In a pre-post with control quasi-experimental design, where you're comparing the outcomes of a treatment or intervention between groups, determining the appropriate sample size distribution is crucial for obtaining meaningful and statistically valid results. There isn't a single "best" method, but I can outline some common approaches and considerations for determining sample size in this type of design:
Power Analysis: Power analysis involves estimating the required sample size to achieve a certain level of statistical power. Power is the probability of detecting an effect if it truly exists. You'll need to specify the effect size, significance level (alpha), and desired power. Several software tools and statistical packages have built-in power calculators that can help you determine the required sample size.
Effect Size Estimation: The effect size you choose to detect will have a significant impact on the required sample size. Effect size can be estimated based on prior research, clinical expertise, or pilot studies. Cohen's d, which measures the standardized mean difference, is a common effect size metric used for this purpose.
Alpha Level: The significance level (often denoted as alpha) indicates the probability of making a Type I error, which is concluding that an effect exists when it doesn't. The standard alpha level is typically set at 0.05. However, you can adjust this based on the specific context and the potential consequences of Type I errors.
Statistical Test: The choice of statistical test (t-test, ANOVA, regression, etc.) will also influence the sample size calculation. Different tests have varying degrees of sensitivity to detect effects.
Variance and Standard Deviation: The variability or standard deviation of the outcome measure in your population can impact the sample size. A higher variability often requires a larger sample size to detect an effect.
Control Group Size: The size of your control group relative to your treatment group matters. Typically, a larger control group provides more statistical power.
Dropout and Attrition: Consider the potential for participant dropout or attrition between pre and post-measures. You might need to oversample initially to account for this.
Type of Data: Consider whether your data will be continuous, categorical, or binary. Different kinds of data might require other methods for sample size calculation.
Resources and Feasibility: Practical constraints like time, budget, and available participants can impact your ability to achieve a certain sample size. Make sure the calculated sample size is feasible within these constraints.
Simulation: If you have access to statistical software or programming skills, you can simulate different sample sizes to see how your design's power and sensitivity change with varying sample sizes.
Remember that sample size calculation is both a statistical and practical decision. It's important to strike a balance between having a sufficiently large sample size to detect meaningful effects and keeping the study feasible and ethical. Consulting with a statistician or using sample size calculators in statistical software can greatly aid in this process.