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Statistical Errors in Papers in the British Journal of Psychiatry

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 January 2018

Susan J. White
Susan J. White*
Affiliation:
MRC Statistical Research and Services Unit, University College Hospital Medical School, 115 Gower Street, London WC1E 6AS
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Summary

In the 12 months from July 1977 to June 1978, out of 168 papers in the British Journal of Psychiatry, 139 (83 per cent) presented numerical results. A total of 63 papers contained statistical errors and at least one drew unsupportable conclusions. In many cases the errors were not considered to be severe, but they were often sufficient to raise doubts about some inferences. It is suggested that more consultation of investigators with medical statisticians, a basic training in statistical methods in the preclinical years, and more extensive statistical refereeing are needed.

Type
Research Article
Information
The British Journal of Psychiatry , Volume 135 , Issue 4 , October 1979 , pp. 336 - 342
Copyright
Copyright © Royal College of Psychiatrists, 1979 

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References

Armitage, P. (1974) Statistical Methods in Medical Research. Oxford: Blackwell Scientific.Google Scholar
British Medical Journal (1977) Statistical errors. British Medical Journal, i, 66.Google Scholar
British Medical Journal (1978) Interpreting clinical trials. British Medical Journal, ii, 1318.Google Scholar
Gore, Sheila M., Jones, I. G. & Rytter, E. C. (1977) Misuse of statistical methods: critical assessment of articles in B.M.J. from January to March 1976. British Medical Journal, i, 85–7.Google Scholar
Winer, B. J. (1971) Statistical Principles in Experimental Design, 2nd edition. McGraw-Hill Inc. Google Scholar
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