The Significance Test Controversy Revisited: The Fiducial Bayesian Alternative

This book discusses the misuses and abuses of Null Hypothesis Significance Tests and reconsiders them in light of Jeffreys Bayesian concept of statistical inference. It provides a comprehensive approach to the analysis and interpretation of experimental data, emphasizing objective reporting and providing concrete Bayesian routine procedures. It prepares students and researchers to critically read statistical analyses and equips them with an appropriate alternative to significance testing.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 206 pages
Publication date: 14 October 2022
Publisher: Springer-Verlag Berlin and Heidelberg GmbH & Co. KG

This comprehensive book delves into the intricate nuances of Null Hypothesis Significance Tests (NHSTs), offering a fresh perspective on their misuse and abuses in experimental investigations. By minimizing the technical aspects, the studies primarily focus on methodological contributions, making it accessible to a broader audience.

The first part of the book provides a comprehensive overview of the major approaches to statistical testing, including an enlightening discussion of the philosophies of Fisher, Neyman-Pearson, and Jeffrey. It also examines the conceptual and methodological implications of current practices of reporting effect sizes and confidence intervals, challenging them and shedding new light on the significance testing controversy.

The second part of the book is a treasure trove of concrete Bayesian routine procedures that bypass common misuses of significance testing. These procedures are readily applicable in a wide range of real applications, addressing the need for objective reporting of experimental data that is acceptable to the scientific community. The approach is characterized by its emphasis on fiduciality, derived from the Latin word "fiducia," meaning confidence.

By employing fiducial Bayesian procedures, readers are given a powerful tool to think sensibly about problems of statistical inference. This book prepares students and researchers to critically read statistical analyses reported in the literature and equips them with an appropriate alternative to the use of significance testing.

In conclusion, this book is a valuable resource for anyone interested in understanding the misuses and abuses of NHSTs, as well as in exploring more effective approaches to statistical inference in experimental investigations. It provides a comprehensive and accessible framework that empowers readers to make informed decisions based on rigorous statistical analysis.

Weight: 343g
Dimension: 235 x 155 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9783662657041
Edition number: 2nd ed. 2022