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Continuing from the "draft constitution" below: 8. When posting help/advice it would be excellent if you could provide a source (book/paper/....internet ?). This would help to validate what you are saying, and also give the recipient a starting point for developing further. To join: [log in to unmask] To comment or suggest: [log in to unmask] Best Wishes, Martin Holt, MSc Medical Statistics Thornton, Leicester, UK ----- Original Message ----- From: The Holts To: [log in to unmask] ; Teaching and Learning Statistics Sent: Tuesday, March 01, 2005 5:59 PM Subject: MedStats: A reality: a Draft "Constitution" Provided that I can set it up, MedStats is going to exist, judging from the number (>100 and climbing rapidly) and enthusiasm of the replies. No reflection on those who have come forward (because we've got some), but I think we need more experts. So, if you consider yourself to be one, or close to one, please step forward. I know you're out there........(I know some myself). To help, with the feedback I've received, this is how I see it working, although nothing is set in stone and can be changed at any time. If you disagree about something below, let me know: [log in to unmask] A. No flaming or unnecessary sarcasm. 1. MedStat will be foremost a discussion and debate email list, to give people working in the Medical arena access to help and advice with statistics. 2. Scope: 2.1. "Medical" above includes dental, ophthalmic....any area that involves Medicine, including Alternative Medicine. I can't resist this: see Ref.1 below. 2.2. "Statistics" above refers to any kind of statistics, as general or basic or deep as you want, provided that it might help other Medical Statisticians. 3. Ethics: I do not intend there to be long discussions on Ethics. See RadStats for that. But I would hope that MedStats would give the best statistical advice it can to those working with Ethical issues. 4. Cross Posting: I've been persuaded to change my mind on this. To save peoples in-trays, post to MedStats first. If the resulting feedback does not help, then try other sources. But please summarise to MedStats afterwards. 5. Anonymity. 5.1. Some people like to stay anonymous. I don't have a problem with that: it's up to a potential respondent to decide how to deal with it, so it might limit your responses. "Lurkers" ( a perjorative term for spectators) are allowed, but are encouraged when they decide to have a go at contributing (albeit anonymously), provided that input is positive. 5.2. Sometimes the discussion goes on for a while, when it is good to summarise. Then I would want the person who summarises not to stay anonymous. 6. Job Adverts, Conference statements etc will be banned, unless in some way they do add to the discussion. AllStat covers this very well. 7. There would be a list owner and a list manager. I don't fall under the criteria for list owner on JISCmail: "The principal list owner should be employed by a UK higher education institution, normally with an 'ac.uk' style email address." Any volunteers ? I would propose to do as much work as was necessary to run the list, but need to step over this particular hurdle. I'd particularly welcome someone from the University of Leicester, where I gained my MSc, and where I live. Some respondents have set up lists in the past. I'd welcome advice on the next step. Do I need to be able to create a web-site, for example. If so, any volunteers ? Remember: to join: [log in to unmask] To comment or suggest: [log in to unmask] Ref 1. In the top 10 downloaded papers from the European Journal of Oncology Nursing between January and June 2004, "A pilot ranomized trial assessing the effects of autogenic training in early stage cancer patients in relation to psychological status and immune system responses." Hidderley, M., Holt, M, 2004, Volume 8, 61-65. Stats not the best, but an interesting paper to those interested in alternative or complementary medicine.