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Goldberg, Jeffrey


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Why Web Usage Statistics are (Worse Than) Meaningless

Web usage statistics, such as those produced by programs such as analog cannot be used to make strong inferences about the number of people who have read a website or webpage. Although those who compile these statistics usually try to make this clear, people still insist on misusing them to make overly strong inferences. Attaching meaning to meaningless numbers is worse than not having the numbers at all. When you lack information, it is best to know that you lack the information. Web statistics may give the user a false sense of knowledge which can be worse than being knowingly ignorant.

Goldberg, Jeffrey. Goldmark (1995). Articles>Web Design>Audience Analysis>Log Analysis