Designing randomised trials in health, education and the social sciences :
an introduction /
David J. Torgerson and Carole J. Torgerson.
New York :
Palgrave Macmillan,
2008.
xv, 210 p. :
ill. ;
23 cm.
Includes bibliographical references (p. 192-208) and index.
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 participant preference -- 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.