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Understanding and using statistics in nuclear medicine.

Because statistics is, in a sense, the heart of the scientific method, and because the field of statistics, beginning with Karl Pearson and R. A. Fisher, has developed for the specific purpose of aiding the scientist to make valid inferences, a brief review of the scientific method, research, and the role of statistics seems in order. When working in science one formulates an hypothesis based on an existing theory, performs some type of experiment or investigation, and uses the results to test or verify the hypothesis. If the data are consistent with the hypothesis, this validates the theory; if not, the theory must be modified to encompass the new facts and will be used to establish new hypotheses for future experimental verification. The scientific method consists in the formulation of a testable hypothesis, the design or conduct of an experiment and, using induction, the making of a generalization. Hypotheses cannot be proved, only disproved or said to be consistent with the data—i.e., accepted. The mere plausibility of an hypothesis cannot be accepted as evidence for or against it; the practice by psychiatrists of asserting reasons for a person's actions is an example of plausibility that cannot be used. Research in its broadest sense is the extension of knowledge. It very often applies some or all of the scientific method, but is not strictly limited to that; for example 'library research" is considered by some to be research. Applied research often involves the development of new methods or tech-