Re: Tooth Fairy Sample

[Norman & Karen Cohen <norco@bellatlantic.net>]

Sandy,

I can't answer much of your objections and questions, not being on the 'inside' of the
study.
I do know that they want teeth from everywhere, not just around nuke plants. This was
stated publicly by Alec B. at Stockton College (near Atlantic City NJ) when he and
other Tooth representatives spoke. So maybe the "control" sample might be considered
those people who donate teeth who do not live near nuke plants.

Second, my understanding of thi project is that they are not out to "prove" that nuke's
cause cancer, but to use this study as a first step to get additional and farther
reaching studies.

Third, I have the form/envelope taht the tooth donor fills out to send in with each
tooth.
And the form does ask a number of questions - well water or city water - where the
mother lived during the time child was in utero, where they lived 1st year of life etc.

If you want i'll snail you an envelope.

Now this doesn't imply that the study is perfect. But I don't think that was the intent
nor am I sure that RPHP has the resources to do that.

peace
norm


Sandy Perle wrote:

> > So I don't see the tooth donations as a big
> > thing. Could be wrong, of course.
>
> Norm,
>
> The problem is that the sample is not a statistically valid sample. It
> is biased from the get go. For instance, there was no Design of
> Experiments done (in the statistical sense). It a real statistical
> analysis, the point is to prove or disprove the null hypothesis. That
> wasn't done in this study, since that wasn't the goal. What was the
> Control Group used in the study? What other areas around the
> USA, as well as foreign countries, were used to collect teeth, not
> only around a nuclear power station, but in areas that were far from
> a nuclear power station? What other information regarding the
> those who provided teeth was collected, to make for an appropriate
> epidemiological study? I don't believe there was any study or data
> collected to determine the lifestyle, which could have also
> contributed to any of the results collected.
>
> As a study, all that was done was to collect some teeth. There
> was nothing scientific about the collection, the analysis and most
> definitely, the most high unscientific study when it came time to
> define the conclusions of the study.
>
> While I have studied statistics from some of the best in the world,
> JUSE counselors, there are others here on Radsafe who are far
> better capable to address the significant flaws from a scientific
> sampling, analysis and conclusions.
>
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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