Martin wrote:
On Thu, 13 Jun 2013 17:42:22 +0100, Tom Gardner
wrote:

Martin wrote:
On Thu, 13 Jun 2013 11:35:27 +0100, Tom Gardner
wrote:

Martin wrote:
On Thu, 13 Jun 2013 10:24:30 +0100, David Hill
wrote:


Nine out of 10 urine samples from people in Malta contained traces of
the weed killer glyphosate, laboratory tests carried out by Friends of
the Earth Malta show.

The results in Malta are mirrored in results across Europe – with 45 per
cent of samples from the 10 volunteers in each of the18 countries found
to contain traces of the chemical.

Do you really believe that 10 volunteers is a valid sample size?

That reads as 10*18=180 volunteers.

In 18 countries with a population of 300 million. You find that
significant.

180 is potentially *far* more significant than 10.

In a population of 300 million?

Go and learn a bit of statistics

Sure you can divide 180 by 300 million, but the result of
that division is meaningless in this context.

If I was being rude I would suggest that you would benefit
from understanding statistical significance is more subtle
than a simple division.


The 300 million is, as I'm sure you are aware, a red herring.

Ah, I see you don't understand that it is a red herring.


Very little can be read into the word "volunteer", especially
since the report is written by non-native speakers of English.

Maltese speak English often as a first language.

So what? The analysis and report are by Germans, in Bremen!

And I can't be bothered to reply to the rest of your posting.