Rules for Reporting Statistics

By B. Burt Gerstman

1. RATIONALE, CLEAN, ACCURATE, PROFESSIONAL.
   Neatness counts. 
2. Descriptive and inferential procedures
   Always start with descriptive and exploratory statistics. Then, proceed with inferences. 
3. Report only relevant statistics
   Raw computer printouts should never be handed in.
4. Significant digits
   Carry at least four significant digits during calculations. (Click here for an explanation of significant digits.)
   Round before reporting; avoid pseudo-precision. 
5. Concise and brief
   Be selective. Be kind to your reader (Friedman, 1990)
6. Avoid pseudo-science (Feynman, 1974)
   "The intensity of the conviction that a hypothesis is true has no bearing on whether it is true or not." (Peter Medawar)
7. Tables and graphs
   Say it in a table or graph, when possible.
8. Inferential statistic (Confidence intervals and P-values)
   Inferential statistics must reference the relevant parameter. 
   Confidence intervals are generally preferable to P values.
   When you must report a P value, use two significant digits when feasible (e.g., report P = .02657 as P = .027).
9. Statistics answers to specific questions
   Keep the study question in mind.
   Corollary: The numerical result is not the solution to the question.
10. Present beautiful evidence (Tufte, 2006) ...
    ...but do not let creativity obscure clarity.