p-value

I was left,

feeling,

like a bit of a prat.

 

It began with a video of

Peter Mittler

That I took last year

During a conference.

 

In the clip,

Which no one can hear

because I didn’t use the right equipment,

Peter is arguing the validity of statistical significance

in relation to a study on dementia.

 

Peter has dementia.

 

He is eloquent and engaging,

fascinating, with ideas and thoughts

scattergun.

 

I thought it a good means to demonstrate

Living well with dementia

Instead

As I say

I felt like a prat.

 

‘Here is Professor Mittler talking about p-values, has anyone ever heard of them?

…expecting at least one person in the hospital audience to have encountered this basic of statistics, my follow-on, does anyone understand p-values…

Alas.

…no response;

My plan had been to then quip,

that I had no idea either

and by this means

demonstrate the prof’s facility not just as a speaker, academic and writer

but, as an interpreter of statistics.

 

But, no, no one had, and it made me feel daft.

 

I moved-on quickly, to the next topic;

 

Perhaps this was the reason,

for the feedback

saying,

‘I couldn’t see the relevance of the talk’

and this, in relation to a day

of person-centred care.

 

You can never please everyone,

and,

Perhaps having someone

not get it

is a sign that I am on the right track.

 

Who knows?

 

I don’t think I will attempt Peter’s film again,

although,

If anyone wants to view it,

I have a copy

with good audio

on my phone.