title: Practical guide to understanding multivariable analyses, Part B: conjunctive consolidation.
abstract: Conjunctive consolidation, one method of multivariable analysis by arranging data into clusters, is intuitive and transparent. An unexpected consequence in writing this article was the discovery of just how useful it is in critically analyzing articles and in designing new projects. It has stimulated a fresh understanding as to the value of multivariable thinking in all clinical research. This article is organized into the sequential steps for performing conjunctive consolidation for critically analyzing an article of interest and for completing the process, pending all required data are available. Investigators, particularly those who perform clinical research, should consider conjunctive consolidation as a valuable method of multivariable analysis with which to report data.
authors.affiliation: Practical Guides Writing Group, Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, Missouri 63110, USA. jgneely@aol.com
authors.forename: J Gail
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Neely
authors.forename: Judith E Cho
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Lieu
authors.forename: Sunitha M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Sequeira
authors.forename: Evan
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Graboyes
authors.forename: Randal C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Paniello
authors.forename: Brian
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Nussenbaum
authors.forename: David J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Grindler
authors.forename: Courtney C J
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Voelker
mesh_terms: D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D013223:Statistics as Topic