Sample Size Planning for Power and Accuracy

My goal is to give participants a motivating and interactive workshop experience that broadly considers sample size planning for confirmatory research studies. I aim to balance coverage of the conceptual foundations of sample size planning for statistical power and accuracy with the practical execution of sample size planning in realistic conditions. The workshop is designed to provide a comprehensive introduction to sample size planning and provide researchers with the tools and knowledge to apply sample size planning in practice.

This workshop is designed for graduate students, post-doctoral fellows, faculty, and research scientists from the behavioral, social, educational, and health sciences and other related fields. It is recommended, but not required, that participants have a working knowledge of Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) and linear regression. Participants who would like a more thorough refresher on linear regression prior to attending may wish to watch our (no cost) Linear Regression Playlist on YouTube.

Chapter 1. General Introduction and Goals for Sample Size Planning
1.1. Introduction to Null Hypothesis Testing
1.2. Introduction to Effect Size Estimation
1.3. Benefits of Statistical Power and Accuracy

Chapter 2. Sample Size Planning for Statistical Power: Minimally Interesting Effect Size
2.1. Background and Definitions
2.2. Why Power Should be Considered A Priori, Not Post Hoc
2.3. Sample Size Planning Based on Minimally Interesting Effect Size

Chapter 3. Sample Size Planning for Statistical Power: Anticipated Effect Size
3.1. Issues when using prior information as a guide.
3.2. Sample Size Planning Based on Anticipated Effect Size

Chapter 4. Sample Size Planning for Accurate Estimation
4.1. Background and Definitions
4.2. Sample Size Planning for Accuracy in Parameter Estimation

Chapter 5. Advanced Sample Size Planning
5.1. Sample Size Planning Using Monte Carlo Simulation
5.2. Sequential Sample Size Planning for Statistical Power
5.3. Sequential Sample Size Planning for Accurate Estimation

Chapter 6. Additional Considerations and Conclusions
6.1. Additional Considerations in Sample Size Planning
6.2. Increasing Power Without Increasing Sample Size
6.3. Conclusions

Because each power analysis software package is best suited to a different type of sample size planning, specific software demonstrations will vary depending on the particular model and procedure used. Software demonstrations using the freely available program G*Power, freely available web applications, and the free statistical software R are interwoven with the lecture material. While it is helpful to have some familiarity with R ahead of time, this is not necessary. All necessary code, as well as screenshots of web application entries, are provided assuming no prior knowledge.

Sample Size Planning for Power and Accuracy is a three-day workshop originally taught live via Zoom by Samantha Anderson. Daily lectures were held from 10:00 to 3:30 with morning, lunch, and afternoon breaks. Sessions consisted of comprehensive lectures, detailed presentation of real-data examples, response to participant questions, and general discussion. Pre-recorded software demonstration videos are also available in G*Power, R, and web apps.

Self-paced participants will receive 12-month access to unlimited viewing of all original lecture recordings and software demonstrations as well as indefinite retention of extensive PDFs of lecture and computer demonstration notes and all associated computer scripts and data files.