Data is nothing without context
This story from WW2 reveals exactly why!
During World War II, Allied fighter planes returning from battle often bore bullet holes, revealing areas frequently targeted by enemy fire.
In response, efforts were made to reinforce these commonly damaged parts to decrease the number of planes lost.
However, mathematician Abraham Wald offered a different perspective on this data.
He suggested that the absence of bullet holes in certain areas might indicate vulnerability rather than safety....
His insight proposed that planes hit in those uncovered regions likely didn't make it back.
Consequently, armour reinforcement shifted to the parts of the plane LACKING bullet holes.
This story underscores the importance of interpreting data within its context.
Understanding why certain data points are absent can be as crucial as analysing the available data.
It's a great reminder that the narrative behind the data and how it’s interpreted is where insight is revealed....