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Description
At the moment, we compare the growth of our own little ones to what seemed typical in a survey of 30,000 British children in the 1980s. The results of this survey are seen in the growth charts now ...handed to all new parents. These divide children into centiles: the 50th centile marks a line of growth which half of children are to be expected to be above, and half below. If your child is on the 90th centile, about 90% of children will be smaller, 10% bigger. But next week experts will be deciding whether to recommend that Britain adopt new charts prepared by the World Health Organisation (WHO). The lines on these new graphs for babies' weight in the first year are markedly different, and not because they use data from malnourished children around the world. Far from it. One effect of the new charts would be that about one quarter of the children who seemed to be below the 50th centile before, would, in one statistical sweep, move above it. A very large number of the lighter than average will suddenly become slightly heavier than average, or seem to. How can this be? -- We will also be looking at the latest revisions to statistical data that change how we see our economic performance compared with the US. -- And does birth order make any difference to your chances in life? Whether you are a first child or a last, you will want to know.
Metadata describing this Open University audio programme
Series: More or less
Episode 3
First transmission date: 2006-07-06
Published: 2006
Rights Statement: Rights owned or controlled by The Open University
Restrictions on use: This material can be used in accordance with The Open University conditions of use. A link to the conditions can be found at the bottom of all OU Digital Archive web pages.
Duration: 00:24:13
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Producer: Michael Blastland
Presenter: Andrew Dilnot
Contributors: Kevin Daly; A. W Dilnot; Tam Fry; Liz Mawle; Joe Rogers; Alfie Vadon; Kim Vadon
Publisher: BBC Open University
Subject terms: Mathematical statistics; Social sciences--Statistical methods
Production number: AUDA102B
Available to public: no