All Biomedical and Health Science Researchers, Including Laboratory Physicians and Scientists, Need Adequate Education and Training in Study Design and Statistics.

Abstract

The American Statistical Association (ASA) has recently published an official warning about the misuse of P values in science (1). The misuse of statistics has been discussed for many decades without much improvement. We have not been wise enough to eliminate this problem. In the ASA's statement (1), Jeff Leek describes the current chaotic situation in this way: “the vast majority of data analysis is not performed by people properly trained to perform data analysis.” As laboratory physicians and scientists, we should ask ourselves, “Would you let nonprofessionals interpret clinical laboratory findings?” The statement (1) begins with an intriguing question and answer: “Q: Why do so many people still use P = 0.05?… A: Because that's what they were taught in college or grad school.” This is analogous to the unfortunate fact that the QWERTY …