Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Ethics in Research01:56

Ethics in Research

Today, scientists agree that good research is ethical in nature and is guided by a basic respect for human dignity and safety. However, this has not always been the case. Modern researchers must demonstrate that the research they perform is ethically sound.
Group Design02:01

Group Design

The most basic experimental design involves two groups: the experimental group and the control group. The two groups are designed to be the same except for one difference— experimental manipulation. The experimental group gets the experimental manipulation—that is, the treatment or variable being tested—and the control group does not. Since experimental manipulation is the only difference between the experimental and control groups, we can be sure that any differences between the two are due to...
Surveys02:16

Surveys

Often, psychologists develop surveys as a means of gathering data. Surveys are lists of questions to be answered by research participants, and can be delivered as paper-and-pencil questionnaires, administered electronically, or conducted verbally. Generally, the survey itself can be completed in a short time, and the ease of administering a survey makes it easy to collect data from a large number of people.
Cluster Sampling Method01:20

Cluster Sampling Method

Appropriate sampling methods ensure that samples are drawn without bias and accurately represent the population. Because measuring the entire population in a study is not practical, researchers use samples to represent the population of interest.
To choose a cluster sample, divide the population into clusters (groups) and then randomly select some of the clusters. All the members from these clusters are in the cluster sample. For example, if you randomly sample four departments from your...
Case Studies01:22

Case Studies

There are many research methods available to psychologists in their efforts to understand, describe, and explain behavior and the cognitive and biological processes that underlie it.
Types of Biopharmaceutical Studies: Controlled and Non-Controlled Approaches01:23

Types of Biopharmaceutical Studies: Controlled and Non-Controlled Approaches

Biopharmaceutical studies constitute a vital field aiming to enhance drug delivery methods and refine therapeutic approaches, drawing upon diverse interdisciplinary knowledge. In research methodologies, the choice between controlled and non-controlled studies significantly influences the study's reliability and accuracy.
Non-controlled studies, commonly employed for initial exploration, lack a control group, rendering them susceptible to biases and external influences. In contrast, controlled...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

[Appropriate application of statistical methods in physiological research].

Zhongguo ying yong sheng li xue za zhi = Zhongguo yingyong shenglixue zazhi = Chinese journal of applied physiology·2018
Same author

[How to scientifically estimate sample size in physiological research].

Zhongguo ying yong sheng li xue za zhi = Zhongguo yingyong shenglixue zazhi = Chinese journal of applied physiology·2018
Same author

Clinical progression and predictors of death in patients with severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome in China.

Journal of clinical virology : the official publication of the Pan American Society for Clinical Virology·2013
Same author

Multifactor designs able to examine the interactions.

Zhong xi yi jie he xue bao = Journal of Chinese integrative medicine·2012
Same author

Three-factor designs unable to examine the interactions (part 2).

Zhong xi yi jie he xue bao = Journal of Chinese integrative medicine·2012
Same author

Three-factor designs unable to examine the interactions (part 1).

Zhong xi yi jie he xue bao = Journal of Chinese integrative medicine·2012

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 3, 2026

A Novel Method for Involving Women of Color at High Risk for Preterm Birth in Research Priority Setting
14:43

A Novel Method for Involving Women of Color at High Risk for Preterm Birth in Research Priority Setting

Published on: January 12, 2018

How to appropriately choose research subjects.

Liang-Ping Hu1, Xiao-Lei Bao, Xue Guan

  • 1Consulting Center of Biomedical Statistics, Academy of Military Medical Sciences, Beijing 100850, China. lphu812@sina.com

Zhong Xi Yi Jie He Xue Bao = Journal of Chinese Integrative Medicine
|March 23, 2011
PubMed
Summary

Selecting appropriate research subjects is vital for successful research design. This guide covers principles, types, numbers, common errors, and methodological suggestions for subject selection.

More Related Videos

Involving Individuals with Developmental Language Disorder and Their Parents/Carers in Research Priority Setting
06:16

Involving Individuals with Developmental Language Disorder and Their Parents/Carers in Research Priority Setting

Published on: June 6, 2020

A Within-Subject Experimental Design using an Object Location Task in Rats
09:28

A Within-Subject Experimental Design using an Object Location Task in Rats

Published on: May 6, 2021

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jun 3, 2026

A Novel Method for Involving Women of Color at High Risk for Preterm Birth in Research Priority Setting
14:43

A Novel Method for Involving Women of Color at High Risk for Preterm Birth in Research Priority Setting

Published on: January 12, 2018

Involving Individuals with Developmental Language Disorder and Their Parents/Carers in Research Priority Setting
06:16

Involving Individuals with Developmental Language Disorder and Their Parents/Carers in Research Priority Setting

Published on: June 6, 2020

A Within-Subject Experimental Design using an Object Location Task in Rats
09:28

A Within-Subject Experimental Design using an Object Location Task in Rats

Published on: May 6, 2021

Area of Science:

  • Research methodology
  • Experimental design

Background:

  • The selection of research subjects is a fundamental component of research design.
  • Proper subject selection directly impacts the validity and reliability of research outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To outline general principles for selecting research subjects.
  • To discuss various types and numbers of research subjects.
  • To identify and provide solutions for common mistakes in subject selection.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of research design principles.
  • Analysis of common practices and pitfalls in subject recruitment.
  • Synthesis of methodological recommendations for subject selection.

Main Results:

  • Key principles for subject selection are identified.
  • Common errors in choosing research subjects are highlighted.
  • Methodological suggestions for optimizing subject selection are provided.

Conclusions:

  • Effective research subject selection is critical for robust scientific inquiry.
  • Adherence to established principles and avoidance of common errors enhance research quality.
  • Methodological guidance supports researchers in making informed subject selection decisions.