likelihood ratio

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "likelihood ratio" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it in contexts related to statistics, probability, or diagnostic testing. For example, "The likelihood ratio indicates how much more likely a positive test result is in patients with the disease compared to those without it." Alternative expressions include "odds ratio" and "probability ratio."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Likelihood ratio.

Journal of Chinese Studies

likelihood ratio version   4.

SERIEs

log likelihood ratio.

EURASIP Journal on Wireless Communications and Networking

Generalized likelihood ratio test.

EURASIP Journal on Advances in Signal Processing

Classification Principle: Likelihood Ratio.

EURASIP Journal on Image and Video Processing

Generalised likelihood ratio test.

EURASIP Journal on Advances in Signal Processing

LRT, likelihood ratio test.

EURASIP Journal on Information Security

maximum likelihood ratio test.

EURASIP Journal on Wireless Communications and Networking

likelihood ratio positive.

Critical Ultrasound Journal

Negative likelihood ratio: 0.42.

International Journal of Emergency Medicine

Positive likelihood ratio: 2.9.

International Journal of Emergency Medicine

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When reporting "likelihood ratios", clearly state whether it is a positive or negative likelihood ratio to avoid ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid interpreting a "likelihood ratio" directly as a probability. A "likelihood ratio" compares the likelihood of a test result in different groups, whereas a probability is the chance of an event occurring.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "likelihood ratio" functions as a noun phrase, primarily used to describe a statistical measure that compares the likelihood of an event occurring under different hypotheses. Ludwig's examples show it's mainly used in scientific contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

100%

Less common in

News & Media

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "likelihood ratio" is a grammatically sound and very common noun phrase primarily used in scientific and statistical domains. As Ludwig confirms, it serves to quantify the strength of evidence supporting one hypothesis over another. When using this phrase, be sure to specify whether you're referring to positive or negative "likelihood ratios". Common errors involve confusing "likelihood ratios" with probabilities. Remember that "likelihood ratio" of 1 means a test provides no additional information. Highly authoritative sources like EURASIP journals and BMC publications frequently employ this term.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

likelihood function ratio

Specifically refers to the ratio of likelihood functions, used for parameter estimation and hypothesis testing.

diagnostic likelihood ratio

Refers to likelihood ratios used in diagnostic testing to assess the usefulness of a test.

log-likelihood ratio

Represents the logarithm of the likelihood ratio, which is often used for computational convenience and mathematical tractability.

probability ratio

Emphasizes the ratio of probabilities of two different events or hypotheses.

chance ratio

Emphasizes the odds or probability of an event occurring, focusing on the proportional relationship between favorable and unfavorable outcomes.

relative likelihood

Focuses on the likelihood of one event compared to another, expressing the likelihood in relative terms.

Bayes factor

Quantifies the support for one hypothesis over another, given the observed data.

odds ratio

Compares the odds of an event occurring in one group to the odds of it occurring in another group.

evidence ratio

Highlights the strength of evidence supporting a particular hypothesis.

plausibility ratio

Focuses on how believable or credible a hypothesis is, contrasting with the alternative.

FAQs

How is "likelihood ratio" used in diagnostic testing?

In diagnostic testing, a "likelihood ratio" indicates how much a given test result will raise or lower the odds of having a disease. A positive "positive likelihood ratio" indicates the increase in odds when the test is positive, while a negative "negative likelihood ratio" indicates the decrease in odds when the test is negative.

What is the difference between "likelihood ratio" and odds ratio?

A "likelihood ratio" assesses the change in likelihood of a condition given a test result. An "odds ratio", on the other hand, compares the odds of an event occurring in one group versus another. While both are measures of association, they are used in different contexts and calculated differently.

How do I interpret a "likelihood ratio" of 1?

A "likelihood ratio" of 1 means that the test result does not change the likelihood of having the condition. In other words, the test provides no additional information about whether the condition is present or absent.

What are some limitations of using "likelihood ratios"?

One limitation of "likelihood ratios" is that they can be sensitive to the prevalence of the condition in the population being tested. Additionally, they do not provide information about the pre-test probability of having the condition, which is necessary for interpreting the post-test probability.