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ARS Home » Plains Area » Houston, Texas » Children's Nutrition Research Center » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #396188
Research Project: Microbiota and Nutritional Health

Location: Children's Nutrition Research Center

Title: Reply to Verhoef et al

Author
item SORKIN, JOHN - University Of Maryland School Of Medicine
item MANARY, MARK - Washington University
item SMEETS, PAUL - Wageningen University And Research Center
item MACFARLANE, AMANDA - Health Canada
item ASTRUP, ARNE - Novo Nordisk, Inc
item PRIGEON, RONALD - Consultant
item HOGANS, BETH - Johns Hopkins University School Of Medicine
item ODLE, JACK - North Carolina State University
item DAVIS, TERESA - Children'S Nutrition Research Center (CNRC)
item TUCKER, KATHERINE - University Of Massachusetts
item DUGGAN, CHRISTOPHER - Boston Children'S Hospital
item TOBIAS, DEIDRE - Brigham & Women'S Hospital

Submitted to: The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition
Publication Type: Other
Publication Acceptance Date: 6/10/2021
Publication Date: 2/9/2022
Citation: Sorkin, J.D., Manary, M., Smeets, P.A., Macfarlane, A.J., Astrup, A., Prigeon, R.L., Hogans, B.B., Odle, J., Davis, T.A., Tucker, K.L., Duggan, C.P., Tobias, D.K. 2022. Reply to Verhoef et al. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. 115(2):598-600. https://doi.org/10.1093/ajcn/nqab371.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/ajcn/nqab371

Interpretive Summary: This is a letter to the editor about some expert statistical advice given for analyzing nutrition data. Scientific conclusions should not be based only on whether a specific threshold is reached but rather all details should be considered and provided. This article can be used to discuss how scientific methods can be used to increase transparency and reproducibility in the conduct and analysis of data in nutrition research.

Technical Abstract: We wrote our paper to address misconceptions about the P value and to promote reproducibility of study findings. Our goal was to promote proper use and interpretation of P values and to increase authors' and readers' understanding of the strengths and weaknesses of null hypothesis testing. As stated in our paper, we agree with Verhoef et al.'s statement that "P values should not be banned." P values are a useful component of hypothesis-driven inquiry, but like any research tool, must be used with knowledge and interpreted correctly. Proper use of P values should be part of a larger effort to increase the reproducibility of study results.