Study Design is a resource for Researchers who are beginning their research study and in need of assistance. A study design is specific to the research project, taking into consideration the research question, availability of measurement tools, and how the information will be used. The validity and appropriateness of a study design is highly topic- and context-specific.
Study design is offered by the Center for Statistical Training and Consulting (CSTAT) and the Clinical and Translational Sciences Institute (CTSI).
Study Design Features
- Support developing a study design to avoid confounding, measurement error, or selection bias, and help with sample size calculations
- Provide advice on experimental and quasi-experimental study designs
- Support observational study designs (cohort, case-control, cross-sectional, etc.)
- Provide advice on systematic reviews and meta-analyses designs
- Provide advice on appropriate study designs for clinical trials, experimental and quasi-experimental studies, observational studies, or systematic reviews
- Provide advice on refining research questions, aims, hypotheses
- Provide advice Advising on measurement issues
- IRB protocols
- Defining inclusion/exclusion criteria
- Planning random sampling and random assignment procedures
- Identifying appropriate and robust statistical methods
- Sample size planning and power calculations
- Staffing a research team with a statistician, data analyst, and/or research assistant
- Planning of study structure including form, events, arms, randomization, and data access
- Provide recommendations for validated instruments and common data elements
- Assist with data integrations with other services to ensure data consistency
- Design custom workflows to support execution of a study protocol
CENTER FOR STATISTICAL TRAINING AND CONSULTING (CSTAT)
- Advising on appropriate study designs for clinical trials, experimental and quasi-experimental studies, observational studies, or systematic reviews
- Advising on refining research questions, aims, hypotheses
- Advising on measurement issues
- IRB protocols
- Defining inclusion/exclusion criteria
- Planning random sampling and random assignment procedures
- Identifying appropriate and robust statistical methods
- Sample size planning and power calculations
- Staffing a research team with a statistician, data analyst, and/or research assistant
PRE-REQUISITES
- Must be an MSU faculty, research staff or graduate student
CHARGES
- Graduate Students working on their theses/dissertation can receive up to 9 hours of free consulting
- May be subsidized by college- or unit-level sponsorship agreements
- If not covered under a sponsorship agreement, PI may negotiate a bid with CSTAT for statistical support
REQUEST
- Please contact CSTAT at https://cstat.msu.edu to schedule a meeting
- Examples of study design considerations can be found here https://cstat.msu.edu/resources
CLINICAL AND TRANSLATIONAL SCIENCES INSTITUTE (CTSI)
- Planning of study structure including form, events, arms, randomization, and data access
- Provide recommendations for validated instruments and common data elements
- Assist with data integrations with other services to ensure data consistency
- Design custom workflows to support execution of a study protocol
PRE-REQUISITES
- Complete a project meeting and agree to a written Explanation of Services
CHARGES
- Usage fee of ~$1400 annually
- Data managers available at hourly rate for study configuration
- Developers available to build data integrations at hourly rate
REQUEST
