February, 2003
© 2000, 2001, 2003 Scott S. Emerson, M.D., Ph.D.
Statistical
basis
“When you
go looking for something specific, your chances of finding [a spurious association by chance] are very bad, because
of all the things in the world, you’re only looking for one of
them.
“When you
go looking for anything at all, your chances of finding [a spurious association by chance] are very good, because
of all the things in the world, you’re sure to find some of
them.”