Dr Newcombe et al
It might help alleviate (slightly) the problems you and Dr Nelder have
raised if Journals insisted that all statistical or other packages used
in analyses were properly referenced. This is frequently not done and I
have many times found myself unable to deduce what software was used for
published results in statistical as well as non-statistical journals.
For those journals where I act as a statistical referee I press the
editors to insist on references to the software used, but not all papers
go through me and I
suspect the editors often think I'm being too fussy.
Yours
Tony Swan
PHLS Statistics Unit, e-mail: [log in to unmask]
61 Colindale Ave., tel: (44) (0)
181-200-6868 ext 4699
London NW9 5EQ, UK fax: (44) (0) 181-200-7868
>----------
>From: Dr. Robert Newcombe[SMTP:[log in to unmask]]
>Reply To: Dr. Robert Newcombe
>Sent: 29 September 1998 09:22
>To: [log in to unmask]
>Subject: Re: "A Statistical Scandal"
>
>Re the point raised by John Nelder via Dave Stephens: at a much more
>elementary level, it seems that nowadays a lot of users out there are
>relying on a well-known spreadsheet package, which is supplied as one
>of a set of facilities together with w/p and other things, often
>provided as part of the deal with a new PC. This software can
>produce graphs and do a few calculations, but is really an
>inadequate tool for any serious statistical analysis. Though I have
>no proof of this, I'm sure that papers in which all the statistical
>analysis has been performed using this package must have gone right
>along the publication chain into journals, including ones that are
>held in high regard. Shouldn't this be a matter of still greater
>concern to us?
>
>Robert Newcombe.
>
>
>........................................................
>
>Dr. Robert G. Newcombe
>Department of Medical Computing and Statistics
>University of Wales College of Medicine
>Heath Park
>Cardiff CF4 4XN
>UK.
>
>Email: [log in to unmask]
>Telephone: 01222 742329 / 742311
>Fax: 01222 743664
>
>........................................................
>
>
**********************************************************************
This email and any files transmitted with it are confidential and
intended solely for the use of the individual or entity to whom they
are addressed. If you have received this email in error please notify
the system manager.
This footnote also confirms that this email message has been swept by
MIMEsweeper for the presence of computer viruses.
www.mimesweeper.com
**********************************************************************
%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
|