Randomized controlled trials in medical research - gold standard or unhealthy fixation?

Academics and clinicians from all disciplines and specialties are warmly invited to attend.

The next meeting of the Edinburgh local group is scheduled to take place on Tuesday 12 June 2012 at the

slightly earlier time of 5.45 pm

(with refreshments available from 5.15 pm).

The event is free, and open to all - no registration is required.

Venue: http://www.ed.ac.uk/maps/buildings/medical-school

Speakers

David Papineau (Professor of Philosophy of Science, King's College London) Personal website: http://www.kcl.ac.uk/artshums/depts/philosophy/people/staff/academic/papineau/index.aspx

Professor Nancy Cartwright, Department of Philosophy, Logic and Scientific Method at the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) and at the University of California, San Diego (UCSD)
Personal website: http://personal.lse.ac.uk/cartwrig/default.htm

Professor John H McColl, Professor of Learning and Teaching in Statistics and Head of Statistics, University of Glasgow URL for profile (from which personal website can also be accessed):
http://www.gla.ac.uk/schools/mathematicsstatistics/staff/johnmccoll/

and

Gillian Raab, Professor Emeritus of Applied Statistics at Edinburgh Napier University and currently providing part-time statistical support for the Scottish Longitudinal Study (http://www.lscs.ac.uk/sls/), a research project of the University of St Andrews.

Abstract:

Is the randomized controlled trial (RCT) always the optimal choice in seeking an evidence base for causal relationships in clinical research? What role do the target population and ethical issues have to play in evaluating the external validity of an RCT? Indeed, are RCTs even necessary?  These questions comprise a taster for the complex issues that will be raised during this lively informal debate involving experts from the fields of philosophy and medical statistics. Opportunities will be provided to ask questions and cast a final vote!

Meeting contact and Chair: Margaret MacDougall (E-mail: [email protected])

Poster

Please use the meeting poster available to facilitate advertising the meeting widely. The poster can be downloaded by accessing the site and in turn clicking on the link for further information: