Abstract
Stataphobia, a term used to describe the fear of statistics and research methods, can result from a lack of improper training in statistical methods. Poor statistical methods training can have an effect on health policy decision making and may play a role in the low research productivity seen in developing countries. One way to reduce Stataphobia is to intervene in the teaching of statistics in the classroom; however, such an intervention must tackle several obstacles, including student interest in the material, multiple ways of learning materials, and language barriers.We present here the Euclid Statistical Matrix, a tool for combatting Stataphobia on a global scale. This free tool is comprised of popular statistical YouTube channels and web sources that teach and demonstrate statistical concepts in a variety of presentation methods. Working with international teams in Iran, Japan, Egypt, Russia, and the United States, we have also developed the Statistical Matrix in multiple languages to address language barriers to learning statistics. By utilizing already-established large networks, we are able to disseminate our tool to thousands of Farsi-speaking university faculty and students in Iran and the United States. Future dissemination of the Euclid Statistical Matrix throughout the Central Asia and support from local universities may help to combat low research productivity in this region.
Highlights
Global health has definitions of varying levels of complexity, but in essence, it can be summarized as a framework of methods aimed at improving population health
A lack of skills in the areas of research methods and statistical evaluation is a common limitation among researchers globally, especially in developing countries where research productivity is lower compared to developed countries[1,2,3]
Adambekov et al discusses how health research contributes to only 7% of the overall number of publications coming from Kazakhstan, a trend shared by other Central Asian countries[5]
Summary
Curtis Tilves[1], Saeed Yekaninejad[2], Tetsuro Hayashi[3], Eman Eltahlawy[4], Eugene Shubnikov[5], Shalkar Adambekov[1]. A lack of skills in the areas of research methods and statistical evaluation is a common limitation among researchers globally, especially in developing countries where research productivity is lower compared to developed countries[1,2,3] This debilitating condition, which is found worldwide and has a far-reaching impact on publications and tenure, is known as “Stataphobia”. The fear of statistics, or not having access to a statistician for help, is a major problem for many scientists, as a lack of properly performed methods dooms submissions to rejection for articles, grants, and other scientific communications It can affect multiple layers of global health, as major policy decisions based on inaccurate, incomplete, or old statistics can waste resources without positively impacting the health issue.
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