PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

R M Thrall

Publications and source records attributed to R M Thrall.

5 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1989

When are additive models valid for evaluating proposed research?

This paper is concerned with a comparison of two broad classes of mathematical models, additive and multiplicative, for selecting the best among a number of competing project proposals addressed to a defined research objective. The analysis is predicated on the view that, though additive models are widely utilized, they are theoretically inferior to multiplicative ones. In an effort to more clearly understand when the use of additive models might be acceptable despite their logical flaws, conditions are investigated under which they yield results that are essentially equivalent to those produced by multiplicative models.

Cost-Benefit Analysis↗
PubMed1981

Proposed rehabilitation research or demonstration projects: estimating target population size.

In connection with developing a benefit-cost approach to evaluating proposed rehabilitation research or demonstration projects, the need to estimate the numerical size of the associated target population is explained and a process is described for making such estimates. The process consists of 7 steps: (1) delineating project objectives, (2) specifying target group(s) in operational terms, (3) determining whether satisfactory target population prevalence estimates are available, (4) in the absence of such estimates, identifying a critical parent population and establishing its prevalence, (5) identifying an accessible population, (6) enumerating the number and proportion of target group members in the accessible population, (7) calculating the estimated target population by multiplying data yielded in steps (4) and (6), adjusting for inferred biases and indicating uncertainties of estimation. Consideration is given to the kinds of data bases upon which this estimation process depends, to the feasibility of providing such estimates, and to their probable accuracy.

Cost-Benefit Analysis↗
PubMed1981

Quality of life in benefit-cost analyses of rehabilitation research.

Traditionally, benefit-cost (B-C) models have been limited to the consideration of monetary benefits. This approach has been motivated by the fact that nonmonetary benefits are difficult to define and to quantify. Derived from the general theory of B-C analysis, a model is described which includes 3 categories of benefits, identified by a Delphi-like procedure administered to a broad representation of persons involved in the rehabilitation process. Whereas monetary benefits have the dollar readily available as a unit of measurement, scales for nonmonetary benefits must be developed. Methods for estimating the value and the relative importance of the various benefits are analyzed and a procedure for combining monetary and nonmonetary benefits is proposed.

Delphi Technique↗