Designing Randomised Trials in Health, Education and the Social Sciences: An Introduction

by D. Torgerson

Overview

The book focuses on the design of rigorous trials rather than their statistical underpinnings, with chapters on: pragmatic designs; placebo designs; preference approaches; unequal allocation; economics; analytical approaches; randomization methods. It also includes a detailed description of randomization procedures and different trial designs.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780230537361
Publisher:	Palgrave Macmillan UK
Publication date:	03/13/2008
Edition description:	2008
Pages:	210
Product dimensions:	5.40(w) x 8.40(h) x 0.60(d)

About the Author

DAVID J. TORGERSON is Director of the York Trials Unit, University of York, UK. He has published extensively on randomized trial design and has worked on trials in health and educational research.

CAROLE J. TORGERSON is a Senior Research Fellow in the Institute for Effective Education at the University of York, UK. She has published extensively in the field of systematic reviews of randomized trials. She is Co-Chair of the Campbell Collaboration Education Co-ordinating Group. She has also worked on a number of randomized trials in the field of education.

Table of Contents

Preface Acknowledgements Glossary of Terms Background to Controlled Trials The Limitations of Before and After Designs History of Controlled Trials What is Special about Randomisation? Sources of Bias in Randomised Trials Placebo and Sham Trials Pragmatic and Explanatory Trials Designs to Deal with Participants' Preferences Cluster Randomised Controlled Trials Unequal Randomisation Factorial Randomised Controlled Trials Pilot Randomised Controlled Trials Sample Size and Analytical Issues Measuring Outcomes Recruitment into Randomised Trials Systematic Reviews of Randomised Controlled Trials Economic Evaluation Alongside Randomised Trials Conclusions References Index

Editorial Reviews

'David and Carole Torgerson have written an important book about an important topic...After introducing the "breathtaking simplicity" and "beauty" of the randomized trial design [they] outline the key features of well-designed, well-conducted and well-analysed randomised trials, using illustrative examples from health care, education, criminal justice and other fields. The book is a veritable treasure trove of information and advice' - Sir Iain Chalmers, Editor, James Lind Library (http://www.jameslindlibrary.org/)

From the Publisher