On data and methods in investigations on parental-age effects Comments on a paper by J. D. Erickson
- 1 May 1978
- journal article
- research article
- Published by Wiley in Annals of Human Genetics
- Vol. 41 (4) , 465-468
- https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1469-1809.1978.tb00917.x
Abstract
An analysis of the NIS [National Cleft Lip and Palate Intelligence Services] data used by Erickson has rvealed that it contains too few Down''s syndrome cases with older fathers. Thus the data is less suited for an investigation of a possible paternal age effect. The statistical tests used by Erickson have low power, so that they are unable to detect a moderate paternal-age effect. Discussions on paternal-age effects and similar problems should be based on high-quality data. The investigation is better based on a small high-quality material than on a large one with serious under-ascertainment. The missing observations nearly always have common characteristics which may cause serious bias of relevant kinds.This publication has 6 references indexed in Scilit:
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