📉 Statistical Buffet: Definition
Statistical buffet is a critical term used to describe a study that includes an excessive number of statistical tests, subgroup analyses, or P-values—often without:
- Clear primary endpoints,
- Correction for multiple comparisons,
- Clinical coherence or actionable insights.
It reflects an approach where data is presented like a buffet: plenty of options, but no structured narrative or scientific digestion.
Warning signs of a statistical buffet:
- Dozens of unadjusted P-values,
- Predictive factors mined from post-hoc analysis,
- Lack of discussion on effect size or clinical relevance,
- Tables overloaded with numbers, but no patient-centered meaning.
It’s the academic equivalent of throwing data at the wall and seeing what sticks.