University of Cambridge > Talks.cam > Bioinformatics jounal club for the -omics > Assessing the probability that a positive report is false: an approach for molecular epidemiology studies.

Assessing the probability that a positive report is false: an approach for molecular epidemiology studies.

Add to your list(s) Download to your calendar using vCal

If you have a question about this talk, please contact Dr N Karp.

A presentation and discussion on the manuscript:J Natl Cancer Inst. 2004 Mar 17;96(6):434-42.

Abstract: Too many reports of associations between genetic variants and common cancer sites and other complex diseases are false positives. A major reason for this unfortunate situation is the strategy of declaring statistical significance based on a P value alone, particularly, any P value below.05. The false positive report probability (FPRP), the probability of no true association between a genetic variant and disease given a statistically significant finding, depends not only on the observed P value but also on both the prior probability that the association between the genetic variant and the disease is real and the statistical power of the test. In this commentary, we show how to assess the FPRP and how to use it to decide whether a finding is deserving of attention or “noteworthy.” We show how this approach can lead to improvements in the design, analysis, and interpretation of molecular epidemiology studies. Our proposal can help investigators, editors, and readers of research articles to protect themselves from overinterpreting statistically significant findings that are not likely to signify a true association. An FPRP -based criterion for deciding whether to call a finding noteworthy formalizes the process already used informally by investigators—that is, tempering enthusiasm for remarkable study findings with considerations of plausibility.

This talk is part of the Bioinformatics jounal club for the -omics series.

Tell a friend about this talk:

This talk is included in these lists:

Note that ex-directory lists are not shown.

 

© 2006-2024 Talks.cam, University of Cambridge. Contact Us | Help and Documentation | Privacy and Publicity