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Three Arguments for Absolute Outcome Measures

Accepted version
Peer-reviewed

Type

Article

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Authors

Sprenger, J 
Stegenga, JM 

Abstract

Data from medical research is typically summarized with various types of outcome measures. We present three arguments in favor of absolute over relative outcome measures. The first argument is from cognitive bias: relative measures promote the reference class fallacy and the overestimation of treatment effectiveness. The second argument is decision-theoretic: absolute measures are superior to relative measures for making a decision between interventions. The third argument is causal: interpreted as measures of causal strength, absolute measures satisfy a set of desirable properties, but relative measures don't. Absolute outcome measures outperform relative measures on all counts.

Description

Keywords

5003 Philosophy, 50 Philosophy and Religious Studies

Journal Title

Philosophy of Science

Conference Name

Journal ISSN

0031-8248
1539-767X

Volume Title

84

Publisher

University of Chicago Press
Sponsorship
Research on this topic was financially supported by ERC Starting Inv estigator Grant No. 640638 (Sprenger).