February, 2003
© 2000, 2001, 2003 Scott S. Emerson, M.D., Ph.D.
Problem:
The distribution (or summary measure) for the outcome is not directly
observable
Use a
sample to estimate the distribution (or summary measure) of outcomes
Such an estimate is
thus subject to sampling error
In
presence of sampling error, we need an infinite sample size to
discriminate between contiguous hypotheses
·(see later
discussion on statistical criteria for evidence)