Bootstrap Method as a Tool for Analyzing Data with Atypical Distributions Deviating from Parametric Assumptions: Critique and Effectiveness Evaluation

Abstract

In today’s research environment characterized by exponential data growth and increasing complexity, the selection of appropriate statistical tests, tailored to research objectives and data distributions, is paramount for rigorous analysis and accurate interpretation. This article explores the growing prominence of bootstrapping, an advanced statistical technique for multiple comparisons analysis, offering flexibility and customization by estimating sample distributions without assuming population distributions, thus serving as a valuable alternative to traditional methods in various data scenarios. Computer simulations were conducted using data from cardiovascular disease patients. Two approaches, spontaneous partly controlled simulation and fully constrained simulation using self-written R scripts, were utilized to generate datasets with specified distributions and analyze the data using tests for comparing more than two groups. The utilization of the bootstrap method greatly improves statistical analysis, especially in overcoming the constraints of conventional parametric tests. Our research showcased its effectiveness in comparing multiple scenarios, yielding strong findings across diverse distributions, even with minor inflation in p values. Serving as a valuable substitute for parametric approaches, bootstrap promotes careful consideration when rejecting hypotheses, thus fostering a deeper understanding of statistical nuances and bolstering analytical rigor.