Abstract
Epidemiologists use experimental designs, in particular, conduct randomized controlled trials (RCT) to establish, for example, the efficacy of vaccines or drugs. RCTs are field studies in which individuals are randomly assigned to two or more alternative treatments. In the ideal scenario, in an RCT treatment and control, groups differ from one another by chance alone. RCTs are a flexible tool that can be used to test any kind of intervention, also in social sciences.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Deaton, A., Cartwright, N.: Understanding and misunderstanding randomized controlled trials. Soc. Sci. Med. CCX, 2–21 (2018)
Fiorito, G., et al.: Socioeconomic position, lifestyle habits and biomarkers of epigenetic aging: a multi-cohort analysis. Aging (Albany NY) XI(7), 2045–2070 (2019)
Lawlor, D. A., Tilling, K., Davey Smith, G.: Triangulation in aetiological epidemiology. Int. J. Epidemiol. XLV, 1866–1886 (2016)
Munafo, M. R., Davey Smith, G.: Robust research needs many lines of evidence. Nature CCCLIII, 399–401 (2018)
Rothman, K., Greenland, S., Lasch, T.L.: Modern Epidemiology. Lippincott Williams and Wilkins, Philadelphia (2012)
Vineis, P., Illari, P., Russo, F.: Causality in cancer research: a journey through models in molecular epidemiology and their philosophical interpretation. Emerg. Themes Epidemiol. XIV, 7 (2017)
Vineis, P., et al.: The biology of inequalities in health: the Lifepath consortium. Frontiers in Public Health, 12(8), 118 (May 2020). https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2020.00118.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2020 Springer Nature Switzerland AG
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Vineis, P. (2020). Epidemiology. In: Vercellone, F., Tedesco, S. (eds) Glossary of Morphology. Lecture Notes in Morphogenesis. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-51324-5_32
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-51324-5_32
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Cham
Print ISBN: 978-3-030-51323-8
Online ISBN: 978-3-030-51324-5
eBook Packages: Religion and PhilosophyPhilosophy and Religion (R0)