The office of coroner was established in England in 1194; it has had an unbroken history, and has been exported to many countries, including the United States. At the zenith of his power, in the thirteenth and early fourteenth centuries, the coroner was concerned with many aspects of law and local administration, and with some of the most tragic and dramatic episodes of medieval life.
The Research Methods series deals with an area which is fundamental to the advancement of medical science and its practical application for the benefit of patients. The volumes in this series will provide guidance on how to conduct research effectively, how to evaluate and review the quality of the results obtained and equally importantly how to publish and report the results of that research.
This book is the first of three volumes drawing together a collection of articles previously published in the BMJ covering contemporary issues in research. The articles give key messages about the "nuts and bolts" of doing research, particularly with reference to statistical approaches, methods and interpretation. Each article also provides linked information and explicit evidence to support the statements made. The topics covered answer key questions asked by researchers on subjects such as confidence intervals, p values, sample size calculations, use of patient reported outcome measures, conundrums in the application of RCT and more complex statistical analysis. It also highlights implementation research and prognostic research. Each article is written by an expert in the field and the volume brings together a masterclass in research topics.