Abstract
In the previous chapter we explained that the necessary elements of general study design are the study domain, the occurrence relation, the study base, the study variables, and the outcome parameters. Different combinations of these elements tend to take different recognizable forms (‘jackets,’ mostly simply referred to as ‘designs’) depending mainly on type of research question. These designs are known under specific names, e.g., survey, forecasting study, randomized controlled trial, etc. For each we discuss here how the ‘jacket’ is tailored with design elements from Chap. 5 (we therefore advise careful study of the two preceding chapters before embarking on this one). In, this chapter we (1) aim to help researchers find the best general study design for a particular research question, and (2) provide a broad classification of general design types that parallels the typology of research questions proposed in Chap. 4.
Science is imagination in a straight jacket.
Based on J. Moffat
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Van den Broeck, J., Brestoff, J.R., Chhagan, M. (2013). General Study Designs. In: Van den Broeck, J., Brestoff, J. (eds) Epidemiology: Principles and Practical Guidelines. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-5989-3_6
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