> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://globalimpact.gitbook.io/untitled/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://globalimpact.gitbook.io/untitled/methodological-discussion/section-introduction-wip.md).

# Methods: Overview, resources

## Sections

["Qualitative" design issues](/untitled/methodological-discussion/qualitative-design-issues.md): How to design the 'content' of experiments and surveys to have internal validity and external generalizability

[Real-world assignment & inference](/untitled/methodological-discussion/splits-randomization.md): How to set up trials to have comparable groups

[Adaptive design/sampling, reinforcement learning](/untitled/methodological-discussion/adaptive-design-sampling-reinforcement-learning.md): Adjusting the treatments and design as you learn, to 'get to the highest value in the end'

[Analysis: Statistical approaches](/untitled/methodological-discussion/analysis-statistical-approaches.md): How to make inferences from the data after you have it (and plan this in advance)

## What are our estimation goals?

### Statistical power versus optimized learning

### Fixed vs adaptive designs

See [adaptive design notes](/untitled/methodological-discussion/adaptive-design-sampling-reinforcement-learning.md)

## Resources

Rethink Priorities notes (some are works in progress)...

{% embed url="<https://rethinkpriorities.github.io/methodology-statistics-design/introduction-and-overview.html>" %}
RP notes on methods
{% endembed %}

{% embed url="<https://rethinkpriorities.github.io/how-to-visualize>" %}
RP dynamic doc on making graphs etc
{% endembed %}

The [https://declaredesign.org/](https://declaredesign.org) framework and R package seems very helpful. I (David Reinstein) am learning and trying to adapt it.

[Dillon's 'Hemlock'](https://dsbowen.github.io/software/hemlock/)

[Reinstein 'research tools and data' airtable list](https://airtable.com/invite/l?inviteId=inv9DBIxRLVztaO8U\&inviteToken=82dc3cdefbad836030c92c23974629c02f0aeb0e93b773c58bb8c7e17d4fa6d6)


---

# Agent Instructions
This documentation is published with GitBook. GitBook is the documentation platform designed so that both humans and AI agents can read, navigate, and reason over technical content effectively. Learn more at gitbook.com.

## Querying This Documentation
If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation dynamically by asking a question.

Perform an HTTP GET request on the current page URL with the `ask` query parameter, and the optional `goal` query parameter:

```
GET https://globalimpact.gitbook.io/untitled/methodological-discussion/section-introduction-wip.md?ask=<question>&goal=<endgoal>
```

`ask` is the immediate question: it should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language.
`goal` is optional and describes the broader end goal you are ultimately trying to accomplish on behalf of the user. GitBook uses it to tailor the answer towards what is most useful for that goal.

The response will contain a direct answer to the question and relevant excerpts and sources from the documentation.

Use this mechanism when the answer is not explicitly present in the current page, you need clarification or additional context, or you want to retrieve related documentation sections.
