Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40545908›Full record

ArticleJournal of evaluation in clinical practice2025

Redefining Representativeness of a Sample in Causal Terms.

Michał Sikorski, Alexander Gebharter, Barbara Osimani

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Journal of evaluation in clinical practice, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

3 authors.

Michał SikorskiCenter for Philosophy, Science, and Policy, Marche Polytechnic University, Ancona, Italy.ORCID 0000-0002-6251-0183
Alexander GebharterCenter for Philosophy, Science, and Policy, Marche Polytechnic University, Ancona, Italy.ORCID 0000-0003-1708-2949
Barbara OsimaniCenter for Philosophy, Science, and Policy, Marche Polytechnic University, Ancona, Italy.ORCID 0000-0001-5212-9525

Funding

This study was Funded by the European Union - Next Generation EU, Mission 4, Component 1, CUP I53D23006890001. P2022RT4AT 001
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

rationaleDespite its crucial role, sample representativeness remains a controversial topic in the methodology of medical science. There is an ongoing debate not only about how best to define and ensure the representativeness of a sample (e.g., Rudolph et al. 2023; Porta 2016), but also about whether representativeness is worth pursuing at all (e.g., Rothman et al. 2013). AIMS AND

objectivesOur aim is to construct a formalised, precise, and practical conceptualisation of sample representativeness.

methodsWe employ the established framework of causal Bayesian networks to develop such a conceptualisation.

resultsWe propose a precise formal definition of sample representativeness that translates into clear and actionable methodological guidance. Additionally, we provide examples and a checklist to illustrate the application of the proposed conceptualisation.

conclusionWe believe that the presented definition will facilitate further discussion of the issue of representativeness and prove useful to scientists in practice.

Indexed as

Research DesignBayes TheoremCausalityHumans

Identifiers

PMID40545908
PMCPMC12183537

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY
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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.