Data Denialism

A common scenario that data analysts in general encounter is what I like to describe as "data denialism". Often, and especially while consulting, an analyst will find that the data tells a different story than what the customer holds to be true. It is also often the case that, when presenting this finding, the customer will outright deny the evidence, asserting that either the data or the analysis must be wrong. For example, it may be that a retailer focused on the…