Basic Statistics, Statistical Design, and Critical Analysis of Statistics for Surgeons

Answering these 2 basic questions (what kinds of numbers are being used and what is the methodology of the comparison) allows one to determine the correct column and row from Table 1 and to make a determination of an appropriate statistical test to perform in the given situation. Even if this has been described at a relatively entrancelevel, we feel confident it can help young investigators determine which comparative tests might be most appropriately performed, as well as critical readers to evaluate if an appropriate test was performed in a published study. We would also respectfully recommend several sources for interested readers to expand on their statistical knowledge.3-8