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2 - Developments in statistical methods applied over four decades of research in the Taï Chimpanzee Project

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  25 November 2019

By
Roger Mundry
Edited by
Christophe Boesch  and
Roman Wittig
Edited in association with
Catherine Crockford ,
Linda Vigilant ,
Tobias Deschner  and
Fabian Leendertz
Christophe Boesch
Affiliation:
Max-Planck-Institut für Evolutionäre Anthropologie, Germany
Roman Wittig
Affiliation:
Max-Planck-Institut für Evolutionäre Anthropologie, Germany
Catherine Crockford
Affiliation:
Max-Planck-Institut für Evolutionäre Anthropologie, Germany
Linda Vigilant
Affiliation:
Max-Planck-Institut für Evolutionäre Anthropologie, Germany
Tobias Deschner
Affiliation:
Max-Planck-Institut für Evolutionäre Anthropologie, Germany
Fabian Leendertz
Affiliation:
Robert Koch-Institut, Germany
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Summary

The statistical methods used in projects conducted within the Taï Chimpanzee Project have changed considerably in the ongoing duration (about four decades) of this project. In particular, while initially classic tests focusing on statistical significance dominated the analyses, we now largely see the application of linear models. Here, I review this change and discuss the implications it has, and I also compare and contrast the classic statistical tests with contemporary analytical approaches. I argue that modelling not only allows for a better control of confounders and sources of non-independence, but also means to address more informative questions and, hence, reveals more informative answers. Finally, I discuss to what extent carefully designed models bridge the gap between the gold standard (randomized experiments) and observational studies.

Keywords

Generalized Linear ModelGeneralized Linear Mixed ModelPseudo-replicationConfoundingObservational studyCorrelational study
Type
Chapter
Information
The Chimpanzees of the Taï Forest
40 Years of Research
 , pp. 28 - 43
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2019

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