Outliers can influence various aspects of epidemiological studies:
1. Measurement Error: Outliers may result from measurement errors. If not addressed, these errors can distort study findings and lead to incorrect inferences. 2. Biological Variability: Outliers might represent true biological variability, indicating rare but important phenomena that warrant further investigation. 3. Data Entry Errors: Errors during data collection or entry can produce outliers, necessitating careful data cleaning procedures. 4. Sampling Issues: Outliers can arise from sampling issues, such as non-representative samples or small sample sizes.
