Abstract
In this paper, the role that biostatistics can play in enhancing scientific evidence in rehabilitation research is discussed. The importance of biostatistical support throughout all phases of clinical research is described with an emphasis on good mutual communication between the clinical researcher and biostatistician as a prerequisite condition for successful research. Two distinct modes of data analyses, namely “model-based” data analysis and “data-based” data analysis, are introduced. The choice of a particular mode of data analysis is based on the current stage of clinical knowledge in a given research and/or a particular research area. For illustrative purposes a data-based analysis with linear additive models is presented.
