# statistical

**URL:** https://discourse.datamethods.org/c/edu/edstat/47.md

[Latest](https://discourse.datamethods.org/latest.md) · [Categories](https://discourse.datamethods.org/categories.md) · [Tags](https://discourse.datamethods.org/tags.md)

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## [About the statistical category](https://discourse.datamethods.org/t/about-the-statistical-category/70)

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**Author:** [@f2harrell](https://discourse.datamethods.org/u/f2harrell)\
**Replies:** 0

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Learning about statistics

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## [RWE: use of target trial emulation framework: why aiming to emulate RCT?](https://discourse.datamethods.org/t/rwe-use-of-target-trial-emulation-framework-why-aiming-to-emulate-rct/23434)

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**Author:** [@Tabaluga1](https://discourse.datamethods.org/u/Tabaluga1)\
**Replies:** 5\
**Last updated:** [October 9, 2026, 5:10pm UTC](https://discourse.datamethods.org/t/rwe-use-of-target-trial-emulation-framework-why-aiming-to-emulate-rct/23434 "2026-10-09T17:10:10Z")

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Dear All, Hernán and Robins \[1\] introduced the target trial emulation framework in 2016 to define the question of interest in observational studies. The target trial framework asks the investigator to specify key elemen…

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## [Necessary/recommended level of theory for developing statistical intuition](https://discourse.datamethods.org/t/necessary-recommended-level-of-theory-for-developing-statistical-intuition/5648)

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**Author:** [@cwatson](https://discourse.datamethods.org/u/cwatson)\
**Replies:** 78\
**Last updated:** [July 1, 2025, 5:44pm UTC](https://discourse.datamethods.org/t/necessary-recommended-level-of-theory-for-developing-statistical-intuition/5648 "2025-07-01T17:44:31Z")

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I brought this up after Day 1’s lecture but I thought it might warrant further discussion/elaboration. (Apologies for the length!) I am of the opinion that a “strong” background/foundation in theory is important to beco…

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## [BBR Session 11: Nonparametric Tests Using the Proportional Odds Model](https://discourse.datamethods.org/t/bbr-session-11-nonparametric-tests-using-the-proportional-odds-model/2915)

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**Author:** [@f2harrell](https://discourse.datamethods.org/u/f2harrell)\
**Replies:** 21\
**Last updated:** [June 6, 2025, 1:43pm UTC](https://discourse.datamethods.org/t/bbr-session-11-nonparametric-tests-using-the-proportional-odds-model/2915 "2025-06-06T13:43:30Z")

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This is a place for questions, answers, and discussion about session 11 of the Biostatistics for Biomedical Research airing 2020-01-24 introducing the proportional odds model as a generalization of the Wilcoxon and Krusk…

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## [Confusion flows downhill- a plea to methods teachers for unified messaging](https://discourse.datamethods.org/t/confusion-flows-downhill-a-plea-to-methods-teachers-for-unified-messaging/24409)

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**Author:** [@ESMD](https://discourse.datamethods.org/u/ESMD)\
**Replies:** 39\
**Last updated:** [January 10, 2025, 10:26pm UTC](https://discourse.datamethods.org/t/confusion-flows-downhill-a-plea-to-methods-teachers-for-unified-messaging/24409 "2025-01-10T22:26:33Z")

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Proposal: Gather the most prominent names in stats and epi in a room together and lock the door from the outside (with meals and bathroom breaks of course), until they can formulate unified messaging on certain foundatio…

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## [Glossary of Statistical Terms](https://discourse.datamethods.org/t/glossary-of-statistical-terms/1220)

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**Author:** [@f2harrell](https://discourse.datamethods.org/u/f2harrell)\
**Replies:** 30\
**Last updated:** [June 12, 2024, 10:15am UTC](https://discourse.datamethods.org/t/glossary-of-statistical-terms/1220 "2024-06-12T10:15:22Z")

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A glossary of statistical terms, intended primarily for non-statisticians, may be found here. The purpose of this topic is to provide a place for suggested improvements to any of the existing definitions, or to add new …

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## [Resources for Learning Likelihood and Bayesian Methods](https://discourse.datamethods.org/t/resources-for-learning-likelihood-and-bayesian-methods/4280)

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**Author:** [@R\_cubed](https://discourse.datamethods.org/u/R_cubed)\
**Replies:** 3\
**Last updated:** [April 19, 2024, 12:00pm UTC](https://discourse.datamethods.org/t/resources-for-learning-likelihood-and-bayesian-methods/4280 "2024-04-19T12:00:40Z")

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For those who are interested in the fundamental mathematics that connects Bayesian, Likelihood, and Frequentist inference, Dr. Korbinian Strimmer from Manchester University has written and published these course notes I’…

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## [BBR Session 7: Study Design, and Crossover Experiment Example](https://discourse.datamethods.org/t/bbr-session-7-study-design-and-crossover-experiment-example/2780)

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**Author:** [@f2harrell](https://discourse.datamethods.org/u/f2harrell)\
**Replies:** 26\
**Last updated:** [December 18, 2023, 3:10pm UTC](https://discourse.datamethods.org/t/bbr-session-7-study-design-and-crossover-experiment-example/2780 "2023-12-18T15:10:47Z")

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This is a place for questions, answers, and discussion about session 7 of the Biostatistics for Biomedical Research airing 2019-12-20 and dealing with study design and a two-period crossover experiment experiment. Sess…

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## [What should MDs-in-training know about medical prediction?](https://discourse.datamethods.org/t/what-should-mds-in-training-know-about-medical-prediction/335)

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**Author:** [@samw235711](https://discourse.datamethods.org/u/samw235711)\
**Replies:** 39\
**Last updated:** [May 26, 2023, 7:50am UTC](https://discourse.datamethods.org/t/what-should-mds-in-training-know-about-medical-prediction/335 "2023-05-26T07:50:24Z")

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Hello - thank you for your time. As part of a medical education pathway program at my univeristy, I will lecture my peers (medical students) on medical prediction. I have been studying this topic, although I am not exp…

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## [Textbook or resource on probability with solutions to exercises](https://discourse.datamethods.org/t/textbook-or-resource-on-probability-with-solutions-to-exercises/6447)

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**Author:** [@aflip](https://discourse.datamethods.org/u/aflip)\
**Replies:** 5\
**Last updated:** [February 21, 2023, 8:45pm UTC](https://discourse.datamethods.org/t/textbook-or-resource-on-probability-with-solutions-to-exercises/6447 "2023-02-21T20:45:43Z")

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Hi everyone, Ive seen a lot of textbooks and online resources mentioned on this forum, but haven’t found any that have a lot of solved examples or solutions to problems. I am a physician, trying to learn probability and…

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## [Critical Appraisal Checklist for Statistical Methods](https://discourse.datamethods.org/t/critical-appraisal-checklist-for-statistical-methods/1099)

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**Author:** [@Raj](https://discourse.datamethods.org/u/Raj)\
**Replies:** 21\
**Last updated:** [March 2, 2022, 3:38am UTC](https://discourse.datamethods.org/t/critical-appraisal-checklist-for-statistical-methods/1099 "2022-03-02T03:38:47Z")

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In Medical and Clinical Education, we frequently employ “Checklists” to help with critical appraisal of studies. Examples of such checklists are provided by numerous organizations includingBMJ, CASP, CEBM, JBI, and many …

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## [What would be the most truthful way to draw inferences in a multilevel cell biology dataset?](https://discourse.datamethods.org/t/what-would-be-the-most-truthful-way-to-draw-inferences-in-a-multilevel-cell-biology-dataset/4979)

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**Author:** [@JoFuchs](https://discourse.datamethods.org/u/JoFuchs)\
**Replies:** 23\
**Last updated:** [January 6, 2022, 12:58am UTC](https://discourse.datamethods.org/t/what-would-be-the-most-truthful-way-to-draw-inferences-in-a-multilevel-cell-biology-dataset/4979 "2022-01-06T00:58:33Z")

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Hi, I’m a PhD candidate in cell biology that (in retrospect) has never received extensive statistical training on how to best analyse the most common experimental design in my field. Most of what I am asking here is ins…

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## [BBR Session 6: Two-sample Tests for Means](https://discourse.datamethods.org/t/bbr-session-6-two-sample-tests-for-means/2768)

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**Author:** [@f2harrell](https://discourse.datamethods.org/u/f2harrell)\
**Replies:** 14\
**Last updated:** [October 21, 2021, 2:19am UTC](https://discourse.datamethods.org/t/bbr-session-6-two-sample-tests-for-means/2768 "2021-10-21T02:19:11Z")

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This is a place for questions, answers, and discussion about session 6 of the Biostatistics for Biomedical Research airing 2019-12-06 and dealing with frequentist and Bayesian 2-sample t-tests and how not to present resu…

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## [Probability in state Ps(t) and Hazard ratio HR in Cox model](https://discourse.datamethods.org/t/probability-in-state-ps-t-and-hazard-ratio-hr-in-cox-model/4682)

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**Author:** [@KAMRAN\_KHAN](https://discourse.datamethods.org/u/KAMRAN_KHAN)\
**Replies:** 1\
**Last updated:** [August 21, 2021, 12:05pm UTC](https://discourse.datamethods.org/t/probability-in-state-ps-t-and-hazard-ratio-hr-in-cox-model/4682 "2021-08-21T12:05:37Z")

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I need some explanation of the results I got my multi-state Cox model. I looked at the absolute risk or the proportion of people in a state at a particular age for a time-dependent covariate which is whether the patients…

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## [BBR Session 12: Correlation](https://discourse.datamethods.org/t/bbr-session-12-correlation/2933)

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**Author:** [@f2harrell](https://discourse.datamethods.org/u/f2harrell)\
**Replies:** 5\
**Last updated:** [April 22, 2021, 1:29pm UTC](https://discourse.datamethods.org/t/bbr-session-12-correlation/2933 "2021-04-22T13:29:15Z")

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This is a topic for questions, answers, and discussions about session 12 of the Biostatistics for Biomedical Research web course airing on 2020-01-31. Session topics are listed here. The session covers correlation coeff…

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## [BBR Session 10: Nonparametric Tests](https://discourse.datamethods.org/t/bbr-session-10-nonparametric-tests/2874)

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**Author:** [@f2harrell](https://discourse.datamethods.org/u/f2harrell)\
**Replies:** 3\
**Last updated:** [April 10, 2021, 10:54am UTC](https://discourse.datamethods.org/t/bbr-session-10-nonparametric-tests/2874 "2021-04-10T10:54:58Z")

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This is a place for questions, answers, and discussion about session 10 of the Biostatistics for Biomedical Research airing 2020-01-17 covering nonparametric statistical tests and associated confidence intervals. Sessi…

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## [BBR19: Serial data](https://discourse.datamethods.org/t/bbr19-serial-data/3466)

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**Author:** [@f2harrell](https://discourse.datamethods.org/u/f2harrell)\
**Replies:** 2\
**Last updated:** [June 20, 2020, 10:33am UTC](https://discourse.datamethods.org/t/bbr19-serial-data/3466 "2020-06-20T10:33:17Z")

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This is a topic for questions, answers, and discussions about session 19 of the Biostatistics for Biomedical Research web course airing on 2020-06-11. Session topics and a link to the course notes with audio narration …

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## ["Exchangeability" in observational studies versus RCTs](https://discourse.datamethods.org/t/exchangeability-in-observational-studies-versus-rcts/3371)

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**Author:** [@ESMD](https://discourse.datamethods.org/u/ESMD)\
**Replies:** 8\
**Last updated:** [June 17, 2020, 5:41pm UTC](https://discourse.datamethods.org/t/exchangeability-in-observational-studies-versus-rcts/3371 "2020-06-17T17:41:26Z")

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Introductory epidemiology courses that physicians take as part of their EBM training don’t always explicitly discuss exchangeability. Yet it seems like this concept might be important for us to understand (in at least a …

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## [BBR Session 5: One- and Two-Sample Methods for Means and One-Sample Methods for Proportions](https://discourse.datamethods.org/t/bbr-session-5-one-and-two-sample-methods-for-means-and-one-sample-methods-for-proportions/2670)

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**Author:** [@f2harrell](https://discourse.datamethods.org/u/f2harrell)\
**Replies:** 18\
**Last updated:** [May 25, 2020, 8:01pm UTC](https://discourse.datamethods.org/t/bbr-session-5-one-and-two-sample-methods-for-means-and-one-sample-methods-for-proportions/2670 "2020-05-25T20:01:11Z")

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This is a topic for questions, answers, and discussions about session 5 of the Biostatistics for Biomedical Research web course airing on 2019-11-15. Session topics are listed here.

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## [BBR Session 8: Comparing Proportions and Introduction to Logistic Regression](https://discourse.datamethods.org/t/bbr-session-8-comparing-proportions-and-introduction-to-logistic-regression/2821)

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**Author:** [@f2harrell](https://discourse.datamethods.org/u/f2harrell)\
**Replies:** 16\
**Last updated:** [April 12, 2020, 2:51pm UTC](https://discourse.datamethods.org/t/bbr-session-8-comparing-proportions-and-introduction-to-logistic-regression/2821 "2020-04-12T14:51:17Z")

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This is a place for questions, answers, and discussion about session 8 of the Biostatistics for Biomedical Research airing 2020-01-03 and dealing with study design and comparing two proportions and introducing logistic r…

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## [BBR Session 4: Hypothesis Testing, Branches of Statistics, P-values](https://discourse.datamethods.org/t/bbr-session-4-hypothesis-testing-branches-of-statistics-p-values/2612)

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**Author:** [@f2harrell](https://discourse.datamethods.org/u/f2harrell)\
**Replies:** 27\
**Last updated:** [February 8, 2020, 1:29pm UTC](https://discourse.datamethods.org/t/bbr-session-4-hypothesis-testing-branches-of-statistics-p-values/2612 "2020-02-08T13:29:58Z")

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This is a topic for questions, answers, and discussions about session 4 of the Biostatistics for Biomedical Research web course airing on 2019-11-01. Session topics are listed here.

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## [BBR Session 9: Logistic Regression for Comparing Two Proportions](https://discourse.datamethods.org/t/bbr-session-9-logistic-regression-for-comparing-two-proportions/2850)

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**Author:** [@f2harrell](https://discourse.datamethods.org/u/f2harrell)\
**Replies:** 4\
**Last updated:** [January 17, 2020, 4:07pm UTC](https://discourse.datamethods.org/t/bbr-session-9-logistic-regression-for-comparing-two-proportions/2850 "2020-01-17T16:07:52Z")

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This is a place for questions, answers, and discussion about session 9 of the Biostatistics for Biomedical Research airing 2020-01-10 introducing logistic regression and using it for comparing two proportions. Session …

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## [Understanding regression coefficients and multicollinearity through the standardized regression model](https://discourse.datamethods.org/t/understanding-regression-coefficients-and-multicollinearity-through-the-standardized-regression-model/2848)

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**Author:** [@elbersb](https://discourse.datamethods.org/u/elbersb)\
**Replies:** 0\
**Last updated:** [January 8, 2020, 10:39am UTC](https://discourse.datamethods.org/t/understanding-regression-coefficients-and-multicollinearity-through-the-standardized-regression-model/2848 "2020-01-08T10:39:37Z")

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Hi all, I wrote a small piece on my blog about the standardized regression model and the correlation transformation. I found this model really useful to learn about the mechanics of regression and thought I’d share it h…

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## [Evaluating benefit of Journal Club on ability to interpret medical literature](https://discourse.datamethods.org/t/evaluating-benefit-of-journal-club-on-ability-to-interpret-medical-literature/2835)

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**Author:** [@Elias\_Eythorsson](https://discourse.datamethods.org/u/Elias_Eythorsson)\
**Replies:** 0\
**Last updated:** [January 4, 2020, 2:27pm UTC](https://discourse.datamethods.org/t/evaluating-benefit-of-journal-club-on-ability-to-interpret-medical-literature/2835 "2020-01-04T14:27:30Z")

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I am an PGY3 internal medicine resident who has a background in biostatistics (MA) and epidemiology (PhD). I have decided to set up a Journal Club in the ~ 50 resident IM program in a midsize University hospital (~700 b…

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## [BBR Session 1: Biostatistics, Measurements, Optimum Y](https://discourse.datamethods.org/t/bbr-session-1-biostatistics-measurements-optimum-y/2091)

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**Author:** [@f2harrell](https://discourse.datamethods.org/u/f2harrell)\
**Replies:** 26\
**Last updated:** [December 27, 2019, 5:42pm UTC](https://discourse.datamethods.org/t/bbr-session-1-biostatistics-measurements-optimum-y/2091 "2019-12-27T17:42:46Z")

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This is a topic for questions, answers, and discussions about session 1 of the Biostatistics for Biomedical Research web course airing on 2019-10-04. Session topics are listed here. :new: I added references for good ex…

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## [BBR Session 2: Probability and Descriptive Statistics](https://discourse.datamethods.org/t/bbr-session-2-probability-and-descriptive-statistics/2483)

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**Author:** [@f2harrell](https://discourse.datamethods.org/u/f2harrell)\
**Replies:** 25\
**Last updated:** [October 22, 2019, 2:39pm UTC](https://discourse.datamethods.org/t/bbr-session-2-probability-and-descriptive-statistics/2483 "2019-10-22T14:39:26Z")

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This is a topic for questions, answers, and discussions about session 2 of the Biostatistics for Biomedical Research web course airing on 2019-10-11. Session topics are listed here.

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## [BBR Video Course](https://discourse.datamethods.org/t/bbr-video-course/2019)

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**Author:** [@f2harrell](https://discourse.datamethods.org/u/f2harrell)\
**Replies:** 37\
**Last updated:** [October 5, 2019, 3:20am UTC](https://discourse.datamethods.org/t/bbr-video-course/2019 "2019-10-05T03:20:13Z")

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A new almost-weekly web course Biostatistics for Biomedical Research will be launched on October 4, 2019. The course is intended both for consumers of research (understand study design, stat methods, stat interpretati…

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## [How to teach probability](https://discourse.datamethods.org/t/how-to-teach-probability/389)

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**Author:** [@f2harrell](https://discourse.datamethods.org/u/f2harrell)\
**Replies:** 44\
**Last updated:** [May 1, 2019, 11:09am UTC](https://discourse.datamethods.org/t/how-to-teach-probability/389 "2019-05-01T11:09:12Z")

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Understanding probability is key to understanding uncertainty, quantifying evidence for effects, and making decisions in the face of uncertainty. In teaching many clinicians over many years I’ve found the lack of suffic…

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## [Errors in teaching critical appraisal of null results (p\>0.05) to clinicians](https://discourse.datamethods.org/t/errors-in-teaching-critical-appraisal-of-null-results-p-0-05-to-clinicians/741)

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**Author:** [@Raj](https://discourse.datamethods.org/u/Raj)\
**Replies:** 5\
**Last updated:** [March 27, 2019, 5:04pm UTC](https://discourse.datamethods.org/t/errors-in-teaching-critical-appraisal-of-null-results-p-0-05-to-clinicians/741 "2019-03-27T17:04:38Z")

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An essential aspect of interpreting study results for p-value\>0.05 is appropriately looking at confidence interval (CI) end-points. Unfortunately, the current evidence of practice suggests that many clinicians are failin…

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## [Relation between autocovariance and spectral density in time series analysis](https://discourse.datamethods.org/t/relation-between-autocovariance-and-spectral-density-in-time-series-analysis/1437)

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**Author:** [@111](https://discourse.datamethods.org/u/111)\
**Replies:** 1\
**Last updated:** [March 5, 2019, 9:19am UTC](https://discourse.datamethods.org/t/relation-between-autocovariance-and-spectral-density-in-time-series-analysis/1437 "2019-03-05T09:19:48Z")

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Hi everyone this is Bhumi from Japan. I am struggling to find the solution to the following problem can someone help me to provide an idea for this solution. Question \[consider the stochastic process {Xt;t ∈ Z}. Let …

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