cc2384c359d4b278e00a0880b,

title = "The Ecological fallacy: how to spot one and tips on how to use one to your advantage",

abstract = "The ecological fallacy is a common and little understood error in the interpretation of statistical data wherein inferences about individuals are based on the aggregate of the group from which they belong. The paper overviews the importance of avoiding the error and illustrates the ease with which mistakes in inference can be made by examining a paper presented at the last ANZMAC conference, and by demonstrating with artificial data representing Hofstede{\textquoteright}s cultural dimensions. It concludes with an appeal for caution when considering the combination of aggregate data with our surveys of individuals.",

author = "Winzar, {Hume F.}",

year = "2005",

language = "English",

isbn = "064645546X",

pages = "151--158",

editor = "Sharon Purchase",

booktitle = "ANZMAC 2005",

publisher = "ANZMAC",

note = "Australian and New Zealand Marketing Academy Conference (2005) ; Conference date: 05-12-2005 Through 07-12-2005",

}

Winzar, HF 2005, The Ecological fallacy: how to spot one and tips on how to use one to your advantage. in S Purchase (ed.), ANZMAC 2005: conference proceedings : broadening the boundaries. ANZMAC, Fremantle, WA, pp. 151-158, Australian and New Zealand Marketing Academy Conference (2005), Fremantle, WA, 5/12/05. <http://pandora.nla.gov.au/pan/25410/20060410-0000/smib.vuw.ac.nz_8081/WWW/ANZMAC2005/cd-site/pdfs/9-Marketing-Int-C-Cultural-Env/9-Winzar.pdf>

TY - GEN

T1 - The Ecological fallacy

T2 - Australian and New Zealand Marketing Academy Conference (2005)

AU - Winzar, Hume F.

PY - 2005

Y1 - 2005

N2 - The ecological fallacy is a common and little understood error in the interpretation of statistical data wherein inferences about individuals are based on the aggregate of the group from which they belong. The paper overviews the importance of avoiding the error and illustrates the ease with which mistakes in inference can be made by examining a paper presented at the last ANZMAC conference, and by demonstrating with artificial data representing Hofstede’s cultural dimensions. It concludes with an appeal for caution when considering the combination of aggregate data with our surveys of individuals.

AB - The ecological fallacy is a common and little understood error in the interpretation of statistical data wherein inferences about individuals are based on the aggregate of the group from which they belong. The paper overviews the importance of avoiding the error and illustrates the ease with which mistakes in inference can be made by examining a paper presented at the last ANZMAC conference, and by demonstrating with artificial data representing Hofstede’s cultural dimensions. It concludes with an appeal for caution when considering the combination of aggregate data with our surveys of individuals.

M3 - Conference proceeding contribution

SN - 064645546X

SP - 151

EP - 158

BT - ANZMAC 2005

A2 - Purchase, Sharon

PB - ANZMAC

CY - Fremantle, WA

Y2 - 5 December 2005 through 7 December 2005

ER -

The Ecological fallacy: how to spot one and tips on how to use one to your advantage

Abstract

Conference

Access to Document

Fingerprint

Cite this