“True art is to hide art” ~ Anon (often misattributedĀ to Virgil)
“True statistics is to hide statistics” ~ Methods Appraisal
A well designed and executed clinical trial only requires a simple analysis. A complex, aggressive analysis can be indicative of poor design or a trial gone astray.
A complex analysis usually requires the statistician to speak (exhaustively) on behalf of the data (left).
A skilfully designed, well executed study requires simple analysis allowing the data to speak for itself (right).
Test: Read the Results section out loud. Whose voice do you hear: The Data’s, or the Statistician’s?
…the strength of the evidence is inversely associated with the dependence on statistical manipulation. (Hall, D; 2006)
Suggested reading: