Method for central statistical monitoring of data collected over a plurality of distributed data collection centers

A method for central monitoring of data utilizing a plurality of distributed data collection centers, the method comprising the steps of:

• storing a database in a network, wherein the database includes a matrix containing p-values based upon statistical tests executed at the plurality of distributed data collection centers, and wherein the matrix has as many rows as there are distributed data collection centers and as many columns as there are executed statistical tests;
• preprocessing, by the network, the database to remove variables that are unsuitable for analysis;
• extracting, by the network, metadata from the database to identify types of the variables;
• storing, in the network, the preprocessed datasets and corresponding metadata in a statistical database that is in a format compatible for analysis;
• executing statistical tests, in the network, on a data collection center by data collection center basis, to detect abnormalities and patterns present in datasets of the statistical database;
• determining if any of the executed statistical tests are faulty and removing such faulty executed statistical tests from the matrix to create a filtered matrix;
• computing an overall p-value score for each distributed data collection center based on the p-values for the respective distributed data collection center;
• storing the overall p-value score for each distributed data collection center in the database;
• identifying at least one outlying data collection center based upon a summary of the overall p-values;
• and
• displaying information to a user via a graphical user interface indicating at least one of the identified outlying data collection center.