A Statistics Refresher: Tests of Hypothesis and Diagnostic Test Evaluation

Two key concepts that are used frequently in statistical applications are tests of hypothesis and diagnostic test evaluation. In this article, the rationale behind the testing of statistical hypotheses and the description of the rare event approach to statistical inference are discussed. Also, the development of diagnostic test evaluation, a technique that is particularly important in statistical applications of a biomedical nature, is presented. In the development of these techniques, the mathematics are minimized and the conceptual framework and logic are emphasized