Sample size estimation for health and social science researchers: The principles and considerations for different study designs

Sample size is one of the important considerations at the planning phase of a research proposal, but researchers are often faced with challenges of estimating valid sample size. Many researchers frequently use inadequate sample size and this invariably introduces errors into the final findings. Many...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:The Nigerian postgraduate medical journal Vol. 27; no. 2; pp. 67 - 75
Main Author: Bolarinwa, Oladimeji
Format: Journal Article
Language:English
Published: Nigeria Wolters Kluwer India Pvt. Ltd 01.04.2020
Medknow Publications & Media Pvt. Ltd
Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications
Subjects:
Clinical trials
health
Medical research
Methods
Quality of life
Research proposals
Researchers
Sample size
social science
Social sciences
Studies
study design
Variables
social science
study design
Health
sample size
ISSN:1117-1936, 2468-6875
Online Access:Get full text
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Summary:Sample size is one of the important considerations at the planning phase of a research proposal, but researchers are often faced with challenges of estimating valid sample size. Many researchers frequently use inadequate sample size and this invariably introduces errors into the final findings. Many reviews on sample size estimation have focused more on specific study designs which often present technical equations and formula that are boring to statistically naïve health researchers. Therefore, this compendium reviews all the common sample size estimation formula in social science and health research with the aim of providing basic guidelines and principles to achieve valid sample size estimation. The simplification of the sample size formula and detailed explanation in this review will demystify the difficulties many students as well as some researchers have with statistical formulae for sample size estimation.
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ISSN:1117-1936
2468-6875
DOI:10.4103/npmj.npmj_19_20