Re: Ecological Fallacy?

[Michael Kay <makay@teleport.com>]

Having read the relevent posts and having had courses in epidemiology, I am
assuming that the "Ecological Fallacy" is what was called an
Epidemiological Fallacy. In its most simple sense, it can be stated: It is
not valid to apply group statistics to an individual member. It is valid to
say that in a group of 1000 individuals having these characteristics and
this exposure we expect 27 cases of whateverhorrorisunderdiscussion. It is
not valid to say that a given individual is going to be one of the 27 or
one of the 973.

Michael Kay

Sorensen, Scott wrote:

> RadSafers,
>
> I've been reading with interest the thread regarding radon epidemiology
> and its implication to the LNT theory.  Not being one intimately
> familiar with the science, could anyone post a description and describe
> the implications of "ecological fallacies?"
>
> Thx,
> Scott Sorensen
> ssorensen@doeal.gov