Cited by 3,538Psychometric Methodologies and TestingStatistical Methods and ApplicationsStatistical Methods and Bayesian Inference

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On the practice of dichotomization of quantitative variables.

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MacCallum, Robert C., Zhang, Shaobo, Preacher, Kristopher J., Rucker, Derek D.·2002·Psychological Methods

DOI 10.1037/1082-989x.7.1.19

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Abstract

The authors examine the practice of dichotomization of quantitative measures, wherein relationships among variables are examined after 1 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.

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“…is common in the literature (Jones et al. 2010; de Wied et al. 2012; Schwenck et al. 2012), and there are no agreed cut-offs or norms on the ICU, there are limitations to using a median split procedure to dichotomise a continuous variable (i.e., reducing statistical power; MacCallum et al. 2002).”
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Background
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Background
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Authors: MacCallum, R. C., Zhang, S., Preacher, K. J., & Rucker, D. D.
Affiliations: The Ohio State University (US)
ORCID: Zhang, Shaobo
Preacher, Kristopher J.
Rucker, Derek D.
Venue: Psychological Methods
Publisher: American Psychological Association (APA)
Published: 2002
Volume: 7
Issue: 1
Pages: 19-40
ISSN: 1082-989X (ISSN-L)
1939-1463
DOI: 10.1037/1082-989x.7.1.19
OpenAlex: W2108096958
Semantic Scholar: 67646d3def337c40bbfa2476f0f1ff785ae18242
Cited by: 3,538
References: 42
Citations by year: 2026: 282 · 2025: 170 · 2024: 149 · 2023: 134 · 2022: 183 · 2021: 211 · 2020: 204 · 2019: 179 · 2018: 180 · 2017: 223 · 2016: 208 · 2015: 208 · 2014: 184 · 2013: 187 · 2012: 138
FWCI: 55.97
Type: journal article
Language: en
Open access: green
kuscholarworks.ku.edu
Licence: other-oa
Locations: Psychological Methods (publishedVersion)
PubMed (publishedVersion)
KU ScholarWorks (The University of Kansas) (submittedVersion, other-oa)
Topics: Social Sciences › Decision Sciences › Management Science and Operations Research › Psychometric Methodologies and Testing
Physical Sciences › Mathematics › Statistics and Probability › Statistical Methods and Applications
Physical Sciences › Mathematics › Statistics and Probability › Statistical Methods and Bayesian Inference
Keywords: dichotomization, quantitative variables, statistical analysis, change of variables, measurement error
MeSH terms: Humans, Models, Psychological, Psychology

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On the practice of dichotomization of quantitative variables.

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