If you wanted to know how to pilot a 747, would you turn to a non-expert "influencer?" Of course not! So why do it for public health & #COVID19? Was asked about this recently, giving me chance to write this brief take. Variant on anti-expertise phenomenon.https://news.ucr.edu/articles/2021/02/03/public-health-expert-says-influencers-should-step-back …
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Principles of statistics and methods don’t change when you go from one field to another.
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The specific statistical models appropriate to different fields, however, do. I wouldn't expect the biostatisticians with whom I work to be able to analyze polling data appropriately and don't expect Silver to be able to correctly analyze epidemiological and clinical trial data.
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Exactly what Matthew said. He has expertise in evaluating data. That’s what his take has been—asking questions based on data (& again qualifying limits of expertise). He’s not a public health expert, but to call him an “influencer” is disingenuous esp w how we view that term
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Yes, but evaluating epidemiological and clinical trial data is a specialized skillset. He's not a biostatistician, epidemiology, or clinical trials statistician.
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Very fair point. I guess that is the missing piece from the article for me—but I’m very glad you raised it here—thank you! Part of it is just the connotation of “influencer” today. He is an expert, but I like how you defined his expertise here. Thanks for engaging (& serving)
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