What's New in MedCalc 22.009: Updates to Trimmed Mean Calculations

MedCalc has rolled out its latest version, 22.009, which brings significant updates to its trimmed mean calculations. In this article, we'll dive into the changes and what they mean for users.

Firstly, it's essential to understand that MedCalc is adjusting its definition of 'percentage trimmed' in line with other major statistical packages like SPSS, R, and Excel. This means that the way trimmed means are calculated has changed, and users need to be aware of these updates to ensure accurate results.

When using the trimmed mean spreadsheet functions, you'll notice that there's no conversion required. The calculated trimmed mean will still correspond to the revised definition, which is now in line with industry standards. For new analyses, the new definition will be applied automatically, ensuring consistency and accuracy throughout your calculations.

One of the most significant changes is how MedCalc handles 20% trimmed means. In previous versions, trimming 10% at the lower tail and 10% at the higher tail resulted in a total of 20% trimmed data. However, with version 22.009, MedCalc now trims 20% at the lower tail and 20% at the higher tail, resulting in a total of 40% trimmed data.

To clarify any confusion, when recalling older analyses, MedCalc will adapt the % value of the trimmed mean to match the new definition. This means that if you previously selected a 20% trimmed mean, the report will now show that this is equivalent to a 10% trimmed mean under the revised definition.

The updates in MedCalc 22.009 also include some minor display problems being fixed and two new features: the comparison of trimmed means of paired samples and the Yuen-Welch test for comparing two independent trimmed means. Additionally, computational notes have been added on calculating trimmed means, standard errors, and confidence intervals.

Overall, these changes aim to improve the accuracy and consistency of MedCalc's trimmed mean calculations, aligning with industry standards and best practices. If you're a regular user of MedCalc, it's essential to understand these updates and how they affect your analysis results.

MedCalc 22.009 free