Assignment 3
1. What are the key design elements for a quasi or natural experiment to make strong causal claims?
A quasi or natural experiments are useful because you can test a much more broader range of participants than if it were in a controlled clinical study. To make strong casual claims, study protocol should be developed in which hypothesis, definitions of target populations, explicit sampling criteria, and valid and reliable measures of exposures and outcomes are clearly specified before the study is undertaken. The studies need to have range of exposure to the content being studied, and accurate measurements and combinations of methods to identify bias. Having large groups to study with similar populations allow for stronger causal claims.
2. Why do the key design elements improve causal claims in quasi or natural experiment studies?
Key design elements improve causal claims of natural experiments because they ensure that enough qualified participants can be recruited. The key design element of having control groups as similar as possible to the treatment groups allow researchers to eliminate other unobserved variables that can affect the results of the study. Pretests are important in order to achieve this reliable similarity amongst groups. In clinical studies, the design elements maximize the chances that multi-site trials are coordinated, that monitoring of treatment implementation is done properly, and it ensures that the collected data is digitized rapidly and accurately for later analysis.
3. What are differences/similarities between n of 1 studies and quasi or natural experiment studies?
An n of 1 study is a study in which one person is the sole focus of the research. It is similar in that it attempts to use objective data-driven criteria to determine its results. The test group is one person, but the control group is the data provided from larger clinical trial or natural experiments. The n of 1 study is a single focus study from data that is derived out of a quasi or natural experimental study. It uses the data derived from a large group study to understand where an individual stands within that larger group and how they compare. An n of 1 trial is useful practice as the movement for individual medicine becomes more seriously considered in the field of health.
Write a blog post (max 500 words) describing the main discussion points of the readings.
A quasi or natural experiments are useful because you can test a much more broader range of participants than if it were in a controlled clinical study. To make strong casual claims, study protocol should be developed in which hypothesis, definitions of target populations, explicit sampling criteria, and valid and reliable measures of exposures and outcomes are clearly specified before the study is undertaken. The studies need to have range of exposure to the content being studied, and accurate measurements and combinations of methods to identify bias. Having large groups to study with similar populations allow for stronger causal claims.
2. Why do the key design elements improve causal claims in quasi or natural experiment studies?
Key design elements improve causal claims of natural experiments because they ensure that enough qualified participants can be recruited. The key design element of having control groups as similar as possible to the treatment groups allow researchers to eliminate other unobserved variables that can affect the results of the study. Pretests are important in order to achieve this reliable similarity amongst groups. In clinical studies, the design elements maximize the chances that multi-site trials are coordinated, that monitoring of treatment implementation is done properly, and it ensures that the collected data is digitized rapidly and accurately for later analysis.
3. What are differences/similarities between n of 1 studies and quasi or natural experiment studies?
An n of 1 study is a study in which one person is the sole focus of the research. It is similar in that it attempts to use objective data-driven criteria to determine its results. The test group is one person, but the control group is the data provided from larger clinical trial or natural experiments. The n of 1 study is a single focus study from data that is derived out of a quasi or natural experimental study. It uses the data derived from a large group study to understand where an individual stands within that larger group and how they compare. An n of 1 trial is useful practice as the movement for individual medicine becomes more seriously considered in the field of health.
Write a blog post (max 500 words) describing the main discussion points of the readings.
- Post the link to the D2L Discussion Forum Blog post links.