Social Security number

n : the number of a particular individual's social security

account [syn: {Social Security number}]

social science number

(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. {Management} loves them.

See also {numbers}, {math-out}, {pretty pictures}.

(1994-11-04)