Reporting Bayesian Results

Eval Rev. 2020 Aug;44(4):354-375. doi: 10.1177/0193841X20977619. Epub 2020 Dec 30.

Abstract

Because of the different philosophy of Bayesian statistics, where parameters are random variables and data are considered fixed, the analysis and presentation of results will differ from that of frequentist statistics. Most importantly, the probabilities that a parameter is in certain regions of the parameter space are crucial quantities in Bayesian statistics that are not calculable (or considered important) in the frequentist approach that is the basis of much of traditional statistics. In this article, I discuss the implications of these differences for presentation of the results of Bayesian analyses. In doing so, I present more detailed guidelines than are usually provided and explain the rationale for my suggestions.

Keywords: Bayesian statistics; reporting guidelines; reporting standards.

MeSH terms

  • Bayes Theorem*
  • Guidelines as Topic
  • Research Design / standards*