Display Settings:

Format

Send to:

Choose Destination
    J Postgrad Med. 2006 Apr-Jun;52(2):148-50.

    A shift from significance test to hypothesis test through power analysis in medical research.

    Source

    Department of Basic Principles, Institute of Medical Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi-221 005, India. drgirishsingh@yahoo.com

    Abstract

    Medical research literature until recently, exhibited substantial dominance of the Fisher's significance test approach of statistical inference concentrating more on probability of type I error over Neyman-Pearson's hypothesis test considering both probability of type I and II error. Fisher's approach dichotomises results into significant or not significant results with a P value. The Neyman-Pearson's approach talks of acceptance or rejection of null hypothesis. Based on the same theory these two approaches deal with same objective and conclude in their own way. The advancement in computing techniques and availability of statistical software have resulted in increasing application of power calculations in medical research and thereby reporting the result of significance tests in the light of power of the test also. Significance test approach, when it incorporates power analysis contains the essence of hypothesis test approach. It may be safely argued that rising application of power analysis in medical research may have initiated a shift from Fisher's significance test to Neyman-Pearson's hypothesis test procedure.

    PMID:
    16679686
    [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
    Free full text

      Supplemental Content

      Icon for Medknow Publications and Media Pvt Ltd

      Save items

      loading

      Recent activity

      Your browsing activity is empty.

      Activity recording is turned off.

      Turn recording back on

      See more...
      Write to the Help Desk