Models cost-effective sample size

A model has been developed for determining a cost-effective sample size (n) when estimating cost (8). 

Sample sizes in the published database have been large, compared to the small and problematic numbers of Pb workers, and the extent and sophistication of statistical modeling for Pb nephrotoxic effects have been more involved. Demonstrable public health impacts of Pb nephrotoxicity at environmental levels raise the importance of this endpoint in terms of societal cost and both public health and health risk assessment policy. 

One of the principal questions that arises is how to design an experiment in order to identify dispersion effects. The direct and obvious answer is to include replicate observations at the different design factor combinations used in the experiment. It is then possible to compute sample variances at each point and to use them as the basis for modeling how the dispersion depends on the experimental factors. The most immediate drawback to replication is that it increases the size and cost of the experiment. 

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