Anecdotal evidence

"Anecdata" redirects here. For the web portal, see Anecdata.org.

An anecdotal evidence (or anecdata[1]) is a piece of evidence based on descriptions or reports of individual or personal experiences or observations,[2][3] collected in a non-systematic manner.[4]

The word anecdotal constitutes a variety of forms of evidence. This word can mean things one personally witnessed, claims made by oneself[3] or the claims or eyewitness accounts of others,[5] including information obtained from a fictitious source or from an anecdote,[6] thus anecdotal evidence may be better understood as a category; its connotation with a variety of forms of evidence may result in equivocation.

Anecdotal evidence can be true or false, but is not usually subjected to the methodology of scholarly method, the scientific method, or the rules of legal, historical, academic, or intellectual rigor, meaning that there are little or no safeguards against fabrication or inaccuracy.[2] However, the use of anecdotal reports in advertising or promotion of a product, service, or idea may be considered a testimonial, which is highly regulated in some jurisdictions.[7]

The persuasiveness of anecdotal evidence compared to that of statistical evidence has been a subject of debate; some studies have argued for the presence a generalized tendency to overvalue anecdotal evidence, whereas others have emphasized the types of argument as a prerequisite or rejected the conclusion altogether.[8][9][10][11][12]

  1. ^ "anecdata, n.", Oxford English Dictionary (3 ed.), Oxford University Press, 2023-03-02, doi:10.1093/oed/9365074374, retrieved 2024-10-03
  2. ^ a b Irwig, Les; Irwig, Judy; Trevena, Lyndal; Sweet, Melissa (2008), "The weakness of one", Smart Health Choices: Making Sense of Health Advice, Hammersmith Press, retrieved 2024-10-03
  3. ^ a b Oxford dictionary of English. Internet Archive. Oxford [England] ; New York : Oxford University Press. 2010. p. 58. ISBN 978-0-19-957112-3.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: others (link)
  4. ^ Porta, Miquel (2016-07-21), "Anecdotal Evidence", A Dictionary of Epidemiology, Oxford University Press, doi:10.1093/acref/9780199976720.001.0001/acref-9780199976720-e-60, ISBN 978-0-19-997672-0, retrieved 2024-10-03
  5. ^ Cambridge University Press (2009). Cambridge academic content dictionary. Internet Archive. New York : Cambridge University Press. p. 31. ISBN 978-0-521-87143-3.
  6. ^ "Anecdotal Definition & Meaning". Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary. Merriam-Webster. 2024-09-27. Retrieved 2024-10-03.
  7. ^ "16 CFR Part 255 (Oct. 1, 2024) -- Guides Concerning Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising". eCFR. Retrieved 2024-10-03.
  8. ^ Hoeken, Hans; Hustinx, Lettica (2009-10-01). "When is Statistical Evidence Superior to Anecdotal Evidence in Supporting Probability Claims? The Role of Argument Type". Human Communication Research. 35 (4): 491–510. doi:10.1111/j.1468-2958.2009.01360.x.
  9. ^ Hornikx, J. M. A. (2007). "Is anecdotal evidence more persuasive than statistical evidence? A comment on classic cognitive psychological studies". 164.
  10. ^ Hoeken, Hans (2001-11-01). "Anecdotal, Statistical, and Causal Evidence: Their Perceived and Actual Persuasiveness". Argumentation. 15 (4): 425–437. doi:10.1023/A:1012075630523. ISSN 1572-8374.
  11. ^ Michal, Audrey (2021). "When and why do people act on flawed science? Effects of anecdotes and prior beliefs on evidence-based decision-making". Cognitive Research: Principles and Implications. 6 (1): 28. doi:10.1186/s41235-021-00293-2. PMC 8023527. PMID 33825055.
  12. ^ Hoeken, H.; Hustinx, L. G. M. M. (2003). "The relative persuasiveness of anecdotal, statistical, causal, and expert evidence". 502.