A result chosen from many comparisons needs the context of the comparisons that were examined.
The comparison set matters
Multiple-comparison procedures address a set of contrasts or group comparisons. The appropriate method depends on the questions being asked and whether the comparisons were chosen in advance or after observing results. Repeating ordinary pairwise tests without considering the overall analysis can give an interpretation different from the intended family-level statement.
A hypothetical selective report
An analyst compares many setup pairs and reports only the pair with the strongest apparent difference. A buyer cannot interpret that result as though it were the only planned comparison. Request the complete comparison set, the selection process and the analysis method.
A planned shortlist of contrasts and an exploratory search across every pair are different designs. Both can be useful, but their evidence should be labelled appropriately. This example does not prescribe a significance threshold or decide an HM machine setting.
Specify the decision before generating comparisons
List the groups and the contrasts needed for the equipment decision. Record whether the goal is a particular comparison, all pairwise differences or another defined family. Ask the analyst to choose an appropriate procedure and retain uncertainty or adjusted results as applicable.
Keep exploratory findings distinguishable from a prespecified confirmation conclusion. If a promising effect emerges during exploration, formulate a focused confirmation question rather than presenting the selected result as independently verified. Include engineering magnitude and measurement context; statistical comparison methods do not replace the buyer’s machinery requirement.
Trial discussion worksheet
This blank worksheet is for your own project. It contains no H M machine trial result.
| Review question | Reference or observation to retain |
|---|---|
| Which comparisons belong to the decision? | Defined family |
| Were they chosen before seeing data? | Planned or exploratory status |
| How is overall evidence treated? | Identified procedure |
Customer Questions
Can a selected result be reported without its search context?
That omits information needed to interpret the evidence.
Is one multiple-comparison method always best?
No. Selection depends on the comparison question and design.
Are exploratory findings useless?
No. Label them and use them to define appropriate confirmation work.
Primary References
These references support the technical principles discussed in this guide. The worked examples and review questions are educational.
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