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Comment| Volume 23, ISSUE 1, P79-85, January 01, 1988

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Why you should avoid statistics

  • Robert C Bolles
    Correspondence
    Address reprint requests to Dr.R.C. Bolles, Department of Psychology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195.
    Affiliations
    Department of Psychology, University of Washington. Seattle, WA 98195. USA
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DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/0006-3223(88)90107-2
Why you should avoid statistics
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      Abstract

      In the scientific community, one encounters methodologists to whom the ritual of experimentation is all-important and whose thoughts are totally channelled into the routine of statistics. Though that approach is legitimate, and indeed almost the norm, there is the danger that if you ritualize statistics, you may find some of the doors of science closed to you. Accordingly, one should avoid statistics whenever possible, abolish superfluous rituals and routines, and get on with the business of science.
      To illustrate what is meant by getting on with science, a few guidelines and examples may be helpful. You will see in every case that statistics can and should be avoided, and the guidelines will show how it can be done.
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      Article info

      Publication history

      Received: June 6, 1987

      Identification

      DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/0006-3223(88)90107-2

      Copyright

      © 1988 Published by Elsevier Inc.

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