Determining the appropriate number of subjects or observations for a statistical comparison of means is a crucial step in research design. This determination ensures that a study possesses adequate statistical power to detect a meaningful difference, should one exist, between the average values of two groups. For instance, when comparing the effectiveness of a new drug to a placebo using a two-sample independent means test, a prospective estimation of the required subject count is essential before data collection begins.
Sufficient statistical power, typically set at 80% or higher, offers a reduced risk of failing to identify a real effect. A carefully considered subject count can also contribute to ethical research practices by avoiding the unnecessary exposure of participants to potentially ineffective treatments. Historically, researchers have relied on statistical tables, nomograms, and, increasingly, software packages to perform these prospective estimations.