Peter Allmark
Should research samples reflect the diversity of the population?
Northern General Hospital
recent research governance documents say body research evidence must reflect population diversity response needs sophisticated simply ensuring minorities present samples quantitative research looking primarily treatment effects drugs devices four suggestions made first identify representation minorities samples mattersfor example ethnicity may cause different treatment effects second representation particular group matters subgroup analysis results usually necessary third ensuring representation subgroup analysis costs deciding whether representation worthwhile involve cost benefit analysis fourth representation minorities seen mainly locality issue qualitative research argued representation diversity often important given small samples many qualitative projects however best way ensure representation occurs allow proliferation research stipulate representation samples