Advice Quote by Andrew Gelman
“If someone does a study which, for statistical reasons, I think is hopelessly underpowered or nonidentified, my best and most useful advice will not be tips on how to calculate p-values better, or how to construct an explanation for some particular data pattern. Rather, my advice will be to start over, to reconsider what you think you already know, maybe to question some prominent work in your subfield, and quite possibly to think a lot harder about measurement, and about the relation of your data to your underlying constructs of interest.”
About This Quote
Source Speech: Academic lecture or interview, date unknown
When a study lacks power or clear identification, the best advice is to rethink fundamentals, not just tweak statistics.
In simple terms: If a study is weak, start over and question assumptions.
Key Takeaway
Reevaluate design before fixing numbers.
Themes
research methodology
statistics
critical thinking
Mood
analytical
cautious
Type
academic
advisory
When to use this quote
- academic research
- grant proposals
- data analysis
Key Concepts
study design
measurement theory
Questions to Reflect On
- What core assumptions underlie your current design?
- How could measurement be improved?
A Different Perspective
Reworking fundamentals can be time‑consuming and may face resistance.
