Twyman's law
The more unusual or interesting the data, the more likely they are to have been the result of an error of one kind or another.
This law suggests that when there are particularly unusual data points, it is more likely that they are the result of errors or manipulation. For example, if a dataset of long-jump results from a sporting event showed a maximum value of 20 meters (more than twice the world record), it is more likely to be due to an error (such as recording a value in feet rather than meters) than due to an unusually long jump. It is also more likely in this case that the results could have been manipulated.
See also:
- Sagan Standard