title: How to appropriately choose research subjects.
abstract: The research subject is the first key element of the three key elements in the research design. An appropriate selection of research subjects is crucial to the success of the research. This article summarizes the general principles for the selection of research subjects, the types and numbers of research subjects and the common mistakes that researchers tend to make in the selection of the research subjects. This article also provides the methodology suggestions for the selection of research subjects.
authors.affiliation: Consulting Center of Biomedical Statistics, Academy of Military Medical Sciences, Beijing 100850, China. lphu812@sina.com
authors.forename: Liang-Ping
authors.initials: LP
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.forename: Xiao-Lei
authors.initials: XL
authors.lastname: Bao
authors.forename: Xue
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Guan
authors.forename: Qi
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D018579:Patient Selection; D012107:Research Design