Abstract
The previous chapter has looked at the methods and data available for studying environmental health hazards. All these methods involved the principle of comparing observed rates or numbers of deaths, etc., in an exposed group with expected levels. This chapter considers the determination of the expected levels and the statistical techniques necessary to determine whether any deviation of observed from expected is statistically significant or due to random chance.
Preview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
References
Enterline, P. (1984). Expected numbers in follow up studies of industrial and occupational cohorts. In Expected Numbers in Cohort Studies. MRC, Southampton
Gaffey, W. R. (1976). A critique of the standardised mortality ratio. J. Occup. Med., 18, 157
Black, D. (Chairman) ( 1984). Investigation of the Possible Increased Incidence of Cancer in West Cumbria. HMSO, London
McDowall, M. E. (1984). Reference rates from routine statistics. In Expected Numbers in Cohort Studies. MRC, Southampton
Armitage, P. (1971). Statistical Methods in Medical Research. Blackwell, Oxford
Bourke, G. J., Daly, L. E. and McGilvray, J. (1971). Interpretation and Uses of Medical Statistics. Blackwell, Oxford
Liddell, F. D. K. (1984). Simple exact analysis of the standardised mortality ratio. J. Epidemiol. Comm. Hlth, 38, 85
Breslow, N. E. and Day, N. E. (1980). Statistical Methods in Cancer Research. Vol. 1: The Analysis of Case Control Studies. I.A.R.C, Lyons
Miettinen, O. S. (1976). Estimatability and estimation in case referrant studies. Am. J. Epidemiol., 103, 226
Rothman, K. and Boice, J. (1979). Epidemiologic Analysis with a Programmable Calculator. US Government Printing Office, Washington DC
Schlesselman, J. J. (1974). Sample size requirements in cohort and case control studies of disease. Am. J. Epidemiol., 99, 381
Walter, S. D. (1977). Determination of significant relative risks and optimal sampling procedure in prospective and retrospective studies of various sizes. Am. J. Epidemiol., 105, 387
Miller, R. G. (1979). Simultaneous Statistical Inference. McGraw-Hill, New York
Jones, D. R. and Rushton, L. (1982). Simultaneous inference in epidemiological studies. Int. J. Epidemiol., 11, 276
Copyright information
© 1987 Michael E. McDowall
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
McDowall, M.E. (1987). Chance or Not? Expected Levels and Statistical Significance. In: The Identification of Man-made Environmental Hazards to Health. Palgrave, London. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-349-08618-4_5
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-349-08618-4_5
Publisher Name: Palgrave, London
Print ISBN: 978-1-349-08620-7
Online ISBN: 978-1-349-08618-4
eBook Packages: Earth and Environmental ScienceEarth and Environmental Science (R0)