Author: Roderick J. A. Little
Publisher: John Wiley & Sons
ISBN: 1118595696
Category : Mathematics
Languages : en
Pages : 444
Book Description
An up-to-date, comprehensive treatment of a classic text on missing data in statistics The topic of missing data has gained considerable attention in recent decades. This new edition by two acknowledged experts on the subject offers an up-to-date account of practical methodology for handling missing data problems. Blending theory and application, authors Roderick Little and Donald Rubin review historical approaches to the subject and describe simple methods for multivariate analysis with missing values. They then provide a coherent theory for analysis of problems based on likelihoods derived from statistical models for the data and the missing data mechanism, and then they apply the theory to a wide range of important missing data problems. Statistical Analysis with Missing Data, Third Edition starts by introducing readers to the subject and approaches toward solving it. It looks at the patterns and mechanisms that create the missing data, as well as a taxonomy of missing data. It then goes on to examine missing data in experiments, before discussing complete-case and available-case analysis, including weighting methods. The new edition expands its coverage to include recent work on topics such as nonresponse in sample surveys, causal inference, diagnostic methods, and sensitivity analysis, among a host of other topics. An updated “classic” written by renowned authorities on the subject Features over 150 exercises (including many new ones) Covers recent work on important methods like multiple imputation, robust alternatives to weighting, and Bayesian methods Revises previous topics based on past student feedback and class experience Contains an updated and expanded bibliography The authors were awarded The Karl Pearson Prize in 2017 by the International Statistical Institute, for a research contribution that has had profound influence on statistical theory, methodology or applications. Their work "has been no less than defining and transforming." (ISI) Statistical Analysis with Missing Data, Third Edition is an ideal textbook for upper undergraduate and/or beginning graduate level students of the subject. It is also an excellent source of information for applied statisticians and practitioners in government and industry.
Statistical Analysis with Missing Data
Author: Roderick J. A. Little
Publisher: John Wiley & Sons
ISBN: 1118595696
Category : Mathematics
Languages : en
Pages : 444
Book Description
An up-to-date, comprehensive treatment of a classic text on missing data in statistics The topic of missing data has gained considerable attention in recent decades. This new edition by two acknowledged experts on the subject offers an up-to-date account of practical methodology for handling missing data problems. Blending theory and application, authors Roderick Little and Donald Rubin review historical approaches to the subject and describe simple methods for multivariate analysis with missing values. They then provide a coherent theory for analysis of problems based on likelihoods derived from statistical models for the data and the missing data mechanism, and then they apply the theory to a wide range of important missing data problems. Statistical Analysis with Missing Data, Third Edition starts by introducing readers to the subject and approaches toward solving it. It looks at the patterns and mechanisms that create the missing data, as well as a taxonomy of missing data. It then goes on to examine missing data in experiments, before discussing complete-case and available-case analysis, including weighting methods. The new edition expands its coverage to include recent work on topics such as nonresponse in sample surveys, causal inference, diagnostic methods, and sensitivity analysis, among a host of other topics. An updated “classic” written by renowned authorities on the subject Features over 150 exercises (including many new ones) Covers recent work on important methods like multiple imputation, robust alternatives to weighting, and Bayesian methods Revises previous topics based on past student feedback and class experience Contains an updated and expanded bibliography The authors were awarded The Karl Pearson Prize in 2017 by the International Statistical Institute, for a research contribution that has had profound influence on statistical theory, methodology or applications. Their work "has been no less than defining and transforming." (ISI) Statistical Analysis with Missing Data, Third Edition is an ideal textbook for upper undergraduate and/or beginning graduate level students of the subject. It is also an excellent source of information for applied statisticians and practitioners in government and industry.
Publisher: John Wiley & Sons
ISBN: 1118595696
Category : Mathematics
Languages : en
Pages : 444
Book Description
An up-to-date, comprehensive treatment of a classic text on missing data in statistics The topic of missing data has gained considerable attention in recent decades. This new edition by two acknowledged experts on the subject offers an up-to-date account of practical methodology for handling missing data problems. Blending theory and application, authors Roderick Little and Donald Rubin review historical approaches to the subject and describe simple methods for multivariate analysis with missing values. They then provide a coherent theory for analysis of problems based on likelihoods derived from statistical models for the data and the missing data mechanism, and then they apply the theory to a wide range of important missing data problems. Statistical Analysis with Missing Data, Third Edition starts by introducing readers to the subject and approaches toward solving it. It looks at the patterns and mechanisms that create the missing data, as well as a taxonomy of missing data. It then goes on to examine missing data in experiments, before discussing complete-case and available-case analysis, including weighting methods. The new edition expands its coverage to include recent work on topics such as nonresponse in sample surveys, causal inference, diagnostic methods, and sensitivity analysis, among a host of other topics. An updated “classic” written by renowned authorities on the subject Features over 150 exercises (including many new ones) Covers recent work on important methods like multiple imputation, robust alternatives to weighting, and Bayesian methods Revises previous topics based on past student feedback and class experience Contains an updated and expanded bibliography The authors were awarded The Karl Pearson Prize in 2017 by the International Statistical Institute, for a research contribution that has had profound influence on statistical theory, methodology or applications. Their work "has been no less than defining and transforming." (ISI) Statistical Analysis with Missing Data, Third Edition is an ideal textbook for upper undergraduate and/or beginning graduate level students of the subject. It is also an excellent source of information for applied statisticians and practitioners in government and industry.
Statistical Analysis with Missing Data
Author: Roderick J. A. Little
Publisher: John Wiley & Sons
ISBN: 0470526793
Category : Mathematics
Languages : en
Pages : 462
Book Description
An up-to-date, comprehensive treatment of a classic text on missing data in statistics The topic of missing data has gained considerable attention in recent decades. This new edition by two acknowledged experts on the subject offers an up-to-date account of practical methodology for handling missing data problems. Blending theory and application, authors Roderick Little and Donald Rubin review historical approaches to the subject and describe simple methods for multivariate analysis with missing values. They then provide a coherent theory for analysis of problems based on likelihoods derived from statistical models for the data and the missing data mechanism, and then they apply the theory to a wide range of important missing data problems. Statistical Analysis with Missing Data, Third Edition starts by introducing readers to the subject and approaches toward solving it. It looks at the patterns and mechanisms that create the missing data, as well as a taxonomy of missing data. It then goes on to examine missing data in experiments, before discussing complete-case and available-case analysis, including weighting methods. The new edition expands its coverage to include recent work on topics such as nonresponse in sample surveys, causal inference, diagnostic methods, and sensitivity analysis, among a host of other topics. An updated “classic” written by renowned authorities on the subject Features over 150 exercises (including many new ones) Covers recent work on important methods like multiple imputation, robust alternatives to weighting, and Bayesian methods Revises previous topics based on past student feedback and class experience Contains an updated and expanded bibliography The authors were awarded The Karl Pearson Prize in 2017 by the International Statistical Institute, for a research contribution that has had profound influence on statistical theory, methodology or applications. Their work "has been no less than defining and transforming." (ISI) Statistical Analysis with Missing Data, Third Edition is an ideal textbook for upper undergraduate and/or beginning graduate level students of the subject. It is also an excellent source of information for applied statisticians and practitioners in government and industry.
Publisher: John Wiley & Sons
ISBN: 0470526793
Category : Mathematics
Languages : en
Pages : 462
Book Description
An up-to-date, comprehensive treatment of a classic text on missing data in statistics The topic of missing data has gained considerable attention in recent decades. This new edition by two acknowledged experts on the subject offers an up-to-date account of practical methodology for handling missing data problems. Blending theory and application, authors Roderick Little and Donald Rubin review historical approaches to the subject and describe simple methods for multivariate analysis with missing values. They then provide a coherent theory for analysis of problems based on likelihoods derived from statistical models for the data and the missing data mechanism, and then they apply the theory to a wide range of important missing data problems. Statistical Analysis with Missing Data, Third Edition starts by introducing readers to the subject and approaches toward solving it. It looks at the patterns and mechanisms that create the missing data, as well as a taxonomy of missing data. It then goes on to examine missing data in experiments, before discussing complete-case and available-case analysis, including weighting methods. The new edition expands its coverage to include recent work on topics such as nonresponse in sample surveys, causal inference, diagnostic methods, and sensitivity analysis, among a host of other topics. An updated “classic” written by renowned authorities on the subject Features over 150 exercises (including many new ones) Covers recent work on important methods like multiple imputation, robust alternatives to weighting, and Bayesian methods Revises previous topics based on past student feedback and class experience Contains an updated and expanded bibliography The authors were awarded The Karl Pearson Prize in 2017 by the International Statistical Institute, for a research contribution that has had profound influence on statistical theory, methodology or applications. Their work "has been no less than defining and transforming." (ISI) Statistical Analysis with Missing Data, Third Edition is an ideal textbook for upper undergraduate and/or beginning graduate level students of the subject. It is also an excellent source of information for applied statisticians and practitioners in government and industry.
Statistical Power Analysis with Missing Data
Author: Adam Davey
Publisher: Routledge
ISBN: 1135269300
Category : Psychology
Languages : en
Pages : 328
Book Description
Statistical power analysis has revolutionized the ways in which we conduct and evaluate research. Similar developments in the statistical analysis of incomplete (missing) data are gaining more widespread applications. This volume brings statistical power and incomplete data together under a common framework, in a way that is readily accessible to those with only an introductory familiarity with structural equation modeling. It answers many practical questions such as: How missing data affects the statistical power in a study How much power is likely with different amounts and types of missing data How to increase the power of a design in the presence of missing data, and How to identify the most powerful design in the presence of missing data. Points of Reflection encourage readers to stop and test their understanding of the material. Try Me sections test one’s ability to apply the material. Troubleshooting Tips help to prevent commonly encountered problems. Exercises reinforce content and Additional Readings provide sources for delving more deeply into selected topics. Numerous examples demonstrate the book’s application to a variety of disciplines. Each issue is accompanied by its potential strengths and shortcomings and examples using a variety of software packages (SAS, SPSS, Stata, LISREL, AMOS, and MPlus). Syntax is provided using a single software program to promote continuity but in each case, parallel syntax using the other packages is presented in appendixes. Routines, data sets, syntax files, and links to student versions of software packages are found at www.psypress.com/davey. The worked examples in Part 2 also provide results from a wider set of estimated models. These tables, and accompanying syntax, can be used to estimate statistical power or required sample size for similar problems under a wide range of conditions. Class-tested at Temple, Virginia Tech, and Miami University of Ohio, this brief text is an ideal supplement for graduate courses in applied statistics, statistics II, intermediate or advanced statistics, experimental design, structural equation modeling, power analysis, and research methods taught in departments of psychology, human development, education, sociology, nursing, social work, gerontology and other social and health sciences. The book’s applied approach will also appeal to researchers in these areas. Sections covering Fundamentals, Applications, and Extensions are designed to take readers from first steps to mastery.
Publisher: Routledge
ISBN: 1135269300
Category : Psychology
Languages : en
Pages : 328
Book Description
Statistical power analysis has revolutionized the ways in which we conduct and evaluate research. Similar developments in the statistical analysis of incomplete (missing) data are gaining more widespread applications. This volume brings statistical power and incomplete data together under a common framework, in a way that is readily accessible to those with only an introductory familiarity with structural equation modeling. It answers many practical questions such as: How missing data affects the statistical power in a study How much power is likely with different amounts and types of missing data How to increase the power of a design in the presence of missing data, and How to identify the most powerful design in the presence of missing data. Points of Reflection encourage readers to stop and test their understanding of the material. Try Me sections test one’s ability to apply the material. Troubleshooting Tips help to prevent commonly encountered problems. Exercises reinforce content and Additional Readings provide sources for delving more deeply into selected topics. Numerous examples demonstrate the book’s application to a variety of disciplines. Each issue is accompanied by its potential strengths and shortcomings and examples using a variety of software packages (SAS, SPSS, Stata, LISREL, AMOS, and MPlus). Syntax is provided using a single software program to promote continuity but in each case, parallel syntax using the other packages is presented in appendixes. Routines, data sets, syntax files, and links to student versions of software packages are found at www.psypress.com/davey. The worked examples in Part 2 also provide results from a wider set of estimated models. These tables, and accompanying syntax, can be used to estimate statistical power or required sample size for similar problems under a wide range of conditions. Class-tested at Temple, Virginia Tech, and Miami University of Ohio, this brief text is an ideal supplement for graduate courses in applied statistics, statistics II, intermediate or advanced statistics, experimental design, structural equation modeling, power analysis, and research methods taught in departments of psychology, human development, education, sociology, nursing, social work, gerontology and other social and health sciences. The book’s applied approach will also appeal to researchers in these areas. Sections covering Fundamentals, Applications, and Extensions are designed to take readers from first steps to mastery.
Applied Missing Data Analysis
Author: Craig K. Enders
Publisher: Guilford Publications
ISBN: 1462549861
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 563
Book Description
"The most user-friendly and authoritative resource on missing data has been completely revised to make room for the latest developments that make handling missing data more effective. The second edition includes new methods based on factored regressions, newer model-based imputation strategies, and innovations in Bayesian analysis. State-of-the-art technical literature on missing data is translated into accessible guidelines for applied researchers and graduate students. The second edition takes an even, three-pronged approach to maximum likelihood estimation (MLE), Bayesian estimation as an alternative to MLE, and multiple imputation. Consistently organized chapters explain the rationale and procedural details for each technique and illustrate the analyses with engaging worked-through examples on such topics as young adult smoking, employee turnover, and chronic pain. The companion website includes datasets and analysis examples from the book, up-to-date software information, and other resources. Subject areas/Key words: advanced quantitative methods, management, survey, longitudinal, structural equation modeling, handling, how to handle, incomplete, multivariate, social research, behavioral sciences, statistical techniques, textbooks, seminars, doctoral courses, multiple imputation, models, MCAR, MNAR, Bayesian Audience: Researchers and graduate students in psychology, education, management, family studies, public health, sociology, and political science"--
Publisher: Guilford Publications
ISBN: 1462549861
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 563
Book Description
"The most user-friendly and authoritative resource on missing data has been completely revised to make room for the latest developments that make handling missing data more effective. The second edition includes new methods based on factored regressions, newer model-based imputation strategies, and innovations in Bayesian analysis. State-of-the-art technical literature on missing data is translated into accessible guidelines for applied researchers and graduate students. The second edition takes an even, three-pronged approach to maximum likelihood estimation (MLE), Bayesian estimation as an alternative to MLE, and multiple imputation. Consistently organized chapters explain the rationale and procedural details for each technique and illustrate the analyses with engaging worked-through examples on such topics as young adult smoking, employee turnover, and chronic pain. The companion website includes datasets and analysis examples from the book, up-to-date software information, and other resources. Subject areas/Key words: advanced quantitative methods, management, survey, longitudinal, structural equation modeling, handling, how to handle, incomplete, multivariate, social research, behavioral sciences, statistical techniques, textbooks, seminars, doctoral courses, multiple imputation, models, MCAR, MNAR, Bayesian Audience: Researchers and graduate students in psychology, education, management, family studies, public health, sociology, and political science"--
Missing Data
Author: John W. Graham
Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media
ISBN: 1461440181
Category : Social Science
Languages : en
Pages : 303
Book Description
Missing data have long plagued those conducting applied research in the social, behavioral, and health sciences. Good missing data analysis solutions are available, but practical information about implementation of these solutions has been lacking. The objective of Missing Data: Analysis and Design is to enable investigators who are non-statisticians to implement modern missing data procedures properly in their research, and reap the benefits in terms of improved accuracy and statistical power. Missing Data: Analysis and Design contains essential information for both beginners and advanced readers. For researchers with limited missing data analysis experience, this book offers an easy-to-read introduction to the theoretical underpinnings of analysis of missing data; provides clear, step-by-step instructions for performing state-of-the-art multiple imputation analyses; and offers practical advice, based on over 20 years' experience, for avoiding and troubleshooting problems. For more advanced readers, unique discussions of attrition, non-Monte-Carlo techniques for simulations involving missing data, evaluation of the benefits of auxiliary variables, and highly cost-effective planned missing data designs are provided. The author lays out missing data theory in a plain English style that is accessible and precise. Most analysis described in the book are conducted using the well-known statistical software packages SAS and SPSS, supplemented by Norm 2.03 and associated Java-based automation utilities. A related web site contains free downloads of the supplementary software, as well as sample empirical data sets and a variety of practical exercises described in the book to enhance and reinforce the reader’s learning experience. Missing Data: Analysis and Design and its web site work together to enable beginners to gain confidence in their ability to conduct missing data analysis, and more advanced readers to expand their skill set.
Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media
ISBN: 1461440181
Category : Social Science
Languages : en
Pages : 303
Book Description
Missing data have long plagued those conducting applied research in the social, behavioral, and health sciences. Good missing data analysis solutions are available, but practical information about implementation of these solutions has been lacking. The objective of Missing Data: Analysis and Design is to enable investigators who are non-statisticians to implement modern missing data procedures properly in their research, and reap the benefits in terms of improved accuracy and statistical power. Missing Data: Analysis and Design contains essential information for both beginners and advanced readers. For researchers with limited missing data analysis experience, this book offers an easy-to-read introduction to the theoretical underpinnings of analysis of missing data; provides clear, step-by-step instructions for performing state-of-the-art multiple imputation analyses; and offers practical advice, based on over 20 years' experience, for avoiding and troubleshooting problems. For more advanced readers, unique discussions of attrition, non-Monte-Carlo techniques for simulations involving missing data, evaluation of the benefits of auxiliary variables, and highly cost-effective planned missing data designs are provided. The author lays out missing data theory in a plain English style that is accessible and precise. Most analysis described in the book are conducted using the well-known statistical software packages SAS and SPSS, supplemented by Norm 2.03 and associated Java-based automation utilities. A related web site contains free downloads of the supplementary software, as well as sample empirical data sets and a variety of practical exercises described in the book to enhance and reinforce the reader’s learning experience. Missing Data: Analysis and Design and its web site work together to enable beginners to gain confidence in their ability to conduct missing data analysis, and more advanced readers to expand their skill set.
Statistical Analysis with Missing Data
Author: Roderick J. A. Little
Publisher: John Wiley & Sons
ISBN: 1118625889
Category : Mathematics
Languages : en
Pages : 308
Book Description
* Emphasizes the latest trends in the field. * Includes a new chapter on evolving methods. * Provides updated or revised material in most of the chapters.
Publisher: John Wiley & Sons
ISBN: 1118625889
Category : Mathematics
Languages : en
Pages : 308
Book Description
* Emphasizes the latest trends in the field. * Includes a new chapter on evolving methods. * Provides updated or revised material in most of the chapters.
Statistical Analysis With Missing Data
Author: Roderick J. A. Little
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Mathematics
Languages : en
Pages : 312
Book Description
Blending theory and application, this study reviews historical approaches to the subject and provides rigorous yet simple methods for multivariate analysis with missing values.
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Mathematics
Languages : en
Pages : 312
Book Description
Blending theory and application, this study reviews historical approaches to the subject and provides rigorous yet simple methods for multivariate analysis with missing values.
Flexible Imputation of Missing Data, Second Edition
Author: Stef van Buuren
Publisher: CRC Press
ISBN: 0429960352
Category : Mathematics
Languages : en
Pages : 444
Book Description
Missing data pose challenges to real-life data analysis. Simple ad-hoc fixes, like deletion or mean imputation, only work under highly restrictive conditions, which are often not met in practice. Multiple imputation replaces each missing value by multiple plausible values. The variability between these replacements reflects our ignorance of the true (but missing) value. Each of the completed data set is then analyzed by standard methods, and the results are pooled to obtain unbiased estimates with correct confidence intervals. Multiple imputation is a general approach that also inspires novel solutions to old problems by reformulating the task at hand as a missing-data problem. This is the second edition of a popular book on multiple imputation, focused on explaining the application of methods through detailed worked examples using the MICE package as developed by the author. This new edition incorporates the recent developments in this fast-moving field. This class-tested book avoids mathematical and technical details as much as possible: formulas are accompanied by verbal statements that explain the formula in accessible terms. The book sharpens the reader’s intuition on how to think about missing data, and provides all the tools needed to execute a well-grounded quantitative analysis in the presence of missing data.
Publisher: CRC Press
ISBN: 0429960352
Category : Mathematics
Languages : en
Pages : 444
Book Description
Missing data pose challenges to real-life data analysis. Simple ad-hoc fixes, like deletion or mean imputation, only work under highly restrictive conditions, which are often not met in practice. Multiple imputation replaces each missing value by multiple plausible values. The variability between these replacements reflects our ignorance of the true (but missing) value. Each of the completed data set is then analyzed by standard methods, and the results are pooled to obtain unbiased estimates with correct confidence intervals. Multiple imputation is a general approach that also inspires novel solutions to old problems by reformulating the task at hand as a missing-data problem. This is the second edition of a popular book on multiple imputation, focused on explaining the application of methods through detailed worked examples using the MICE package as developed by the author. This new edition incorporates the recent developments in this fast-moving field. This class-tested book avoids mathematical and technical details as much as possible: formulas are accompanied by verbal statements that explain the formula in accessible terms. The book sharpens the reader’s intuition on how to think about missing data, and provides all the tools needed to execute a well-grounded quantitative analysis in the presence of missing data.
Statistical Methods for Handling Incomplete Data
Author: Jae Kwang Kim
Publisher: CRC Press
ISBN: 1000466299
Category : Mathematics
Languages : en
Pages : 381
Book Description
Due to recent theoretical findings and advances in statistical computing, there has been a rapid development of techniques and applications in the area of missing data analysis. Statistical Methods for Handling Incomplete Data covers the most up-to-date statistical theories and computational methods for analyzing incomplete data. Features Uses the mean score equation as a building block for developing the theory for missing data analysis Provides comprehensive coverage of computational techniques for missing data analysis Presents a rigorous treatment of imputation techniques, including multiple imputation fractional imputation Explores the most recent advances of the propensity score method and estimation techniques for nonignorable missing data Describes a survey sampling application Updated with a new chapter on Data Integration Now includes a chapter on Advanced Topics, including kernel ridge regression imputation and neural network model imputation The book is primarily aimed at researchers and graduate students from statistics, and could be used as a reference by applied researchers with a good quantitative background. It includes many real data examples and simulated examples to help readers understand the methodologies.
Publisher: CRC Press
ISBN: 1000466299
Category : Mathematics
Languages : en
Pages : 381
Book Description
Due to recent theoretical findings and advances in statistical computing, there has been a rapid development of techniques and applications in the area of missing data analysis. Statistical Methods for Handling Incomplete Data covers the most up-to-date statistical theories and computational methods for analyzing incomplete data. Features Uses the mean score equation as a building block for developing the theory for missing data analysis Provides comprehensive coverage of computational techniques for missing data analysis Presents a rigorous treatment of imputation techniques, including multiple imputation fractional imputation Explores the most recent advances of the propensity score method and estimation techniques for nonignorable missing data Describes a survey sampling application Updated with a new chapter on Data Integration Now includes a chapter on Advanced Topics, including kernel ridge regression imputation and neural network model imputation The book is primarily aimed at researchers and graduate students from statistics, and could be used as a reference by applied researchers with a good quantitative background. It includes many real data examples and simulated examples to help readers understand the methodologies.
Secondary Analysis of Electronic Health Records
Author: MIT Critical Data
Publisher: Springer
ISBN: 3319437429
Category : Medical
Languages : en
Pages : 435
Book Description
This book trains the next generation of scientists representing different disciplines to leverage the data generated during routine patient care. It formulates a more complete lexicon of evidence-based recommendations and support shared, ethical decision making by doctors with their patients. Diagnostic and therapeutic technologies continue to evolve rapidly, and both individual practitioners and clinical teams face increasingly complex ethical decisions. Unfortunately, the current state of medical knowledge does not provide the guidance to make the majority of clinical decisions on the basis of evidence. The present research infrastructure is inefficient and frequently produces unreliable results that cannot be replicated. Even randomized controlled trials (RCTs), the traditional gold standards of the research reliability hierarchy, are not without limitations. They can be costly, labor intensive, and slow, and can return results that are seldom generalizable to every patient population. Furthermore, many pertinent but unresolved clinical and medical systems issues do not seem to have attracted the interest of the research enterprise, which has come to focus instead on cellular and molecular investigations and single-agent (e.g., a drug or device) effects. For clinicians, the end result is a bit of a “data desert” when it comes to making decisions. The new research infrastructure proposed in this book will help the medical profession to make ethically sound and well informed decisions for their patients.
Publisher: Springer
ISBN: 3319437429
Category : Medical
Languages : en
Pages : 435
Book Description
This book trains the next generation of scientists representing different disciplines to leverage the data generated during routine patient care. It formulates a more complete lexicon of evidence-based recommendations and support shared, ethical decision making by doctors with their patients. Diagnostic and therapeutic technologies continue to evolve rapidly, and both individual practitioners and clinical teams face increasingly complex ethical decisions. Unfortunately, the current state of medical knowledge does not provide the guidance to make the majority of clinical decisions on the basis of evidence. The present research infrastructure is inefficient and frequently produces unreliable results that cannot be replicated. Even randomized controlled trials (RCTs), the traditional gold standards of the research reliability hierarchy, are not without limitations. They can be costly, labor intensive, and slow, and can return results that are seldom generalizable to every patient population. Furthermore, many pertinent but unresolved clinical and medical systems issues do not seem to have attracted the interest of the research enterprise, which has come to focus instead on cellular and molecular investigations and single-agent (e.g., a drug or device) effects. For clinicians, the end result is a bit of a “data desert” when it comes to making decisions. The new research infrastructure proposed in this book will help the medical profession to make ethically sound and well informed decisions for their patients.