Re: statistics - for differences between accessible and non-accessible sites?

Thanks for your thoughts Simon - and everyone else who has replied so far.

One of the reasons I asked this question is that I was reading an article on
marketing a couple of days ago - and the message was (although not in
exactly these words):

"If you want to increase the impact of your offer - don't just tell your
potential customers that they can expect improvements - say how much of an
improvement."

It specifically mentions the use of statistics and 'concrete' examples.

Why should selling accessible Web design be any different? Is there
something specific that makes this area different or is it just -  'no I
don't agree that this is ever a useful strategy'?

Pat

on 11/1/02 4:40 pm, Simon White at simon.white@jkd.co.uk wrote:

> Agreed, but only when stats are applied to something specific. They
> still mean nothing when we say that an accessible site will give a 2%
> rise in hits or a 25% rise in revenue. That cannot be argued with...
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Steven McCaffrey [mailto:SMCCAFFR@MAIL.NYSED.GOV]
> Sent: Friday, January 11, 2002 16:27
> To: Ian.SHARPE@cambridge.sema.slb.com; Simon White; w3c-wai-ig@w3.org
> Subject: RE: statistics - for differences between accessible and
> non-acce ssible sites?
> 
> 
> I think there are some valid points on this thread about the potential
> misuse or misapplication of certain specific statistics, but I think we
> should clarify where the problem lies.
> Borrowing the form, but not the content, of a well known phrase used by
> <unnamed>,
> "Statistics don't lie, people do."
> The point is a bit more subtle in that the "lie" is usually an implied
> inference from the statistics rather than any given statistic.
> Statistics is the best tool humans have developed precisely to avoid
> deceiving ourselves which is why it is the bedrock of science.
> Not only does it allow precise quantification of the subject matter
> itself, but it also gives us a way to quantify the degree to which our
> statements may be in error.
> It is, I agree, troubling that some continue to misuse this very helpful
> tool of thought and communication.
> 
> Steve
> 
> 
> 
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Received on Friday, 11 January 2002 13:07:53 UTC