Tim Harford and the More or Less team try to make sense of the statistics which surround us. From BBC Radio 4 More
Tim Harford and the More or Less team try to make sense of the statistics which surround us. From BBC Radio 4 More
Available Episodes
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NHS waiting lists, Voter ID and measuring divorce
The government has trumpeted a big fall in those waiting over 18 months for hospital treatment in England. But total numbers on waiting lists have hit a new high. Also we look at how much impact the introduction of Voter ID had on turnout in May's English local elections. We ask whether Portugal really has a divorce rate of 94%. And we remember mathematician Dr Vicky Neale of Oxford University, who has died at the age of 39.
The government has trumpeted a big fall in those waiting over 18 months for hospital treatment in England. But total numbers on waiting lists have hit a new high. Also we look at how much impact the introduction of Voter ID had on turnout in May's English local elections. We ask whether Portugal really has a divorce rate of 94%. And we remember mathematician Dr Vicky Neale of Oxford University, who has died at the age of 39.
Presenter: Tim Harford
Series Producer: Jon Bithrey
Reporters: Josephine Casserly, Octavia Woodward, Ellie House
Sound Engineer: James Beard
Production Co-ordinator: Brenda Brown
24/5/2023
28:35
Detecting Bad Science with Data
For more than a decade there’ve been longstanding concerns about the credibility and reliability of science research. This “bad science” has often stemmed from poor data practice or worse. But statistics can also help us identify and understand some of what’s going wrong, whether that’s selective data-slicing or outright fabrication.
Tim Harford talks to writer and broadcaster Michael Blastland about his new BBC radio documentary ‘The Truth Police’, which hears from the outsiders who are calling out fraud, malpractice and incompetence in science.
Presenter: Tim Harford
Producer: Nathan Gower
Editor: Richard Vadon
Programme Coordinator: Brenda Brown
Sound Engineer: James Beard
20/5/2023
10:26
Do 94% of marriages in Portugal really end in divorce?
Portugal has a divorce rate of 94% and India just 1%, according to a social media post about divorce in 33 countries that has gone viral. But how are these figures calculated and what do they really tell us about the quality and endurance of marriage? We investigate with guests Marina Adshade, assistant professor at the Vancouver School of Economics and Dr Cheng-Tong Lir Wang of the Institute for the Future in San Francisco.
Presenter: Ben Carter
Producers: Octavia Woodward and Jon Bithrey
Editor: Richard Vadon
Production Co-ordinator: Brenda Brown
Sound Engineer: Neil Churchill
13/5/2023
10:21
Why is life expectancy falling in the USA?
The average life expectancy of Americans is shrinking at an alarming rate.
Between 2019 and 2021, a staggering 2.7 years has been shaved off, leaving the revised figure at 76.1 years - the lowest it’s been in more than two decades.
It also sees the U.S. rank 46th in the global life expectancy charts, behind Estonia and just a nose ahead of Panama.
Paul Connolly is joined by John Burn Murdoch, Mary Pat Campbell and Dr Nick Mark to discuss why, on average, citizens of the world’s richest country are dying so young.
6/5/2023
10:21
How much is the Coronation crown worth?
Consisting of 2 kilograms of gold and 444 gemstones, the iconic St Edward’s Crown will play a central role in the coronation of King Charles III, as it has for many of his predecessors. There has been much speculation as to what the value of the centrepiece of the Crown Jewels really is.
Charlotte McDonald talks to Dr Anna Keay, historian and author of The Crown Jewels - the Official History, and Alan Hart, CEO of the Gemmological Association of Great Britain. Together they break down what we know about the crown’s cost to make in the 17th century and what it might be worth today.
29/4/2023
10:24
About More or Less: Behind the Stats
Tim Harford and the More or Less team try to make sense of the statistics which surround us. From BBC Radio 4