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Paper
written by Professor Omar Hasan Kasule Sr.
1.0
STATISTICAL VS SUBSTANTIVE:
·
An investigator starts with a substantive
question. This is formulated as a statistical question. Data is then collected
and is analyzed to answer the statistical question. The answer to the
statistical question is the statistical conclusion. The investigator uses the
statistical conclusion and other knowledge available to him to reach a
substantive conclusion.
·
Statistics therefore gives statistical and not
substantive answers.
·
Statistical conclusions are made about groups
and not individuals. Any inference to the individual is to a hypothetical
individual. In other words the statistical conclusion is depersonalized.
2.0
ANAYLSIS VS INTERPRETATION:
·
Statistical results are dry unless well
interpreted and put in the right context.
·
Bio-statistics only summarizes the data but does
not interpret.
·
Interpretation involves knowledge of the
context, prior knowledge, and prior suppositions.
·
Personal familiarity with the data may also
influence how it is interpreted.
·
Data that is well analyzed may be poorly
interpreted
3.0 MISUSE
OF STATISTICS:
·
Statistics is a tool that can be used well or
badly. If misused, the blame should be on the user and not the tool.
·
Mis-use of statistics can be deliberate
deception or can be due to ignorance.
·
Selective presentation of desired results while
suppressing undesirable ones is one method of misuse of statistics.
·
Sometimes the cart is put before the horse when
the statistical methodology available determines what types of research
questions are dealt with. The correct approach is to have research questions
and select the suitable method.
4.0 MIS-USE
OF THE COMPUTER:
·
Computation is not an end in itself. It is a
tool that can be used well or can be mis-used.
·
The computer itself has very little intelligence
all it possesses is speed and memory.
·
A human must have a clear idea of what is
required of the computer and must instruct it accordingly.
·
The human must also be able to intelligently
interpret the output from the computer.
·
All who tinker with computers must remember the
adage ‘rubbish in/rubbish out’.