How to Claim a Discovery
Data Analysis, Statistics and Probability
2007-05-23 v1
Abstract
We describe a statistical hypothesis test for the presence of a signal. The test allows the researcher to fix the signal location and/or width a priori, or perform a search to find the signal region that maximizes the signal. The background rate and/or distribution can be known or might be estimated from the data. Cuts can be used to bring out the signal.
Cite
@article{arxiv.physics/0312141,
title = {How to Claim a Discovery},
author = {Wolfgang Rolke and Angel Lopez},
journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:physics/0312141},
year = {2007}
}