Circulation, Vol 61, 1-7, Copyright © 1980 by American Heart Association
SA Glantz
Approximately half the articles published in medical journals that use
statistical methods use them incorrectly. These errors are so widespread
that the present system of peer review has not been able to control them.
This article presents a few rules of thumb to help readers identify
questionable statistical analysis and estimate what the authors would have
concluded had they used appropriate statistical methods. To prevent such
errors from appearing, journals should secure review by someone
knowledgeable in statistics before accepting a manuscript. In addition,
human research committees should insist that an investigator define an
appropriate strategy for data analysis before approving a protocol. Such
policies should quickly and effectively increase the reliability of the
clinical and scientific literature.
ARTICLES
Biostatistics: how to detect, correct and prevent errors in the medical literature
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