RE: st: Odds ratio

["Lachenbruch, Peter" <Peter.Lachenbruch@oregonstate.edu>]

I almost agree - ORs are tough to interpret for non-Epidemiologists and Statisticians.  However, logistic regression is designed to estimate log-odds ratios.  I'd report both so both of you can feel 'happy' - of course, if the difference in probability of event is tiny, a large OR doesn't really indicate a big issue

Tony

Peter A. Lachenbruch
Department of Public Health
Oregon State University
Corvallis, OR 97330
Phone: 541-737-3832
FAX: 541-737-4001


-----Original Message-----
From: owner-statalist@hsphsun2.harvard.edu [mailto:owner-statalist@hsphsun2.harvard.edu] On Behalf Of E. Paul Wileyto
Sent: Thursday, April 08, 2010 12:17 PM
To: statalist@hsphsun2.harvard.edu
Subject: Re: st: Odds ratio

The problem is that vastly different sets of numbers can give you the 
same odds ratio...  same odds ratio, with different variances.  Effect 
size (in Cohenesque d speak) is best obtained from fractions and and 
changes in fractions.  Your effect size can come from the log of the 
odds-ratio, but the variance will be determined by the actual 
proportions involved in calculating the OR.

It doesn't sound like the reviewer is asking for much.  Would it hurt to 
give the proportions?

You can actually generate those effect size numbers (d)  if you report 
an Odds Ratio with CI95 and a sample size, but that is more convoluted.

P


Rosie Chen wrote:
> Hello, dear all,
>
> I have a question regarding a reviewer's comment on my use of odds ratio in interpreting the results of a logistic regression, and would appreciate it very much if you can provide any insight or any references for responding to the comment. 
>
> The reviewer commented that all results are expressed in terms of odds ratios which makes it very difficult to assess the magnitude of the effect. Probabilities and changes in probabilities would be much easier to interpret. My impression is that, although it is true that predicted probabilities might be easier to understand, odds ratios have been used extensively in research when we interpret results from logit models. 
> Do you have any suggestions regarding how to respond to this comment, or do you have any statistics textbooks in your mind that recommend odds ratio as a standard approach reporting results from logistic models?
>
> Thank you very much in advance!
>
> Rosie
>
>
>
>       
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-- 
E. Paul Wileyto, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Biostatistics
Tobacco Use Research Center
School of Medicine, U. of Pennsylvania
3535 Market Street, Suite 4100
Philadelphia, PA  19104-3309

215-746-7147
Fax: 215-746-7140
epw@mail.med.upenn.edu 

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