The Life of a Number

Measurement, Meaning and the Media

B.T. Lawson (Loughborough University)

$195

Hardback

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English

Bristol University Press
01 May 2023

Communication studies; Media studies; Ethical issues: scientific & technological developments; Impact of science & technology on society

Do numbers have a life of their own or do we give them meaning? How do data play a role in constructing people’s perceptions of the world around them? How far can we trust numbers to speak truth to power?

The COVID-19 pandemic offers a unique moment to answer these questions. This book examines how politicians, experts and journalists gave meaning to data through the story of seven iconic numbers from the pandemic.

Shedding light on a new dawn of data, this book makes a valuable contribution to our understanding of the relationship between numbers, meaning and society.

By: B.T. Lawson (Loughborough University)
Imprint: Bristol University Press
Country of Publication: United Kingdom
Dimensions: Height: 234mm, Width: 156mm,
ISBN: 9781529225334
ISBN 10: 1529225337
Pages: 166
Publication Date: 01 May 2023
Audience: Professional and scholarly , General/trade , Undergraduate , ELT Advanced
Format: Hardback
Publisher's Status: Active

B.T. Lawson is Research Associate at Loughborough University.

Reviews for The Life of a Number: Measurement, Meaning and the Media

"""This fascinating book provides two important interventions. First, it provides a critical toolkit for making sense of how quantitative data are used to understand social phenomena. Second, it provides insight into how statistics drove policy responses to the COVID-19 pandemic. An engaging critique of evidence-based journalism and policy making."" Rob Kitchin, Maynooth University"