Includes bibliographical references and index.

Getting started: the anatomy and physiology of clinical research -- Conceiving the research question -- Choosing the study subjects: specification, sampling, and recruitment -- Planning the measurements: precision and accuracy -- Getting ready to estimate sample size: hypotheses and underlying principles -- Estimating sample size and power: applications and examples -- Designing a cohort study -- Designing cross-sectional and case-control studies -- Enhancing causal inference in observational studies --

Designing a randomized blinded trial -- Alternative trial designs and implementation issues -- Designing studies of medical tests -- Utilizing existing databases -- Addressing ethical issues -- Designing questionnaries and interviews -- Data management -- Implementing the study and quality control -- Community and international studies -- Writing and funding a research proposal.