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Alpha Level Distortions with Repeated Testing of Follow-up Dental Data

Oral Diseases Division, Naval Dental Research Institute, Building 1-H, Naval Base, Great Lakes, Illinois 60088

The statistical consequences of repeated significance testing of follow-up dental data were evaluated by computerized Monte Carlo simulation. Substantial distortions in nominal alpha level were noted, particularly when the scores for individual subjects were not highly correlated between statistical observations. Suggested methods of controlling this distortion include the pre-specification of a terminal statistical analysis that would be given best evidence status and the partitioning of alpha error among all analyses by Bonferroni's inequality.

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Journal of Dental Research, Vol. 63, No. 10, 1214-1216 (1984)
DOI: 10.1177/00220345840630100901


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This Article Abstract Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to Saved Citations Download to citation manager Request Permissions Request Reprints Add to My Marked Citations Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Citing Articles via Scopus Google Scholar Articles by Cohen, M.E. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Cohen, M.E. Pubmed/NCBI databases Medline Plus Health Information Health Statistics Mouth Disorders Tooth Disorders Social Bookmarking                         What's this?