统计学的三型理论及其在生物医学科研中的应用

目的从学术角度指出误用和滥用统计学问题产生的症结,并创造性地提出能够从根本上解决前述问题的“统计学的三型理论”,即问题的“表现型”、“原型”和“标准型”。方法从理论与实践两个方面阐明前述提及的“三型理论”是合理应用统计学的要领,而且,通过实例说明“三型”之间是互相有联系的。用“三型理论”去解释和分析生物医学科研中的实验设计和统计分析问题,可以帮助人们透过事物的现象看清其本质。结果通过研究发现：有些问题的“三型”之间是彼此相同的,有些问题的原型就是标准型,然而,还有些问题的“三型”是彼此不同的。特别是在某些多因素实验研究中,研究者犯了“对照不全”的错误,导致与其“原型”对应的“标准型”根本不存在,这是一个需要引入“拆分”的思想和方法方可解决的问题。结论一旦弄清了每个具体问题的“三型”,合理进行实验设计与正确选择统计分析方法处理特定的实验资料就是水到渠成的事了。“统计学的三型理论”,可以帮助人们在运用统计学的过程中不犯统计学错误或至少会大大降低误用统计学的机会,可在很大程度上提高生物医学科研的质量、水平和速度;可以提高统计学教材的质量和教学效果,为生物医学统计学的学科发展指明了前进的方向。

Triple-type theory of statistics and its application in the scientific research of biomedicine

OBJECTIVE: To point out the crux of why so many people failed to grasp statistics and to bring forth a "triple-type theory of statistics" to solve the problem in a creative way. METHODS: Based on the experience in long-time teaching and research in statistics, the "three-type theory" was raised and clarified. Examples were provided to demonstrate that the 3 types, i.e., expressive type, prototype and the standardized type are the essentials for people to apply statistics rationally both in theory and practice, and moreover, it is demonstrated by some instances that the "three types" are correlated with each other. It can help people to see the essence by interpreting and analyzing the problems of experimental designs and statistical analyses in medical research work. RESULTS: Investigations reveal that for some questions, the three types are mutually identical; for some questions, the prototype is their standardized type; however, for some others, the three types are distinct from each other. It has been shown that in some multifactor experimental researches, it leads to the nonexistence of the standardized type corresponding to the prototype at all, because some researchers have committed the mistake of "incomplete control" in setting experimental groups. This is a problem which should be solved by the concept and method of "division". CONCLUSION: Once the "triple-type" for each question is clarified, a proper experimental design and statistical method can be carried out easily. "Triple-type theory of statistics" can help people to avoid committing statistical mistakes or at least to decrease the misuse rate dramatically and improve the quality, level and speed of biomedical research during the process of applying statistics. It can also help people to improve the quality of statistical textbooks and the teaching effect of statistics and it has demonstrated how to advance biomedical statistics.