HLTC15 Lecture Notes - Lecture 9: Adme, Statistical Hypothesis Testing, Sample Size Determination
Document Summary
Hltc15 introduction to quantitative and qualitative health research methodologies. Lecture 9/10: quantitative methods iii: rcts and experimental methods (chapter 12 & 13) Tuesday, november 6, 2012 & tuesday, november 13, 2012. In an experiment, [the researcher] investigates the relationship between two or more [variables] by deliberately producing a change in one of them and observing, the change in the other (definition adapted from robson, 1973) Attempt to test causation rather than association. Prospective, experimental design: commonly used in clinical (laboratory) research, scientifically rigorous, provides the best source of evidence for therapeutic benefit. Sample of a population of interest is randomly assigned to one or more clinical interventions ( arms : e. g. , control/placebo and intervention/treatment. Samples are followed up for a specified period of time observed in an identical manner. Groups then analyzed in terms of pre-defined outcomes. Ideally, only difference between groups is the intervention. Knowledge evolves and develops contingent, never definitive.
