Source of a quote

[Sean McKenzie]

Some one on this list said something like this at least once.

Does anyone have a source for this quote or a similar one?


"An imprecise answer to a precise question is more valuable than precise
answer to an imprecise question. In other words, ensuring the problem has
been adequately defined before trying to find a solution will be essential."

_________________________________________________________________
http://liveearth.msn.com

[Reutter, Alex]

I have seen "An approximate answer to the right question is worth a great deal more than a precise answer to the wrong question", sometimes unknown, sometimes attributed to John Tukey, but never from a reliable source.

Alex


-----Original Message-----
From: SPSSX(r) Discussion [mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of Sean McKenzie
Sent: Saturday, July 14, 2007 11:07 PM
To: [hidden email]
Subject: Source of a quote

Some one on this list said something like this at least once.

Does anyone have a source for this quote or a similar one?


"An imprecise answer to a precise question is more valuable than precise
answer to an imprecise question. In other words, ensuring the problem has
been adequately defined before trying to find a solution will be essential."

[Dr. Jeffrey D. Leitzel-2]

Hi Sean,
I believe it was Tukey, but if I am wrong, I'm sure someone will correct.
Best, Jeff
Jeffrey D. Leitzel, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor, Department of Psychology
Office: McCormick 2123
Bloomsburg University
400 East Second Street
Bloomsburg, PA  17815
Office Phone:[phone],fax:[phone]
Alt. Office (Tuesday): 570 348-6100 ext:3216

> -----Original Message-----
> From: SPSSX(r) Discussion [mailto:[hidden email]]
> On Behalf Of Sean McKenzie
> Sent: Sunday, July 15, 2007 12:07 AM
> To: [hidden email]
> Subject: Source of a quote
>
> Some one on this list said something like this at least once.
>
> Does anyone have a source for this quote or a similar one?
>
>
> "An imprecise answer to a precise question is more valuable
> than precise
> answer to an imprecise question. In other words, ensuring the
> problem has
> been adequately defined before trying to find a solution will
> be essential."
>
> _________________________________________________________________
> http://liveearth.msn.com
>

[Stephen Hampshire]

According to a post at Edward Tufte's site it was Tukey.

Two versions are given:

"Be approximately right rather than exactly wrong."

"Far better an approximate answer to the right question, which is often
vague, than an exact answer to the wrong question, which can always be made
precise."

http://www.edwardtufte.com/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg?msg_id=0002bA

Stephen

> -----Original Message-----
> From: SPSSX(r) Discussion [mailto:[hidden email]]On Behalf Of
> Reutter, Alex
> Sent: 15 July 2007 15:57
> To: [hidden email]
> Subject: Re: Source of a quote
>
>
> I have seen "An approximate answer to the right question is worth
> a great deal more than a precise answer to the wrong question",
> sometimes unknown, sometimes attributed to John Tukey, but never
> from a reliable source.
>
> Alex
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: SPSSX(r) Discussion [mailto:[hidden email]] On
> Behalf Of Sean McKenzie
> Sent: Saturday, July 14, 2007 11:07 PM
> To: [hidden email]
> Subject: Source of a quote
>
> Some one on this list said something like this at least once.
>
> Does anyone have a source for this quote or a similar one?
>
>
> "An imprecise answer to a precise question is more valuable than precise
> answer to an imprecise question. In other words, ensuring the problem has
> been adequately defined before trying to find a solution will be
> essential."

[Alexander J. Shackman-2]

http://www-stat.wharton.upenn.edu/~steele/Rants/QuoteVariations.htm
and
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_W._Tukey

for a semblance of source



On 7/16/07, Stephen Hampshire <[hidden email]> wrote:

>
> According to a post at Edward Tufte's site it was Tukey.
>
> Two versions are given:
>
> "Be approximately right rather than exactly wrong."
>
> "Far better an approximate answer to the right question, which is often
> vague, than an exact answer to the wrong question, which can always be
> made
> precise."
>
> http://www.edwardtufte.com/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg?msg_id=0002bA
>
> Stephen
>
>
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: SPSSX(r) Discussion [mailto:[hidden email]]On Behalf Of
> > Reutter, Alex
> > Sent: 15 July 2007 15:57
> > To: [hidden email]
> > Subject: Re: Source of a quote
> >
> >
> > I have seen "An approximate answer to the right question is worth
> > a great deal more than a precise answer to the wrong question",
> > sometimes unknown, sometimes attributed to John Tukey, but never
> > from a reliable source.
> >
> > Alex
> >
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: SPSSX(r) Discussion [mailto:[hidden email]] On
> > Behalf Of Sean McKenzie
> > Sent: Saturday, July 14, 2007 11:07 PM
> > To: [hidden email]
> > Subject: Source of a quote
> >
> > Some one on this list said something like this at least once.
> >
> > Does anyone have a source for this quote or a similar one?
> >
> >
> > "An imprecise answer to a precise question is more valuable than precise
> > answer to an imprecise question. In other words, ensuring the problem
> has
> > been adequately defined before trying to find a solution will be
> > essential."
>

--
Alexander J. Shackman
Laboratory for Affective Neuroscience
Waisman Laboratory for Brain Imaging & Behavior
University of Wisconsin-Madison
1202 West Johnson Street
Madison, Wisconsin 53706

Telephone: [phone]
FAX: [phone]
EMAIL: [hidden email]
http://psyphz.psych.wisc.edu/~shackman

[Secrist, Kevin]

Taken directly from "The Future of Data Analysis" by Tukey,John.
The Annals of Mathematical Statistics, Vol. 33, No. 1. (Mar., 1962), pp.
1-67.
Downloaded from JSTOR.
Pgs 13-14. quote as follows-"Far better an
approximate answer to the right question, which is often vague, than an
exact
answer to the wrong question, which can always be made precise."

-----Original Message-----
From: SPSSX(r) Discussion [mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of
Alexander J. Shackman
Sent: Monday, July 16, 2007 7:05 AM
To: [hidden email]
Subject: Re: Source of a quote

http://www-stat.wharton.upenn.edu/~steele/Rants/QuoteVariations.htm
and
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_W._Tukey

for a semblance of source



On 7/16/07, Stephen Hampshire <[hidden email]>
wrote:

>
> According to a post at Edward Tufte's site it was Tukey.
>
> Two versions are given:
>
> "Be approximately right rather than exactly wrong."
>
> "Far better an approximate answer to the right question, which is
> often vague, than an exact answer to the wrong question, which can
> always be made precise."
>
> http://www.edwardtufte.com/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg?msg_id=0002bA
>
> Stephen
>
>
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: SPSSX(r) Discussion [mailto:[hidden email]]On Behalf

> > Of Reutter, Alex
> > Sent: 15 July 2007 15:57
> > To: [hidden email]
> > Subject: Re: Source of a quote
> >
> >
> > I have seen "An approximate answer to the right question is worth a
> > great deal more than a precise answer to the wrong question",
> > sometimes unknown, sometimes attributed to John Tukey, but never
> > from a reliable source.
> >
> > Alex
> >
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: SPSSX(r) Discussion [mailto:[hidden email]] On
> > Behalf Of Sean McKenzie
> > Sent: Saturday, July 14, 2007 11:07 PM
> > To: [hidden email]
> > Subject: Source of a quote
> >
> > Some one on this list said something like this at least once.
> >
> > Does anyone have a source for this quote or a similar one?
> >
> >
> > "An imprecise answer to a precise question is more valuable than
> > precise answer to an imprecise question. In other words, ensuring
> > the problem
> has
> > been adequately defined before trying to find a solution will be
> > essential."
>

--
Alexander J. Shackman
Laboratory for Affective Neuroscience
Waisman Laboratory for Brain Imaging & Behavior University of
Wisconsin-Madison
1202 West Johnson Street
Madison, Wisconsin 53706

Telephone: [phone]
FAX: [phone]
EMAIL: [hidden email]
http://psyphz.psych.wisc.edu/~shackman