QD template and guidances
From Wikipedia
Contents |
Question Diagram Title
[This title represents the title that you would like to use for the manuscript that you would compile from this study]
Database
Name:[the name of the database from where the dataset is retrieved and used for this study] Years: [the year, the period for which the dataset is retrieved and used in the study]
Hypothesized conclusions
[this is the formal representation of the research idea. care must be taken to keep this as precise as possible ensuring that the variables needed to answer the research question are available in the dataset]
Outcome variables
[this is a dependent variable that you would like to measure and predict. the number of outcomes are kept at minimum as far as possible. this should be in line with your hypothesized conclusions]
Main predictors
[this is an independent variable that is known to produce the effect/outcome. this should be in line with your hypothesized conclusions]
Potential confounders
[the variable that influences the association between the outcome and predictor are termed confounders. these are part of our data and unavoidable to exclude and thus listed as confounders which are then taken as covariates to adjust for the confounding effect during regression analysis]
Strata
[this component is used to represent results across different sub-samples or subgroups (if any). the stratification of data is usually avoided and used only when the confounding effect of certain variables is not known but suspected.]
Inclusion criteria
[this variable is selected to include maximum population/data that is possible to include in the study but ensuring the homogeneity of the study sample population/data.]
Exclusion criteria
[this variable is to exclude the population/data in order to reduce the heterogeneity, if any. the exclusion criteria are selected provided they do not lead to sharp decrease in sample size]
Statistical methods
[this section requires you to state the type of statistical analysis you would like to use to answer your research question, whether it is descriptive or inferential statistics. It also helps you to decide the tests you would like to use depending on the variables listed in the QD; like Chi square, t-test or anova, models-linear regression or logistics regression. this section is written by researchers but refined by statistician as per the statistical package and the version of the software used and the finals tests applied and used for data analysis]
Observations
[any other additional information that you would like to pass on to the statistician]
Tables and graphics
[these are mock tables. the format of these table could be the one which you would like to include in the manuscript. However, statistician may suggest a more comprehensive format that includes missing variables and some additional stuff. These tables can then be trimmed down to include them in the manuscript. Although the format suggested by the statistician is preferable, the choice is left to you as to which one to opt for in the final output that the statistician would provide]
