An empirical analysis of eating disorders and anxiety disorders publications (1980-2000)--part II: Statistical...

The current study compared the eating disorder literature and the anxiety disorder literature in terms of statistical hypothesis testing features in 1980, 1990, and 2000.

Computer literature searches were conducted using PubMed and PsychInfo databases to identify relevant eating disorder and anxiety disorder articles published at each of the three time points. A total of 456 articles were randomly selected, including 228 articles each from the fields of eating disorders and anxiety disorders. Within each field, one third (76) of the articles were selected from each of the three time points. Two raters, from a team of eight trained raters, were randomly assigned to independently rate each article in terms of 75 separate methodologic features. In the current article, we will emphasize the findings about hypothesis testing and statistical analysis. Disagreements in ratings were resolved via consensus. Ratings were tabulated separately by field across the three time points.

Few differences were observed between eating disorder and anxiety disorder publications in terms of statistical hypothesis testing features. Although increases were observed in both fields in a number of areas from 1980 to 2000, there remains a pervasive absence of many of the statistical hypothesis testing features recommended by the American Psychological Association Task Force on Statistical Inference.

These results are discussed in terms of their implications for the fields of eating disorders and anxiety disorders, for researchers, for reviewers, and for professional journals and editorial boards.