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social science number
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social science number /n./ [IBM] A statistic that is
content-free, or nearly so. A measure derived via methods of
questionable validity from data of a dubious and vague nature.
Predictively, having a social science number in hand is seldom much
better than nothing, and can be considerably worse. As a rule,
management loves them. See also numbers, math-out,
pretty pictures.
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