ABSTRACT
You may have realized from the previous chapter that empiricism is the backbone of medical knowledge. Studies in various forms are constantly carried to better understand the interactions of various factors affecting health. Sometimes one or two interesting or unusual cases are extensively investigated and case reports on them are prepared. This mode of investigation certainly adds to knowledge, but it does not form the core of modern research. To identify a trend, generally a group of subjects is studied. A preplanned series of steps is followed to collect evidence and to draw conclusion. This chapter focuses on statistical aspects of such research studies rather than on clinical approaches. If you are not into research, you would still like to know the basics to understand the full implications of the studies reported in the medical literature that you consult periodically to update your knowledge.
