Question

Why do you think it is so important for researchers to follow published standards for research design and reporting in epidemiology? Review the hierarchy of scientific evidence. Are there any benefits to making decisions based upon low-quality (e.g. Level III) evidence?

Answer 1

Why do you think it is so important for researchers to follow published standards for research design and reporting in epidemiology?

• It helps in facilitating a smooth track of various research procedures or operations.
• Upgrades the efficiency of the research
• Yield maximum possible information in the least expenditure of time, effort and money.
• Research design posses significant influence on reliability of obtained results, and following a non-standard plan will ruin it.

Review the hierarchy of scientific evidence. Are there any benefits to making decisions based upon low-quality (e.g. Level III) evidence?

• Levels of evidences based on Oxford criteria [world wide accepted]:

Level III corresponds to cohort study which has good impact as an evidence in many cases where RCT and their systematic review is impossible like in study of association of lung cancer and smoking.

• Levels of evidences adopted from: Canadian Task Force on the Periodic Health Examination.

Levels of evidence	Type of evidence
level I	at least 1 RCT with proper randomization
Level II.1	well designed cohort or case control study
Level II.2	Time series comparisons or dramatic results from uncontrolled studies
Level III	Expert opinions

As per this lcriteria, Level III corresponds to experts opinions, which is not sufficient in finalising any decision in research , though those opinions are worthy enough to be considered.

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