Foundations of clinical research: applications to practice

pt. I. Foundations of clinical research. A concept of clinical research

The role of theory in clinical research

Ethical issues in clinical research

pt. II. Concepts of measurement. Principles of measurement

Reliability of measurements

Validity of measurements

pt. III. Designing clinical research. Asking the research question

Sampling

Validity in experimental design

Experimental designs

Quasi-experimental designs

Single subject designs

Exploratory research: observational designs

Descriptive research

Surveys and questionnaires

Systematic reviews and meta-analysis

pt. IV. Data analysis. Descriptive statistics

Statistical inference

Comparing two means: the t-test

Comparing more than two means: analysis of variance

Multiple comparison tests

Nonparametric tests for group comparisons

Correlation

Regression

Measures of association for categorical variables: chi-square

Statistical measures of reliability

Statistical measures of validity

Epidemiology: measures of risk

Multivariate analysis

Data management

pt. V. Communication. Searching the literature

Writing a research proposal

Reporting the results of clinical research

Evaluating research reports

Appendices : A. Statistical tables

B. Relating the research question to the choice of statistical test

C. Power and sample size

D. Transformation of data

E. Sample informed consent form.

Part I. Foundations of Clinical Research. A concept of clinical research ; The role of theory in clinical research ; Ethical issues in clinical research

Part II. Concepts of Measurement. Principles of measurement ; Reliability of measurements ; Validity of measurements

Part III. Designing Clinical Research. Asking the research question ; Sampling ; Validity in experimental design ; Experimental designs ; Quasi-experimental designs ; Single-subject designs ; Exploratory research: observational designs ; Descriptive research ; Surveys and questionnaires ; Systematic reviews and meta-analysis

Part IV. Data Analysis. Descriptive statistics ; Statistical inference ; Comparing two means: the t-test ; Comparing more than two means: analysis of variance ; Multiple comparison tests ; Nonparametric tests for group comparisons ; Correlations ; Regression ; Measures of association for categorical variables: Chi-Square ; Statistical measures of reliability ; Statistical measures of validity ; Epidemiology: measuring risk ; Multivariate analysis ; Data management

Part V. Communication. Searching the literature ; Writing a research proposal ; Reporting the results of clinical research ; Evaluating research reports

Appendices. Statistical tables ; Relating the research question to the choice of statistical test ; Power and sample size ; Transformation of data ; Sample informed consent form.