The odds ratio is also known by what other term?

The odds ratio is also known as the cross-product ratio because it is calculated by taking the ratio of the odds of an event occurring in one group compared to the odds of it occurring in another group. This calculation involves cross-multiplying the outcomes and the non-outcomes in a 2x2 contingency table. The term "cross-product" comes from the way the odds ratio is derived, as it focuses on the products of the diagonals in the table.

Using this term accurately reflects the mathematical process behind its computation and emphasizes the relationship within the data it analyzes, specifically the odds of events in two distinct populations or conditions. This understanding is crucial in epidemiology, as the odds ratio is frequently used in case-control studies to assess the strength of the association between an exposure and an outcome.