February, 2003
© 2000, 2001, 2003 Scott S. Emerson, M.D., Ph.D.
As a
general rule, the usual formulation of the hypotheses from the scientific
standpoint does not lend itself to statistical analysis.
Further refinement
of hypotheses often needed
·Endpoint
modified to increase precision
·Statistical
model to account for variation in response
·Precise
statement of hypotheses to be discriminated
-Due to
sampling variability, contiguous hypotheses cannot be
discriminated with finite sample size