My Litany with Epidemiology’s Creepy Biases and Ugly Errors

Glamorous it may seem and simple it may look, the epidemiologist’s work is an applied science
in the real world. In other words, epidemiology is a scienti c endeavor in a world full of lies,
doubts, secrets, hierarchies of power and limited budget. A scienti c endeavor with a noble
purpose of keeping the population healthy while working with people who has other agenda,
with incomplete information, with time constraints, with few nancial aid, and with very few
allies who share the same vision but no money. With all these surrounding the epidemiology
work, the biases in epidemiologic investigations make me cower and hide under the covers.

“Yes! I am a coward and I am not ashamed of it.”

Is my noble goal not enough to justify the results of my work? If there is the phrase “for the
sake of science” that supports new inventions, why can’t there be “for the sake of public
health” that supports epidemiologic innovations?

“Don’t condemn me for grumbling, no epidemiologists want to go on the detail of

discussing her study biases.”

Why can’t epidemiologists put all the blame on the small sample size? But, when is “small”
small when epidemiologists talk about small sample size?

“My alter ego is beginning to question the meaning of words. Where the hell did this
alter ego come from? Who birthed you?”

And comparing with the possible population on the next 100 years, obviously, the population
today is small.

“Now, I will counter-argue my alter ego with my original ego.”

But when is “big” big when epidemiologists need to nd a reference for small sample size? If I
will not consider the population on the next 100 years from now,

“Wherein, obviously, I am not alive anymore, so why should I be bothered!”

the small sample size is not actually small but big enough. And I could argue that the very
reason behind the biases and errors in my epidemiologic research is that evil are lurking
everywhere, thus lies, doubts, secrets, hierarchy of powers, and poverty exists. Therefore,
Jesus Christ is the answer. He is the solution to all biases, the remover of errors.

“I wish that can justify my degree but it can’t”

In conclusion, my original ego and my alter-ego birthed by someone I don’t know,

“My alter-ego is an unregistered child!”

must nd a way to work peacefully with each other and together face the creepy biases and
ugly errors of epidemiology with a clear and uni ed mind, as well as, lots of writing.
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