Bootleg Data

Bootleg data. Another Finneyism. A few ways to tell you might have bootleg data:

• If you spend more time on the animations for your powerpoint than you do collecting your data, you probably have bootleg data
  
• If your R-squared number for your regression equation is 11.3%, you probably have bootleg data
• If you "knew" what the problem really was before you even started your project, and all data you have collected so far confirms it exactly without exception, then you didn't really have a project OR you probably have bootleg data
  
• If your boss "knew" what the problem really was before you even started your project, you probably have bootleg data
  
• If you skipped your MSA (measurement systems analysis), you don't even know if you have bootleg data or not