When conducting clinical research, we usually recruit a subgroup of the population of interest in order to increase study efficiency (fewer costs and less time). This subgroup of individuals, the study population, are those individuals who meet the inclusion criteria and agree to participate in the study. We then complete the study and calculate an effect size (e.g., a mean difference
or a relative risk) to answer our research question. This brief paper explains how. We hope it helps. Let us know if you have any questions.
2. Confidence intervals: a useful statistical tool to estimate effect sizes in the real world
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