Using Statistics, Analogies, and Definitions to Support Your Ideas

1. Statistics

Using statistics in public speaking can be a powerful tool. It provides a quantitative, objective, and persuasive platform on which to base an argument, prove a claim, or support an idea.

Before a set of statistics can be used, however, it must be made understandable by people who are not familiar with statistics.

The key to the persuasive use of statistics is extracting meaning and patterns from raw data in a way that is logical and demonstrable to an audience. There are many ways to interpret statistics and data sets, but not all of them are valid.

term to know

Statistics

A systematic collection of data on measurements or observations, often related to demographic information such as population counts, incomes, population counts at different ages, etc.

1a. Helping Your Audience Understand Statistics

• Use reputable sources for the statistics you present in your speech, such as government websites, academic institutions, reputable research organizations, and policy/research think tanks.
• Use a large enough sample size in your statistics to make sure that the statistics you are using are accurate (for example, if a survey only asked four people, then it is likely not representative of the population's viewpoint).
• Use statistics that are easily understood. Many people understand what an average is, but not many people will know more complex ideas such as variation and standard deviation.
• When presenting graphs, ensure that the key points are highlighted and the graphs are not misleading regarding the values presented.
• Statistics is a topic that many people prefer to avoid, so when presenting statistical ideas or even using numbers in your speech, be sure to thoroughly explain what the numbers mean and use visual aids to help you explain.

1b. Common Uses of Statistics in a Speech

Some common uses of statistics in a speech format may include:

• Results from a survey and discussion of key findings, such as the mean, median, and mode of that survey
• Comparisons of data and benchmarking results—also using averages and comparative statistics
• Presenting findings from research, including determining which variables are statistically significant and meaningful to the results of the research (this will likely use more complicated statistics)

1c. Common Misunderstandings of Statistics

A common misunderstanding when using statistics is "correlation does not mean causation." This means that just because two variables are related, they do not necessarily mean that one variable causes the other variable to occur.

EXAMPLE

Consider a data set that indicates that there is a relationship between ice cream purchases over seasons versus drowning deaths over seasons. The incorrect conclusion would be to say that the increase in ice cream consumption leads to more drowning deaths or vice versa.

Therefore, when using statistics in public speaking, a speaker should always be sure that they are presenting accurate information when discussing two variables that may be related.

Statistics can be used persuasively in all manner of arguments and public speaking scenarios—the key is understanding and interpreting the given data and molding that interpretation towards a convincing statement.

1d. Visualization of Statistics

Because data represent facts, incorporating statistics in your persuasive speech can be an effective way of adding both context and credibility to your argument. Your audience is much more likely to believe you if you incorporate statistics.

Statistics can be difficult to understand on their own, though. As a result, consider using visual tools such as tables, graphs, and maps to make statistics more understandable for your audience. These visuals are often easier to understand than raw data.

2. Analogies

Analogies compare something new and different (the main topic of a speech) to people, places, objects, and ideas familiar to audience members. Analogies are a powerful means of explaining a complex idea because they draw comparisons between ideas or objects that share certain aspects or characteristics but are dissimilar in other areas.

This cognitive process transfers information or meaning from one particular subject (the analogue or source) to another particular subject (the target) to infer meaning or prove an argument.

In public speaking, an analogy can be a powerful linguistic tool to help speakers guide and influence the perception and emotions of the audience.

term to know

Analogy

A technique used to draw comparisons between ideas or objects that share certain aspects or characteristics but are dissimilar in other areas.

2a. Analogies in Public Speaking

Often, presenters speak about topics, concepts, or places that may seem alien or abstract for audiences. To build trust and credibility on stage, speakers repeatedly link their main topic or argument to the values, beliefs, and knowledge of their audience.

Demonstrating how the relationship between one set of ideas is comparable or similar to a different set of ideas helps bridge this gap in understanding for listeners unable to formulate the relationship on their own. Likewise, analogies are sometimes used to persuade those that cannot detect the flawed or nonexistent arguments within the speech.

2b. Tips for Using Analogies

• Think about audience demographics. What are their interests, beliefs, and values? Choose a suitable analogy that the audience will be able to connect with and relate to.
• Keep analogies short and simple. Extreme analogies can weaken rather than strengthen an argument. Use analogies as a springboard rather than as the main focus of the presentation.
• Use analogies from personal experiences to create authenticity and credibility with the audience.

3. Definitions

During the introduction to your speech or presentation, you've given your audience a promise. You've told them that in exchange for their attention, you are going to deliver some information that answers the question which spawned the presentation in the first place.

Now you are giving the main part of your speech, and your audience expects you to deliver as promised. There's just one problem. Even though you've already decided what to include in the answer, you realize that there are times when the listeners may lose focus because they aren't following you.

One way to make sure that your answer is focused is to tell your audience what you are talking about. In other words, define your key terms. In doing this, you do two things: First, you show that you know what you are speaking about. Second, you avoid misunderstandings by settling on a single understanding of the key terms.

EXAMPLE

It might be that your audience understands the concept of power in a Marxist way, and you want to approach the presentation from a feminist point of view. By providing a brief definition, there will be no misunderstanding. Your audience may not agree with you, but that is not necessary to get your point across.

EXAMPLE

A definition makes sure you and your audience are talking about the same things.

You can define fruit salad as consisting of bananas, pineapples, and yellow apples (ideally, you would have a reason for this, too). Having done so, your audience will not object when you later state that fruit salad lacks the vital bits of red. Your definition of a fruit salad supported this idea.

3a. Providing Definitions

In order to define the key terms, you first have to bluntly state what they are. Always include the key words included in the question. These have been identified as central concepts for you, and by excluding them, you'll be very likely answering a different question from the one set.

There are often other key terms you want to include, and it's usually worth spending some time thinking about which ones are the key concepts. The number of definitions you include will depend on the length of your speech.

Sometimes it takes a bit of time to think about which terms are the central ones. This is time worth spending because you can later use the concepts without giving any further qualifications or comments. For this reason, you should also define the terms carefully.

IN CONTEXT

Having defined "power" in a particular way, every time you use the term in the presentation, it will have the meaning you desire. Providing the definition of the key terms also works as a signal to your audience that you know what you're talking about.

By defining "power" in a certain way, you demonstrate that you're aware of other interpretations. In fact, it will usually not be necessary to state what the other interpretations are unless the distinction is a key aspect of the argument.

3b. Using Definitions: An Example

Very often, you'll use somebody else's work to help you define the key terms. The definition in the following example is taken from a range of sources and referenced accordingly. In the context of another speech or presentation, this definition may be too long or too short.

EXAMPLE

The following paragraph defines the concept of a "social disadvantage.”

Social disadvantage, to start with, refers to a range of difficulties a person can be exposed to. According to McLanahan and Sandefur, social disadvantages include a lower expectancy in educational attainment, lower prospects at work, or lower status in society. Steinberg demonstrated that social and economic disadvantages often come together, leading some sociologists to talk about underclasses. Social disadvantage, however, does not necessarily have to be as extreme as that: It describes a relative difficulty in reaching a similar position in society to people not disadvantaged.