The taxonomy

40 techniques. 10 categories.

This is the whole vocabulary Statistitch matches on. Every technique carries two definitions — one for the methodologist, one for everyone else — and a stable identity, so it can be weighted, filtered, and renamed as a field's language shifts without stranding a single profile.

Descriptive & Exploratory Data Analysis

5 techniques

Summary & Univariate Statistics

Plain

Gives you a basic summary of one variable at a time—like finding the average score or seeing how much people's responses spread out.

Technical

Calculates central tendency (means medians) and variability (variances skewness) to summarize single-variable distributions. Helps researchers establish baseline data properties and identify potential anomalies early in the analysis process.

Bivariate Associations & Correlations

Plain

Checks if two things are related to each other—like whether study hours go up when test scores go up.

Technical

Evaluates the strength and direction of associations between two continuous or categorical variables using metrics like Pearson Spearman or Chi-Square. Essential for preliminary hypothesis checking and uncovering raw pairwise relationships.

Epidemiological Descriptive Metrics

Plain

Measures how often a health condition occurs in a group of people and who is most at risk.

Technical

Quantifies disease frequency and occurrence across populations using measures like incidence prevalence risk ratios and attributable risk. Provides essential foundational metrics for public health surveillance and observational research.

Exploratory Visualizations

Plain

Turns your numbers into charts and pictures so you can spot trends odd values or missing info at a glance.

Technical

Uses graphical representations to profile data distributions inspect missingness patterns and detect multivariate outliers visually. Enhances data understanding before formal inferential modeling is conducted.

Data Screening & Diagnostics

Plain

A health check for your data to make sure it is clean and properly formatted before running advanced tests.

Technical

Assesses statistical assumptions such as univariate normality multicollinearity and homoscedasticity prior to modeling. Ensures that downstream inferential tests produce valid unbiased parameter estimates.

Group Comparisons & Hypothesis Testing

5 techniques

Parametric Group Comparisons

Plain

Tests whether two or more groups have noticeably different average scores (like comparing test results of Group A vs. Group B).

Technical

Compares mean differences across two or more groups using t-tests ANOVA or ANCOVA while controlling for continuous covariates. Ideal for experimental and quasi-experimental designs meeting distributional assumptions.

Repeated Measures & Mixed Designs

Plain

Compares how the exact same group of people changes over time—like tracking patient progress before during and after treatment.

Technical

Analyzes changes across multiple time points or within-subject conditions using Repeated Measures ANOVA or MANOVA. Accounts for correlated errors inherent in tracking the same subjects repeatedly.

Non-Parametric Equivalents

Plain

Compares groups when your data is messy ranked or doesn't fit a standard bell curve.

Technical

Tests group differences when data violate normality or ordinal scaling using methods like Mann-Whitney U or Kruskal-Wallis. Provides robust inferences without relying on strict parametric distributional assumptions.

Biostatistical Association Tests

Plain

Checks for connections between two yes/no questions—especially when working with small medical or lab sample sizes.

Technical

Examines categorical relationships in contingency tables using specialized exact methods like Fisher's Exact or McNemar's tests. Crucial for sparse biological data matched case-control studies and small clinical samples.

Post-Hoc & Multiple Comparison Corrections

Plain

Adjusts your math so you don't accidentally claim a false discovery when running a lot of tests at once.

Technical

Adjusts significance thresholds using techniques such as Tukey HSD Bonferroni or False Discovery Rate (FDR) control. Prevents Inflation of Type I error rates when performing multiple statistical tests simultaneously.

Predictive Modeling & Regression Analysis

4 techniques

Linear Models

Plain

Predicts a specific number (like salary or test scores) based on one or more factors.

Technical

Estimates linear relationships between continuous outcomes and one or more predictor variables. Widely used for predicting outcomes continuous scale hypothesis testing and hierarchical model comparison.

Generalized Linear Models (GLMs)

Plain

Predicts yes/no outcomes or counts (like whether someone clicks an ad or how many doctor visits they make).

Technical

Extends linear regression to non-normal response variables including binary logistic probit and Poisson count models. Allows flexible modeling of non-linear link functions and overdispersed data.

Ordinal & Multinomial Outcomes

Plain

Predicts outcomes with multiple categories—like survey ratings (low/medium/high) or choice selection (Option A B or C).

Technical

Models categorical dependent variables with more than two levels whether ordered or unordered. Essential for survey responses preference modeling and multi-category disease staging.

Confounding & Effect Modification

Plain

Removes the influence of background factors so you can see if a treatment actually caused the result.

Technical

Identifies and controls for extraneous variables that distort primary exposure-outcome relationships through stratification or covariate adjustment. Ensures accurate assessment of true independent treatment effects.

Time Series & Temporal Data Analysis

5 techniques

Classical Time Series Models

Plain

Forecasts future trends based on past historical patterns—like predicting seasonal sales or daily traffic.

Technical

Models time-dependent processes to account for autocorrelation seasonal variations and trends using ARIMA and SARIMA frameworks.

Smoothing & Decomposition

Plain

Cleans up jumpy data over time to reveal the clear underlying direction and seasonal patterns.

Technical

Breaks down sequential data into underlying trend seasonal and irregular noise components using techniques like Holt-Winters or STL decomposition.

Vector & Multivariate Time Series

Plain

Looks at how multiple changing timelines influence each other over time (like inflation and interest rates).

Technical

Analyzes dynamic interrelationships among multiple interdependent time series using Vector Autoregressions (VAR) and Granger causality.

Intervention & Impact Analysis

Plain

Measures whether a specific event or new law caused a sudden shift in ongoing trends.

Technical

Evaluates the effect of discrete policy changes interventions or events over time using Interrupted Time Series Analysis (ITSA). Controls for pre-existing trends to estimate true post-intervention impact.

State Space & Dynamic Models

Plain

Tracks hidden underlying changes in real-time continuous data (like monitoring sensor feeds or vital signs).

Technical

Tracks underlying hidden states that evolve dynamically over time using algorithms like Kalman filtering. Highly effective for noisy continuous monitoring data and tracking non-stationary processes.

Survival Analysis & Event History

3 techniques

Non-Parametric Survival Estimation

Plain

Tracks how long it takes for a specific event to happen—like how long a medicine keeps a illness in remission.

Technical

Estimates survival probabilities over time without parametric assumptions using Kaplan-Meier curves and Log-Rank tests. Standard approach for visualizing time-to-event trajectories across study cohorts.

Semi-Parametric & Parametric Regression

Plain

Calculates how much different risk factors increase or decrease the chances of an event happening over time.

Technical

Models hazard rates while controlling for covariates using Cox Proportional Hazards or parametric acceleration models. Quantifies risk ratios for clinical outcomes adjusted for participant risk profiles.

Advanced Survival Techniques

Plain

Handles realistic situations where multiple competing outcomes could happen first or where events repeat over time.

Technical

Handles complex event structures such as competing risks fine-gray subdistribution models and recurrent clinical events. Prevents biased hazard estimates when multiple mutually exclusive outcomes exist.

Clinical Trial Design & Bioequivalence

4 techniques

Trial Architecture & Randomization

Plain

Sets up fair clinical testing groups so that treatment results aren't biased by who ended up in which group.

Technical

Establishes experimental protocols including parallel crossover and factorial trial designs with stratified block randomization. Minimizes selection bias and ensures internal validity in clinical interventions.

Equivalence & Non-Inferiority Testing

Plain

Proves that a new cheaper or safer treatment works just as well as the existing standard treatment.

Technical

Determines whether a new treatment is not unacceptably worse than standard care using Two One-Sided Tests (TOST). Critical for bioequivalence studies and pharmaceutical drug approval processes.

Interim Analysis & Adaptive Designs

Plain

Lets researchers check medical trial data early to stop the study if a drug is clearly working or unsafe.

Technical

Evaluates accumulating trial data at pre-planned intervals using group sequential stopping boundaries like O'Brien-Fleming. Allows trials to stop early for efficacy or safety without inflating Type I error rates.

Diagnostic Accuracy & Biomarkers

Plain

Measures how accurately a medical test gives correct positive and negative results.

Technical

Evaluates diagnostic performance metrics including ROC curve analysis sensitivity specificity and AUC comparisons. Quantifies how effectively diagnostic tools or biological markers classify disease states.

Psychometrics Measurement & Scale Validation

4 techniques

Factor Analysis

Plain

Checks whether a group of survey questions actually measures the single big concept you intended (like anxiety or satisfaction).

Technical

Explores or confirms latent construct structures underlying observed indicator items via EFA and CFA. Essential for scale development instrument validation and assessing construct validity.

Classical Test Theory (CTT)

Plain

Measures how consistent and reliable a test or questionnaire is overall.

Technical

Evaluates score reliability and item characteristics using metrics such as Cronbach's alpha McDonald's omega and item-total correlations. Standard methodology for assessing internal consistency in educational and psychological measurement.

Item Response Theory (IRT)

Plain

Analyzes individual test questions to see how hard they are and whether they treat all student groups fairly.

Technical

Models item-level properties and individual latent trait levels using 1PL 2PL 3PL models and Differential Item Functioning (DIF). Used for adaptive testing test assembly and ensuring item fairness across groups.

Measurement Invariance

Plain

Ensures a survey or test means the exact same thing to different groups of people (like across different languages or ages).

Technical

Tests whether psychological or educational constructs maintain consistent measurement properties across diverse demographic groups or time points. Prevents construct bias when comparing group means.

Advanced Structural & Multilevel Modeling

3 techniques

Structural Equation Modeling (SEM)

Plain

Tests big step-by-step chain reactions where multiple cause-and-effect relationships happen all at once.

Technical

Evaluates complex networks of direct indirect and latent relationships simultaneously using path analysis and full structural models. Allows rigorous testing of theoretical mechanisms and mediation hypotheses.

Multilevel & Hierarchical Linear Modeling (HLM)

Plain

Analyzes grouped data properly—like studying student scores while accounting for the specific classrooms and schools they are in.

Technical

Models data with nested structures (such as students in schools or longitudinal measurements in patients) using random effects. Corrects for standard error bias resulting from clustered sampling designs.

Latent Class & Mixture Modeling

Plain

Finds hidden sub-groups of people in your data who share similar profiles or behaviors.

Technical

Identifies unobserved homogeneous subgroups within heterogeneous populations using LCA LPA and Growth Mixture Modeling. Useful for discovering person-centered profiles and distinct development trajectories.

Causal Inference & Experimental Design

3 techniques

Propensity Score Methods

Plain

Matches similar people in real-world data to create fair comparison groups when a randomized trial isn't possible.

Technical

Reduces selection bias in observational studies by balancing baseline covariates across treatment groups via matching IPTW or stratification. Simulates experimental conditions when random assignment is impossible.

Quasi-Experimental Techniques

Plain

Uses clever real-world setups to figure out if a policy or program actually caused a change.

Technical

Estimates causal effects using natural experiments through Difference-in-Differences Regression Discontinuity or Instrumental Variables. Provides credible causal estimates when randomization is unethical or impractical.

Power & Sample Size Planning

Plain

Calculates exactly how many participants you need to recruit so your study produces trustworthy results.

Technical

Determines required sample sizes to detect meaningful effect sizes using power calculations and Monte Carlo simulations. Ensures study designs are adequately powered to minimize Type II errors.

Machine Learning & Computational Biology

4 techniques

Supervised Classification & Regression

Plain

Teaches a computer to recognize patterns from past data so it can automatically classify new examples.

Technical

Trains predictive algorithms like Random Forests XGBoost and Support Vector Machines on labeled data. Produces high-accuracy predictions for complex non-linear outcomes.

Unsupervised Pattern Discovery

Plain

Lets a computer group similar data points together on its own without telling it what to look for beforehand.

Technical

Groups unlabeled data points or reduces dimensionality using k-Means clustering PCA t-SNE or UMAP. Reveals hidden structure patterns and clusters in complex multidimensional datasets.

High-Dimensional & Omics Analytics

Plain

Sorts through massive datasets with thousands of measurements per person (like gene data) to find the key signals.

Technical

Processes biological datasets with thousands of parallel features using differential expression analysis and regularized regression (Lasso/Ridge/Elastic Net). Controls false discovery rates in high-throughput genomic or proteomic studies.

Resampling & Robust Estimation

Plain

Re-tests your data hundreds of times in different ways to make sure your conclusions are solid and reliable.

Technical

Derives empirically calibrated standard errors and confidence intervals using bootstrapping cross-validation and robust estimators. Safeguards statistical inferences when distributional assumptions are violated.

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