Wading Through the Data Swamp:
Program Evaluation 201

Module 1: Descriptive Statistics in Evaluation - Page 14 of 21

The Danger of the Averages

A red flag with the word warning written on it. Here is the danger of only looking at averages. They can mask real differences. This is why we must use other statistics to help describe our program participants' behavior.

Jack's evaluator should have reported several different descriptive statistics on the kids at pretest. This would have given Jack some critical information about their marijuana and alcohol use. Such information can be very important in designing program activities.

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