J Korean Acad Prosthodont.  2012 Oct;50(4):258-270. 10.4047/jkap.2012.50.4.258.

Assessment of statistical errors of articles published in the Journal of the Korean Academy of Prosthodontics: 2006 - 2010

Affiliations
  • 1Department of Prosthodontics, School of Dentistry, Chosun University, Gwangju, Korea.
  • 2Department of Statistics, Chonnam National University, Gwangju, Korea.
  • 3Department of Dentistry, College of Medicine, Inha University, Incheon, Korea.
  • 4Department of Orthodontics, School of Dentistry, Chonnam National University, Gwangju, Korea. hjlim@jnu.ac.kr

Abstract

PURPOSE
Use of inappropriate statistical methods may lead to incorrect conclusions and a waste of valuable resources. The goal of this study was to assess the frequency and the types of several common statistical errors in the published articles of the Journal of the Korean Academy of Prosthodontics (JKAP) for a 5-year period.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Of 336 articles in the JKAP published from 2006 to 2010, 255 articles using statistics were reviewed and classified by statistical method and year. The frequency and types of the statistical methods were examined, and the statistical errors were evaluated by the appropriateness of the experimental design, assumption check, independent outcomes, proper sample size and suitable use of statistical method. Statistical guidelines were completed based on the appropriateness.
RESULTS
Of the 255 articles using statistics, 193 articles (75.9%) used inferential statistics and 153 articles used SPSS statistical software (60.0%). Of the articles using inferential statistics, the three most frequently used statistical methods were ANOVA (41.5%), t-test (20.0%), and the nonparametric method (16.9%). The average rate of statistical errors was 61.2 percent, similar to the rate reported by several studies completed for the medical journal.
CONCLUSION
After the whole analysis of the difference among the groups, post-hoc tests for the pairwise comparisons are required. The optimal sample size calculation is an essential part of this study protocol. To minimize the occurrence of statistical errors, statistical guidelines were developed according to each statistical test procedure and will contribute to the academic improvement in the JKAP.

Keyword

Statistical error; Statistical method; Journal of the Korean Academy of Prosthodontics

MeSH Terms

Prosthodontics
Research Design
Sample Size

Figure

  • Fig. 1 A: 2 × 4 experiment design, B: 2 × 4 dependent experiment design, C: 2 × 2 × 3 experiment design.


Cited by  1 articles

Statistical methods used in articles published by the Journal of Periodontal and Implant Science
Eunsil Choi, Jiyoung Lyu, Jinyoung Park, Hae-Young Kim
J Periodontal Implant Sci. 2014;44(6):288-292.    doi: 10.5051/jpis.2014.44.6.288.


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