INFERENTIAL STATISTICS AND TREATMENT EFFICACY STUDIES IN COMMUNICATION DISORDERS

A reconsideration of the dependence on inferential statistical analyses in treatment efficacy studies in communication disorders is suggested. The argument is developed that inferential statistical analyses as part of group research designs do not provide the kinds of data that are useful in determining the efficacy of clinical intervention. Furthermore, misinterpretations of the principles that underlie inferential statistics contribute to the difficulties in building a research base that can be applied to clinical issues. The view is taken that replication studies provide a more fruitful approach to ascertaining the efficacy of clinical intervention.