Pathological Analysis of Misapplication of Statistical and Data Processing Methods in Agricultural Scientific Research

Today, statistics are used in all areas of science to achieve tangible and reliable results so that it is rarely possible to interpret and analyze the results of scientific research without using appropriate statistical data processing (in two aspects of quantitative and qualitative). But the main challenge in this regard is how to correctly apply statistical methods in research. Agricultural research is no exception in this regard. Interestingly, some are overwhelmed by the use of statistics and their research isnt more than a play with statistical methods, and some are somewhat involved with data play and making which leads to the formation of a kind of deviation and misuse of statistics in research which is referred to as “statistification”. Some people do not believe to use statistics in their research. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to analyze “pathology of statistics application and data processing in agricultural scientific research”. This applied descriptive research in terms of research methodology paradigm is a qualitative inquiry, was conducted using a classic Delphi technique in three stages. The sample whose were chosen by purposive sampling method are faculty members and Ph.D. students with agriculture majors in Iran (n=17). The most important strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats were known as perceived by respondents and at the end all four rates averages were calculated with SWOT analysis matrix. The results showed that the resulting point of the SWOT matrix was located in the area of SO (aggressive strategies). Accordingly, proposed strategies were prepared and presented.