Russell Lyons
The Spread of Evidence-Poor Medicine via Flawed Social-Network Analysis
chronic widespread misuse statistics usually inadvertent intentional find cautionary examples series recent papers christakis fowler advance statistical arguments transmission via social networks various personal characteristics including obesity smoking cessation happiness loneliness papers also assert influence extends three degrees separation social networks shall show conclusions follow christakis fowlers statistical analyses fact studies even provide evidence existence transmission errors expose arose part assumptions behind statistical procedures used insufficiently examined authors also reviewers examples instructive practitioners highly reputed results received enormous popular attention journals published studies among respected world educational bonus emerges difficulty report getting critique published discuss relevance episode understanding statistical literacy role scientific review well reforming statistics education