Data collection methodologies

Drago, J. P., Borkowski, R. J., Pike, D. H., and Goldberg F. F. The In-Plant Reliability Data Base for Nuclear Power Plant Components Data Collection and Methodology Report. NUREG/ CR-2641, ORNL/TM-9216, January 1985. 

WASH-1400 is a fundamental document for PRA methodology. The data appendixes contain a great deal of useful information on methods of data assessment. A large number of sources for data are considered, and very general failure rate estimates will produce only gross approximations. Since the advent of data collection schemes across and within plants, the WASH-1400 data are solely useful as a constituent to a data aggregation process or as widely bounded figures that provide a basis for comparison. 

Data collection procedures must be established to capture the required information. Various methods have been proposed for collecting such data, including a draft international standard that provides criteria for collecting data in nuclear power plants.i These criteria are also useful in developing methodologies for collection of data within the CPI. Smith and Babb provide additional information beyond that presented in this book. 

Complex manufacturing systems, such as an unbleached Kraft pulp plant (Fig. 9), are almost always characterized by some type of internal structure, composed of a number of interconnected subsystems with their own data collection and decisionmaking responsibilities. This raises a number of additional issues, not addressed in previous sections. For instance, if the learning methodology described in Section VI is applied to the digester module of a pulp plant (Fig. 9), it is possible for the final selected solution, to include ranges of desired values of sulfidity... 

Two of the major points to be made throughout this chapter are (1) the use of the appropriate statistical tests, and (2) the effects of small sample sizes (as is often the case in toxicology) on our selection of statistical techniques. Frequently, simple examination of the nature and distribution of data collected from a study can also suggest patterns and results which were unanticipated and for which the use of additional or alternative statistical methodology is warranted. It was these three points which caused the author to consider a section on scattergrams and their use essential for toxicologists. 

Spanish Hemp Workers. Data collected on hemp workers have been offered in support of chronic respiratory effects associated with cotton dust exposure. Historically, hemp workers constituted the first group to call medical attention to their respiratory effects (27). More recent studies done on hemp workers, however, suggest similar limitations of methodology as mentioned above. The recruitment of subjects leaves much perplexity about the representative character of the group, when the source population is not accounted or even remotely described (28, 29, 30). The exposure length is not assessed (some of the workers have less than two years tenure) and/or the status of "retirement" is used uncritically as an index of exposure (29,... 

Finally, the determination of methodology for cell staining must be evaluated based on the type of tissue or cells being examined. It is absolutely critical that the sample be a viable, single-cell suspension. Not only is this important during the staining and data collection, but it is also important in the analysis of the specimen as representative of the pathologic sample. 

The primary sources of information for this study are documented research results published in the countries investigated, accompanied by investigations to clarify the country specific policy background and including expert assessment. The methodology of an expert survey has been chosen for data collection. The expert survey conducted in 18 European countries (all EU-member states, plus Norway, Switzerland and the Czech Republic) uses a questiormaire that consists of two types of questions questions that are to be answered on the basis of literature reviews and expert knowledge, and those based on additional surveys that are to be performed by national experts. 

Note The serious violent crimes included are rape, robbery, aggravated assault, and homicide. Because of changes made to the victimization survey, data prior to 1992 are adjusted to make them comparable to data collected under the redesigned methodology. Estimates for 1993 and beyond are based on collection year while earlier estimates are based on data year. 

Now to the crux of the matter. With all the thousands of volumes on statistical methods, what rule of thumb do we use to decide what method fits a specific case A thought to keep in mind is that precise experimentation merits precise methodology decisions on which a large dollar sign is hung warrant comparable expenditures for data collection and analysis. Conversely, the simplest available methods should be used ... 

The computer has become an essential tool in biochemical research. A computer may be used for the routine jobs of word processing and data collection and analysis. In addition, if a computer is connected to the Internet, then it may be used for biochemical literature searching, accessing information about nucleic acid and protein sequences, predicting protein structure, and seeking research methodology. In this experiment, students will be introduced to all of these skills in bioinformatics. 

It is recommended that the protocol be divided into three major sections Section I, which discusses the background and validation methodology Section II, which contains areas in which data collected during validation can be documented and Section III, a section for the various attachments that will be involved. It should be understood that the contents of these sections may reside in validation-specific SOPs. Even if appropriate SOPs have been created, however, there is no assurance that the statements will be reflected in the execution of the validation. Contents of each of these three sections are discussed in the following sections of this chapter. 

Presenting the design, methodology, and data to be collected in a study protocol. This study protocol specifies the manner of data collection and addresses all methodological considerations necessary to ensure the collection of optimum quality data for subsequent statistical analysis. 

The previous chapter discussed the (currently) relatively loosely defined statistical approaches to safety data collected in clinical trials. In contrast, there are widely accepted statistical methods for demonstrating efficacy in clinical trials. As has been noted several times in this book, if the study design and methodology have been appropriate and have led to the collection of optimum quality data, the statistical analysis and interpretation of efficacy data are relatively straightforward. The clinical (biological) interpretation of efficacy data is typically not quite as clear-cut, but there are widely accepted methodologies that are very useful in this realm too. Of particular importance here is the expert judgment of the clinicians who will review the statistical results with the statisticians and the rest of the study team. 

The numerical value of Mx was calculated with the help of Equation 5.86 using the M, [mg] versus t [s] data collected with the TGA, where Mt is the mass of hydrogen absorbed at time, t (see Figure 5.26 [32]). The relative error for Am, calculated with the values of the standard error of Mx computed with the nonlinear regression methodology, [70,71] was around 25%. In the case of the test at 1073 K, the absorption was so small that the reported values are only estimations. 

This example shows that the choice of distribution could make a large difference in the outcome of exposure assessment. Therefore, the data should be fitted against several distribution functions to get the best fit parameters to decrease uncertainty. Data collection and data generation therefore play dominant roles in probabilistic approaches. The probabilistic methodology convinces the assessors to use transparent data and shows the need to use sound statistical and survey methodology to get representative data. 

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