Survival Statistics

[Guest guest]

I've combined elements of different posts that fit this thread.

 

.. Maybe could set aside a little space on this

> site where practionaers can fill in the blanks - the info would have to

> be somewhat limited access - to keep those pesty IRS agents away

AND

> I would suggest to just let " whoever " submit a profile. Really keep

> it simple. The goal would to just gather as much as possible. A

> feasibility study. All statistical data gathered has +- error.

 

The key to all statistical work is in the sampling methodology. While there is

certainly nothing wrong with producing the survey noted in these messages the

questions asked must be appropriate to the sample and the conclusions sought

must be those that can be reasonably taken from that sample. For example,

since a data collection will be most available to internet

users, who are known to belong to particular demographics groups, it would be

reasonable to collect data related to their internet use. However, collecting

data

about overall survival rates would be inappropriate because the sample is

skewed by the method of data gathering.

 

>These stats are arrived through phone surveys of graduates. The following

>questions are used: 1. What percentage of your class mates are still in

>clinical practice? 2. What percentage of your class are in full time

>practice? 3. What percentage of your classmates are employed in related

>fields that are TOM Master degree dependent? (i.e.. teaching, herb

>companies, and integrated medical settings)

 

Assuming the sample of graduates is meaningfully constructed (e.g. everyone

who graduated in 1995), this is a interesting perception survey. In other

words,

these questions elicit people's beliefs about their fellows. Although you could

not fairly claim that such a survey told you anything about actual survival

rates, you could make a claim about what the people sampled believe to be true

about their fellow graduates. This is the type of survey you do when you are

focusing on marketing, and is useful as such.

 

 

> My concern is expulsion for academic failure. It is important to

> separate these numbers from those who voluntarily left school. If

> you

> include the latter group, it obscures the number who were actually

> failed.

 

Yes. This depends totally on the bias inherent in the record-keeping.

 

There is an interesting commonality in many of these discussions, whether

it is the claim to have translated (represented in English what is said

in Chinese), to have clinical knowledge, or to have succeeded in education,

without knowing the methodology behind the claim, we cannot fully

judge the value of that claim.

 

bob Paradigm Publications

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