Citation

de Wilde E. Arch. Suicide Res. 2002; 1(1): 55-59.

Affiliation

Rotterdam Area Municipal Health Service, Rotterdam, The Netherlands

Copyright

(Copyright © 2002, International Academy of Suicide Research, Publisher Informa - Taylor and Francis Group)

DOI

10.1080/13811110213126

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Quantitative research can offer the best possible approximation of objective, unprejudiced observations and may therefore be a cornerstone of theory formulation in suicidal behavior. However, despite an increase in publications containing quantitative research, few theories have emerged. This paper describes a few factors that contributed to that: inadequate statistical techniques, research variety, lack of validity, and lack of effect size consideration. It is argued that as long as unnecessary variations in methodology remain, as long as the issue of what we are actually studying and how we are measuring that is not yet settled, and as long one is unaware of pitfalls in statistical interpretation, a better understanding of suicidal behavior will not be gained.