PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Lloyd P Provost
TI  - Analytical studies: a framework for quality improvement design and analysis
AID  - 10.1136/bmjqs.2011.051557
DP  - 2011 Apr 01
TA  - BMJ Quality & Safety
PG  - i92--i96
VI  - 20
IP  - Suppl 1
4099  - http://qualitysafety.bmj.com/content/20/Suppl_1/i92.short
4100  - http://qualitysafety.bmj.com/content/20/Suppl_1/i92.full
SO  - BMJ Qual Saf2011 Apr 01; 20
AB  - Conducting studies for learning is fundamental to improvement. Deming emphasised that the reason for conducting a study is to provide a basis for action on the system of interest. He classified studies into two types depending on the intended target for action. An enumerative study is one in which action will be taken on the universe that was studied. An analytical study is one in which action will be taken on a cause system to improve the future performance of the system of interest. The aim of an enumerative study is estimation, while an analytical study focuses on prediction. Because of the temporal nature of improvement, the theory and methods for analytical studies are a critical component of the science of improvement.