Research report 2020 - Max Planck Institute for Human Development
What study design has to do with bridge building – and why it is not only sample size that matters
Authors
Brandmaier, Andreas M.
Departments
Forschungsbereich Entwicklungspsychologie
Summary
It is essential to carefully plan a scientific study to maximize the chance of its success. The planning phase typically includes considerations of statistical power, which is the probability that the study will show a hypothesized effect if it exists. Often, sample size is considered as the primary parameter. Particularly in longitudinal studies, however, there are numerous other parameters, such as the number of measurements and their distribution over time, which have a significant impact on the success and also the budget of a study.