Mark Twain is quoted to the effect that there are lies, damned lies and statistics.
Notice that "research" always tends to prove the agenda of whoever is paying for it or supporting it, there was plenty of "scientific research" proving the superiority of the white man and that the earth is flat.
For years and years the tobacco companies claimed that "research" proved that their product was harmless, and their ads in the 1940's produced doctor's testimonials to the health benefits of cigarette smoking.
Today "politically correct" research proves that homosexuality is an inborn predisposition and that all races are mentally equivalent. This may very well be so, but the two gentlemen who produced "The Bell Curve" disputed this, claimed that "research" was on their side.
My personal belief is that the truth is not necessarily "in the middle" but does tend to be much more complex than those who argue slogan's based on political agendas.
In the emotion charged arena of pit killing dogs the spin doctors on all sides proceed with glee. Those seeking outright eradication tend to quote per capita based figures, ignoring the fact that huge numbers of such dogs are without registration, while those who seek cover for the pit killers highlight the Rottweiler figures, driven by huge numbers of registrations in the 1990's.
Public health, law enforcement, and medical research of every stripe is grant and budget driven, always with the need to justify next year's budget and personal salaries and grants.
Most of the data is at base anecdotal, that is, built by searching newspaper archives, public records and other sources.
Open discussion, by those willing to be publicly identified, is perhaps the best approach to bringing light where there has been shadow and speculation.