The Inexact Use of Fisher's Exact Test in Six Major Medical Journals.
Publication/Presentation Date
6-16-1989
Abstract
We reviewed the use of Fisher's Exact Test in 71 articles published between 1983 and 1987 in six medical journals. Thirty-three of 56 selected articles did not specify use of a one- or two-tailed test, and 12 (36%) of these actually used the one-tailed test. Five (42%) of these 12 articles contained at least one table in which the standard significance level of P less than .05 was no longer met when a two-tailed analysis was run instead. Eleven (65%) of 17 articles with a statistical consultant compared with 10 (28%) of 36 articles without a consultant specified use of a one- or two-sided test. The use of Fisher's Exact Test without specification as a one- or two-tailed version may misrepresent the statistical significance of data. A uniform specification statement should be required for all manuscripts to correct such potential errors in interpretation.
Volume
261
Issue
23
First Page
3430
Last Page
3433
ISSN
0098-7484
Published In/Presented At
McKinney, W. P., Young, M. J., Hartz, A., & Lee, M. B. (1989). The inexact use of Fisher's Exact Test in six major medical journals. Jama, 261(23), 3430-3433.
Disciplines
Medical Sciences | Medicine and Health Sciences
PubMedID
2724487
LVHN link
http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=mnh&AN=2724487&site=ehost-live&scope=site
Department(s)
Department of Medicine, Department of Medicine Faculty
Document Type
Article
