What Statistical Analysis Fits Your Research Question?
Start with what you are trying to estimate, not with a list of statistical tests.
- What your analysis is actually estimating
- Which analytical approach usually fits that estimand
- Which effect estimate to report
- What to check before you commit to the plan
About the Statistical Analysis Decision Tool
The Statistical Analysis Decision Tool starts from what you are trying to estimate rather than a menu of test names, then suggests a likely analytical approach, the effect estimate worth reporting and the assumptions to check first.
Who it is for
Students and researchers writing an analysis plan, and programme teams who need to state, in advance, how their data will be analysed.
What it helps you decide
Which family of analysis fits your outcome type, comparison and design, what to report alongside a p value, and what to verify in the data before trusting the result.
Limitations
It suggests a direction, not a final specification. It does not see your data, cannot diagnose model fit, and does not replace a statistician for complex designs such as clustered, longitudinal or survival data.
Longer teaching on this sits in the data analysis plan template. It turns the suggested approach into a written plan you can submit.
Category · Analyse