Inferential misconceptions and replication crisis
Misinterpretations of the p value and the introduction of bias through arbitrary analytical choices have been discussed in the literature for decades. Nonetheless, they seem to have persisted in empirical research, and criticisms of p value misuses have increased in the recent past due to the non-re...
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| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Milano University Press
2016-12-01
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| Series: | Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Public Health |
| Online Access: | http://ebph.it/article/view/12066 |
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| _version_ | 1849315309034405888 |
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| author | Norbert Hirschauer Oliver Mußhoff Sven Gruener Ulrich Frey Insa Theesfeld Peter Wagner |
| author_facet | Norbert Hirschauer Oliver Mußhoff Sven Gruener Ulrich Frey Insa Theesfeld Peter Wagner |
| author_sort | Norbert Hirschauer |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Misinterpretations of the p value and the introduction of bias through arbitrary analytical choices have been discussed in the literature for decades. Nonetheless, they seem to have persisted in empirical research, and criticisms of p value misuses have increased in the recent past due to the non-replicability of many studies. Unfortunately, the critical concerns that have been raised in the literature are scattered over many disciplines, often linguistically confusing, and differing in their main reasons for criticisms. Misuses and misinterpretations of the p value are currently being discussed intensely under the label “replication crisis” in many academic disciplines and journals, ranging from specialized scientific journals to Nature and Science. In a drastic response to the crisis, the editors of the journal Basic and Applied Social Psychology even decided to ban the use of p values from future publications at the beginning of 2015, a fact that has certainly added fuel to the discussions in the relevant scientific forums. Finally, in early March, the American Statistical Association released a brief formal statement on p values that explicitly addresses misuses and misinterpretations. In this context, we systematize the most serious flaws related to the p value and discuss suggestions of how to prevent them and reduce the rate of false discoveries in the future. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-cb26cad16a0d43c8821e10d8c24d3fb2 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2282-0930 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2016-12-01 |
| publisher | Milano University Press |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Public Health |
| spelling | doaj-art-cb26cad16a0d43c8821e10d8c24d3fb22025-08-20T03:52:10ZengMilano University PressEpidemiology, Biostatistics and Public Health2282-09302016-12-0113410.2427/1206610799Inferential misconceptions and replication crisisNorbert Hirschauer0Oliver Mußhoff1Sven Gruener2Ulrich Frey3Insa Theesfeld4Peter Wagner5Martin Luther University Halle-WittenbergGeorg-August-University GoettingenMartin Luther University Halle-WittenbergMartin Luther University Halle-WittenbergMartin Luther University Halle-WittenbergMartin Luther University Halle-WittenbergMisinterpretations of the p value and the introduction of bias through arbitrary analytical choices have been discussed in the literature for decades. Nonetheless, they seem to have persisted in empirical research, and criticisms of p value misuses have increased in the recent past due to the non-replicability of many studies. Unfortunately, the critical concerns that have been raised in the literature are scattered over many disciplines, often linguistically confusing, and differing in their main reasons for criticisms. Misuses and misinterpretations of the p value are currently being discussed intensely under the label “replication crisis” in many academic disciplines and journals, ranging from specialized scientific journals to Nature and Science. In a drastic response to the crisis, the editors of the journal Basic and Applied Social Psychology even decided to ban the use of p values from future publications at the beginning of 2015, a fact that has certainly added fuel to the discussions in the relevant scientific forums. Finally, in early March, the American Statistical Association released a brief formal statement on p values that explicitly addresses misuses and misinterpretations. In this context, we systematize the most serious flaws related to the p value and discuss suggestions of how to prevent them and reduce the rate of false discoveries in the future.http://ebph.it/article/view/12066 |
| spellingShingle | Norbert Hirschauer Oliver Mußhoff Sven Gruener Ulrich Frey Insa Theesfeld Peter Wagner Inferential misconceptions and replication crisis Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Public Health |
| title | Inferential misconceptions and replication crisis |
| title_full | Inferential misconceptions and replication crisis |
| title_fullStr | Inferential misconceptions and replication crisis |
| title_full_unstemmed | Inferential misconceptions and replication crisis |
| title_short | Inferential misconceptions and replication crisis |
| title_sort | inferential misconceptions and replication crisis |
| url | http://ebph.it/article/view/12066 |
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