Abstract
The standard statistical approach to designing and analyzing clinical trials is frequentist. A purpose of this chapter is to describe a Bayesian approach as an alternative, or perhaps as a supplement. The two approaches have focuses so different that they can be viewed as distinct disciplines. And yet both deal with empirical evidence and both use probability, so the distinction is poorly understood by nonstatisticians. The distinction is further blurred when frequentists and Bayesians act and think alike — which they are wont to do, despite ‘anti’ rhetoric coming from both sides. Both approaches have good characteristics. The most important advantage of the Bayesian approach is attitude, which is consistent with the scientific method.
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Berry, D.A. (1995). Decision analysis and Bayesian methods in clinical trials. In: Thall, P.F. (eds) Recent Advances in Clinical Trial Design and Analysis. Cancer Treatment and Research, vol 75. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4615-2009-2_7
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4615-2009-2_7
Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA
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