Applied Research and Statistics

The vast majority of researchers are not professional statisticians but are, instead, experts in other areas, such as medicine, microbiology, chemistry, pharmacology, engineering, or epidemiology. Many professionals of these 

In this author s view, the best researchers are trained primarily in the sciences, augmented by strong backgrounds in research design and applied statistics. When this is the case, they can effectively ground the statistical analyses into their primary field of scientific knowledge. If the statistical test and their scientific acumen are at variance, they will suspect the statistic and use their field knowledge to uncover an explanation. 

---