Contents - Index - Previous - Next

ProtoGenie Home Page

What are "Support Events?"

The "tactical" or "operational" part of research protocols (by which we mean treatments and measurements) is vital in a study protocol, but much of what has to be done in the conduct of a study involves support and management - and these tasks have to be carefully spelled out too.  

Unlike treatment or measurement events in a protocol, "Support Events" are events strategically placed to make ready, facilitate, guide, or otherwise manage a study. 

There are nine major types of "Support Events."  They are:
  • Guidance Events
  • Branching Point
  • Calendarize Events 
  • Event Iteration Events 
  • Event Array
  • Study Context
  • Unspecified Support Events
  • Randomized Event
  • Goodbye Event

    In the general case, Support Events are the same for all groups.  Logically, if Support Events were different across groups, then they might act as "interventions" (treatments) and thereby confound the results of the experiment.  However, there are  times when support events will vary from group to group.