On the practice of dichotomization of quantitative variables
On the practice of dichotomization of quantitative variables
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DOI：
10.1037//1082-989x.7.1.19
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发表时间：
2002-03-01
影响因子：
7
通讯作者：
Rucker, DD
中科院分区：
文献类型：
--
作者：
MacCallum, RC;Zhang, SB;Rucker, DD
作者研究了定量测量的二分法的实践，其中变量之间的关系是在I或多个变量通过在测量尺度上的某个点处分裂样本而转换为二分法变量之后进行检查的。一种常见的二分形式是中位数分裂，其中自变量在中位数处分裂成高组和低组，然后比较因变量的平均值。二分法的测量和统计分析的后果进行了说明和讨论。在实践中使用二分法的描述，并提供这种用法的理由进行检查。作者提出的情况下，二分法是很少辩护，往往会产生误导性的结果。
The authors examine the practice of dichotomization of quantitative measures, wherein relationships among variables are examined after I or more variables have been converted to dichotomous variables by splitting the sample at some point on the scale(s) of measurement. A common form of dichotomization is the median split, where the independent variable is split at the median to form high and low groups, which are then compared with respect to their means on the dependent variable. The consequences of dichotomization for measurement and statistical analyses are illustrated and discussed. The use of dichotomization in practice is described, and justifications that are offered for such usage are examined. The authors present the case that dichotomization is rarely defensible and often will yield misleading results.