Title: Types of Evidence. Social scientists have to use evidence… | by Phil Howard | Medium
Headings: Types of Evidence
Types of Evidence
1. Anecdotal Evidence
2. Testimonial Evidence
3. Statistical Evidence
4. Analogical Evidence

Content: Testimonial evidence appears in popular magazines, and journalism. In the social sciences, it provides the rich empirical evidence that comes from interview, participant observation and ethnographic research, especially if the researcher does a good job explaining methods choices and does the work of interpreting testimony for a reader in a serious, critical way. 3. Statistical Evidence
a. Provides moderately strong or supportive evidence
b. References evidence from experiments or large-scale data collection
c. Summarizes, indexes, or models general phenomena
In social research, statistical evidence can provide generalizable and transportable knowledge about broad phenomena and trends. On the way to producing statistical evidence, however, are a lot of important method and sampling decisions that impact how confident we can be about generalizations. Preparing statistical evidence often means reducing complexity, summarizing trends, and simplifying definitions. When you structure an argument with statistics, always report the source and explain its credibility. Since statistics from different sources may vary or conflict, give reports from multiple sources when possible. 4. Analogical Evidence
a. Provides strong or supportive evidence
b. Explains either by comparison to a known phenomenon or common metaphor
A nalogies provide interest and illumination to a line of argument.