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The most respected statistics in the nation are gathered by the National Science Foundation through the National Opinion Research Center  (NORC) at the University of Chicago.

I spoke with Dr. Tom W. Smith, internationally acclaimed expert and Director of the Science and Culture section of the NORC for my Providence Journal column and he shared with me some additional figures.

He tells me that the annual rates for men averaged 4. 7 percent.  University of Chicago Experts Guide: Tom W. Smith

Since this about fast facts -- for next in the series I will explain the difference between the yearly rate and the lifetime rate. 

I will also cover:

1. How we can verify accurate information.

2. How NORC solved two of the biggest problems in data gathering and interviews with regard to infidelity, self-selection and lies.

3. How to accurately interpret the numbers. (Since I suffered through too many statistics courses at the Yale School of Medicine's Department of Epidemiology and Public Health -- I am going to help make sense out of the complicated maze of infidelity statistics.)

ABOUT LOVE

With such low numbers, isn't it better to focus on love rather than suspicious snooping?  The answer to love is always "YES." 

But in a world of reality, infidelity happens. However, oftentimes women who confront in a loving way, rather than being confrontational, may find the opportunity to get to a marriage counselor before their own relationship devolves into anger and accusations.

You read it here first. Tiger Woods and Elin Nordegren together again

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