Idler and Kasl's p values: a cautionary lesson.
Idler and Kasl's study of elderly New Haven residents indicated that some Christians and Jews postponed their deaths until after the celebration of religious holidays. However, the correct p values are larger than they report and make their conclusions less convincing, especially for Jews.
Smith
Gary
G
Pomona College, Claremont, California 91711, USA. gsmith@pomona.edu
D001293:Attitude to Death / Q000208:ethnology; D002835:Christianity / Q000523:psychology*; D005006:Ethnicity / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006693:Holidays / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D007585:Jews / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D007599:Judaism / Q000523:psychology*; D009026:Mortality / Q000639:trends*; D012069:Religion and Psychology; D012107:Research Design; D013223:Statistics as Topic; D014836:Volition