Non-standard errors

In statistics, samples are drawn from a population in a data-generating process (DGP). Standard errors measure the uncertainty in estimates of population parameters. In science, evidence is generated to test hypotheses in an evidence generating process (EGP). We claim that EGP variation across researchers adds uncertainty: Non-standard errors (NSEs). We study NSEs by letting 164 teams test the same hypotheses on the same data. NSEs turn out to be sizable, but smaller for better reproducible or higher rated research. Adding peer-review stages reduces NSEs. We further find that this type of uncertainty is underestimated by participants

Are Female Psychiatry Residents Better to Propose in Emergency a Voluntary Hospitalization?

This study analyses assessment, intervention and admission decisions made by emergency psychiatry residents, to determine whether these differ depending on the gender of the resident. Data from all patients presenting to a psychiatric emergency room were collected prospectively for a 3 months period as part of a local quality check project. A questionnaire was used to collect patient demographic data, diagnosis, treatment decisions and the personal and professional characteristics of the residents who performed the assessments. During the 3 months of the study period we obtained data on all 251 emergency assessments carried out by all six residents working in the service. These were 3 female and 3 male 3rd year residents in psychiatry. There was no difference between male and female residents concerning ICD-10 diagnostic assessment, adherence to local hospitalization criteria guidelines, psychotherapeutical and pharmacological treatments administered. A similar distribution between male and female residents was found for diagnoses. No difference was found in the rate of hospitalization decisions between male and female residents. However, surprisingly, there were more voluntary hospitalizations by the women residents (P = 0.035; χ2 = 4.443) and more involuntary admissions by the men residents (P = 0.005; χ2 = 7.643). There was no correlation between the gender of the patient and the assessment or hospitalization decision of either male or female residents. Although this study has methodological limitations, it suggests that female emergency psychiatry residents are more likely to propose voluntary hospitalizations