Multiple testing: when is many too much?

European Journal of Endocrinology, vol. 184, pp. E11–E14

Abstract

In almost all medical research, more than a single hypothesis is being tested or more than a single relation is being estimated. Testing multiple hypotheses increases the risk of drawing a false-positive conclusion. We briefly discuss this phenomenon, which is often called multiple testing. Also, methods to mitigate the risk of false-positive conclusions are discussed.

Authors 4

1. Rolf H. H. Groenwold corresponding Aachen 1Department of Clinical Epidemiology 2Department of Biomedical Data Sciences

   Leiden University Medical Center

   Affiliation as printed

   1Department of Clinical Epidemiology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands

   2Department of Biomedical Data Sciences, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands

2. Jelle J. Goeman Aachen 2Department of Biomedical Data Sciences

   Leiden University Medical Center

   Affiliation as printed

   2Department of Biomedical Data Sciences, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands

3. Saskia le Cessie Aachen 1Department of Clinical Epidemiology 2Department of Biomedical Data Sciences

   Leiden University Medical Center

   Affiliation as printed

   1Department of Clinical Epidemiology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands

   2Department of Biomedical Data Sciences, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands

4. Olaf M. Dekkers Aachen 1Department of Clinical Epidemiology 3Department of Endocrinology

   Leiden University Medical Center

   Affiliation as printed

   1Department of Clinical Epidemiology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands

   3Department of Endocrinology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands