the difference is in what data is selected for the studies
This is exactly my point. Using statistics to "prove" a problem that might not exist is erroneous.
Here is a simple example.
You own a company that makes watches. You suspect or assume there is a "problem" that one of your employees is stealing merchandise.
You look at raw data that shows you purchased enough raw materials to make 1000 watches but you only shipped 950 watches. You can jump to the conclusion this "proves" you were right.
But after looking deeper into the data you find that some material was rejected on first inspection, some hands,springs etc were damaged during production and that some final pieces were rejected because of flaws.
You find that after looking at ALL the data there was no problem with employees stealing merchandise.
To assume that a Black person is pulled over 30% more than a White person "proves" it is because of skin color or racism without looking at why(stolen car,repair etc),where(high crime area,urban, rural etc) and other mitigating factors is disingenuous.
This includes all these "statistics" that "prove" "institutional racism" among other false claims.
Racism baiters love these raw statistics because few if any look at ALL the data.
Yes, again, you are stopping too soon in your analysis of ALL of the data that you are concerned about. You need to step back another few paces, metaphorically speaking, and recognize that there are a number of social and political dynamics involved as well.
It is NOT as simple as that some "race baiters" as you call them, are attempting to get things they should not, or to force change which will not help or will even make things worse.
It is ALSO true that there are other people working not just in the opposite direction, but at
CROSSPURPOSES (a subtle phrase most people actually misunderstand and misapply), as well.
These other people WANT you to focus on the crudely misapplied, and only partial statistical data. Some hope you will just ignore the statistics, and allow them to carry on as they are; some hope you will be galvanized by the statistics and misinterpret them as well, so that they can push another agenda advantageous to them, and some want you to be distracted by the fight between the statistic mongers and the statistic debunkers, in order that they can simultaneously feed off of and profit from BOTH sides, while making sure that the conflicts continue.
I am a professional troubleshooter and problem solver, so I understand thoroughly what you are referring to. I am presented with problems regularly, for which data has been gathered, and solutions proposed which have failed, and I recognize as you are talking about, that many times people haven't looked at the DETAILS of the data well enough to put it to use.
The thing is, not to STOP at that point and pitch a fuss about how statistics don't apply.
People who do that are plentiful in our modern world, and are promoting that we should ignore everything from racially based conflicts and cultural clashes, to effects of worldwide pollution, all on the grounds that the statistics can't be used simplistically.
Don't let the fact that there ARE people who want to misuse the data we have, to do more damage, cause you to refuse to recognize that there IS a serious problem to be dealt with.