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1 - Introduction

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  17 April 2022

Michael P. Fay
Affiliation:
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases
Erica H. Brittain
Affiliation:
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases
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Summary

The chapter begins with a cautionary story of a study on hydroxychloroquine treatment for COVID-19. We detail weaknesses in the study that led to misinterpretation of its results, emphasizing that there is more to proper application of hypothesis tests than calculating a p-value. We then discuss reproducibility in science and the p-value controversy. Some argue that since p-values are often misunderstood and misused that they should be replaced with other statistics. We counter that point of view, arguing that frequentist hypothesis tests, when properly applied, are well suited to address reproducibility issues. This motivates the book which provides guiding principles and tools for designing studies and properly applying hypothesis testing for many different scientific applications. We agree with many of the concerns about overreliance on p-values, hence the approach of the book is to present not just methods for hypothesis tests, but also methods for compatible confidence intervals on parameters that can accompany them. The chapter ends with an overview of the book, describing its level and the intended audience.

Type
Chapter
Information
Statistical Hypothesis Testing in Context
Reproducibility, Inference, and Science
, pp. 1 - 7
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2022

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