Analytical Reliability in the Decision Making Process—The Numbers Game

Abstract

This paper is not intended to give the pros or cons of conventional sampling methods (generators of numbers). Rather, our intent is to emphasize the importance of the credibility and integrity of the generated number, by what ever methodology selected, and point out some problems that can be encountered when numbers are poorly generated or analyzed. As generators of numbers we are responsible for the end-products of data analysis for the decision maker.