Anecdotal evidence

From WikiSynergy

This page in a nutshell: The fact that evidence is anecdotal is not in itself an indication that no scientific conclusions may be drawn from it

See also Standards of evidence

Anecdotal evidence is evidence consisting of individuals' personal descriptions and experiences. Such evidence is often hard to verify. Because of this, it is often claimed that anecdotal evidence cannot be scientific evidence. This is not the case. Anecdotal evidence, if properly handled, can yield scientific evidence. For example, the fact that people have near death experiences, as well as the general features of the NDE are based completely on anecdotal evidence. They are nevertheless accepted as scientific fact.

Anecdotal evidence is often evidence which does not exist in sufficient quantities for compilation into data sets which yield statistically significant results. As such, anecdotal evidence is not so much a type of evidence, but rather insufficient evidence. The same stories which are in themselves anecdotal evidence can sometimes be put together with other similar stories to form a sound basis for scientific conclusions. In certain areas of frontier thought, the charge that evidence is "anecdotal" is used as a way of implying that the evidence is not sound science. This is and incorrect argument when it is not accompanied by sound arguments which show that the anecdotal evidence base is being misused to draw unscientific conclusions.

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