Common pitfalls in statistical analysis: "No evidence of effect" versus "evidence of no effect"

Perspect Clin Res. 2015 Jan-Mar;6(1):62-3. doi: 10.4103/2229-3485.148821.

Abstract

This article is the first in a series exploring common pitfalls in statistical analysis in biomedical research. The power of a clinical trial is the ability to find a difference between treatments, where such a difference exists. At the end of the study, the lack of difference between treatments does not mean that the treatments can be considered equivalent. The distinction between "no evidence of effect" and "evidence of no effect" needs to be understood.

Keywords: Biostatistics; bias; statistical.