Framing Numeric Quantities

Rather than using percentages, use natural frequencies

 

When comparing effectiveness or risk, use common denominators

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Examples

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“If 100 women have unprotected sex for a year, 85 of them will

get pregnant, as compared with maybe 0 or 1 out of 100 using an IUD.”

(Rather than saying, "The one-year risk for pregnancy when using no contraception is 85%). 

 

“If a person switches from the pill to an implant, their chance of unintended pregnancy goes from 70 in 1000 to less than 1 in 1000.”