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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.

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© 1987 Michael E. McDowall

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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

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