sequential analysis

a class of statistical procedures in which decisions about sample size and the type of data to be collected are made or modified as the study proceeds, based on the cumulative findings. This approach contrasts with one in which the sample size is determined in advance and data are not analyzed until the entire sample is collected. A common form of sequential analysis is one in which data are collected until a desired outcome or level of precision is reached. Also, some clinical trials require an approach that allows researchers to stop data collection if the treatment is clearly not working or if participants are being harmed in some way.

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Psychology term of the day

December 26th 2024

morphometrics

n. the theory and technique associated with the physical measurement of living organisms and their component parts. Studies of size, shape, and structure are important not only in biology but also in neuropsychology and medical psychology. For example, researchers interested in morphometrics could study the form and structure of the brain in individuals who have various physical or psychological disorders. By contrast, psychometrics specifically focuses on the measurement of psychological phenomena.