Avoid common mistakes on your manuscript.
Dear Editor,
I wish to address the definition of p-values, which I misstated in my piece [1]. I made an unfortunate editing error which risks perpetuation of an incorrect definition, and I wish to correct this on the record.
I wrote:
The p-value is the probability of an effect or association (hereafter collectively referred to as ‘effect’) and is most often computed through testing a (null) hypothesis like “the mean values from two samples have been obtained by random sampling from the same normal populations”. The p-value is the probability of this hypothesis.
I made an editing error, which every writer fears will happen sooner or later. Mine was to miss inclusion of the word “not.” The p-value is not the probability of this hypothesis. My goal was to try to define or identify a common misunderstanding of the value. Instead, the result was that the final sentence of my piece was false. Further, it effected the direct opposite of my general goal as a scientist: It promulgated an incorrect definition, and for a subject where heated opinions can be held. A correct interpretation, as my debater suggests, is probability of getting a result equal to or more extreme than the observed result.
I hope that this erroneous statement does not distract from my point in this opinion piece: there is value in considering alternative statistical tools when practicing clinical medical physics. I apologize for any confusion or misunderstandings this might have caused.
Reference
Basran P, Palma G, Baldock C (2021) P-values should not be used for decision making in the practice of clinical medical physics. Phys Eng Sci Med. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13246-021-01068-1
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Basran, P.S. Letter to the editor: topical debate, P‐values should not be used for decision making in the practice of clinical medical physics. Phys Eng Sci Med 44, 1007 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13246-021-01074-3
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13246-021-01074-3