Abstract
Objectives : The purpose of this study was to assess the statistical methods errors used in the journal of Oriental Rehabilitation Medicine(JORM) and to identify the types of errors in statistical analysis. Methods : We reviewed quantitative articles that were published in the JORM from January 2005 through October 2009. Those were not used by statistical analysis such as literature studies, case study, review articles were not included in this analysis. A total of 296 articles was reviewed. We evaluated the adequacy and the validity of the statistical techniques with our checklist established be modified Lee's checklist, and three statistical evaluators assessed together to minimize bias. Results : Of the 222 articles, 213 were used in inferential and descriptive statistics. Of those 80% of articles adopting descriptive and inferential statistics were detected having statistical errors. One articles used 1.7 statistical method unit generally. Most frequently employed statistics were student t-test, one way ANOVA. pearson correlation analysis, Mann-whitney U test, paired t-test, and chi-square test in their order. However, most frequent statistics having errors were similar in order. The most common statistic errors were as follow: 1. absence of normality test, 2. misuse between paired test and unpaired test, 3. wrong choice of repeated measures analysis without consideration of time variables, 4, increase of Type I error by using inappropriate multiple test, 5. inappropriate application of discrete or categorical data instead of continuous data in correlation analysis, 6. poor consideration of basic consumption in chi-square test, 7. confusion between frequency comparison and average comparison, 8. mentioning the statistical technique without using it. Conclusions : We found various mistake or misuses in the applications of statistical methodologies in the articles published in the JORM. Careful consideration of statistical use and review from the specialist of statistics are warranted for improving the quality of JORM.