Abstract
The most important question that a researcher should ask when planning a study is: ‘How large a sample do I need?’ If the sample size is too small, even a well-conducted study may fail to answer its research question or to detect important effects or associations or may estimate those effects or associations too imprecisely. Similarly, if the sample size is too large, the study will be more difficult and costly, and the size may even lead to a loss in accuracy. Hence, optimum sample size is an essential component of any research. Careful consideration of sample size and power analysis during the planning and design stages of clinical research are crucial [1].
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
References
Suresh K, Thomas SV, Suresh G. Design, data analysis and sampling techniques for clinical research. Ann Indian Acad Neurol. 2011;14(4):287–90. doi:10.4103/0972-2327.91951.
Tamela FD, Ketchen Jr JD. Organizational configuration and performance: the role of statistical power in extant research. Strateg Manage J. 1999;20:385–95.
American Statistical Association. Ethical guidelines for statistical practice: executive summary. Amstat News. April 1999:12Y15.
Adams-Huet B, Ahn C. Bridging clinical investigators and statisticians: writing the statistical methodology for a research proposal. J Investig Med. 2009;57(8):818. doi:10.231/JIM.0b013e3181c2996c.
Lenth RV. Some practical guidelines for effective sample size determination. Am Stat. 2001;55:187Y193.
Ahn C, Jung SH. Effect of dropouts on sample size estimates for test on trends across repeated measurements. J Biopharm Stat. 2005;15:33Y41.
Ahn C. Sample size requirement for clinical trials with repeated binary outcomes. Drug Inf J. 2008;42:107Y113.
Scarborough M, Gordon S, Whitty C, French N, Njale Y, Chitani A. Corticosteroids for bacterial meningitis in adults in sub-Saharan Africa. N Engl J Med. 2007;357:2441–50.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2017 Springer International Publishing Switzerland
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Cingi, C., Muluk, N.B. (2017). Setting the Size. In: Quick Guide to Good Clinical Practice . Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-44344-7_14
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-44344-7_14
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Cham
Print ISBN: 978-3-319-44343-0
Online ISBN: 978-3-319-44344-7
eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)