The strength of this paper is in its simplicity, not to forget what Einestin had said "Keep it Simple (KIS)".That is what modelling is mainly about. We are yet to learn about the complexity of our surroundings and the creation of miniture, simple and easy to understand models that can help us better understand these complex phenomina are all welcome. However, my comments (Ameen 1995) on a paper by Professor Chatfield are still valid. Models are subjective and some models are better than some others. There is no "true" model! It is not clear what the authors mean by stating "accuracy of individuals judgments..."! in their use of a version of Visula Analogue Scale (VAS) or a ratio scale as the authors call it. The benefits of the use of such a scale are stated in a paper (Coll and Ameen 2004) while the use of a four scale scoring limits its statistical use and induces biasedness as comparison with normality becomes difficult. In terms of bisedness, I would have liked to read much more about the nature and the format of the pannel to ensure unbisedness.
Another point that I would like to make is the georeferencing of the experiment and the findings which would, to a degree, devalue the universal scientific content of the paper. For example, the economic impact in pricing, costs and social acceptance of drugs.
Best wishes
Jamal
Coll AM, Ameen JRM & Mead D (2004). Postoperative pain assessment tools in day surgery: literature review. Journal of Advanced Nursing. 46(2), 124-133;
Ameen JRM (1995) Comments on Model Uncertainty, Data Mining and Statistical Inference. J. R. Statist. Soc. A. 453
Prof Jamal Ameen
Senior Advisor, Ministry of Planning
KRG, Erbil
Tel: +496(750) 428 84 82
Email: [log in to unmask]
&
Faculty of Advanced Technology
University of Glamorgan, UK
http://staff.glam.ac.uk/users/3851-jrmameen
________________________________________
From: Maria Viskaduraki [[log in to unmask]]
Sent: Thursday, November 04, 2010 5:44 PM
To: Ameen J (AT)
Subject: RE: nutt
Dear Jamal
Please find attached the Nutt paper.
Best wishes
Maria
-----Original Message-----
From: Ameen J (AT) [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: 04 November 2010 14:22
To: Maria Viskaduraki
Subject: RE: nutt
Is the paper in hand to get a copy please?
I will be interested to read through it.
Jamal
Prof Jamal Ameen
Senior Advisor, Ministry of Planning
KRG, Erbil
Tel: +496(750) 428 84 82
Email: [log in to unmask]
&
Faculty of Advanced Technology
University of Glamorgan, UK
http://staff.glam.ac.uk/users/3851-jrmameen
________________________________________
From: A UK-based worldwide e-mail broadcast system mailing list [[log in to unmask]] on behalf of Maria Viskaduraki [[log in to unmask]]
Sent: Thursday, November 04, 2010 1:32 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: nutt
I did read the paper. The moral for me: Choose a controversial subject and you can get through to a top journal.
The art of statistics is a separate story.
Maria Viskaduraki
Biostatistician
Birmingham
-----Original Message-----
From: A UK-based worldwide e-mail broadcast system mailing list [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Tony Greenfield
Sent: 04 November 2010 12:18
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: nutt
to those allstatters who have read David Nutt's paper in the current Lancet:
I cannot believe that this was peer reviewed.
what to do you think?
Tony Greenfield
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