How big is the elephant in the room? Estimated and actual IT costs in an online behaviour change trial
<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The practical and methodological challenges inherent in online behaviour change studies are both novel and complex. We relate our experiences of estimating and managing information technology (IT) research and intervention costs in a...
Main Authors: | , , , , , , |
---|---|
Format: | Article |
Language: | English |
Published: |
BMC
2010-06-01
|
Series: | BMC Research Notes |
Online Access: | http://www.biomedcentral.com/1756-0500/3/172 |
_version_ | 1819037094577700864 |
---|---|
author | Murray Elizabeth Linke Stuart Khadjesari Zarnie Godfrey Christine O'Donnell Orla McCambridge Jim Wallace Paul |
author_facet | Murray Elizabeth Linke Stuart Khadjesari Zarnie Godfrey Christine O'Donnell Orla McCambridge Jim Wallace Paul |
author_sort | Murray Elizabeth |
collection | DOAJ |
description | <p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The practical and methodological challenges inherent in online behaviour change studies are both novel and complex. We relate our experiences of estimating and managing information technology (IT) research and intervention costs in an ongoing internet trial in the hope that others will find this information useful.</p> <p>Findings</p> <p>Actual IT costs were approximately twice those that had been originally estimated by external contractors. These original estimates for IT costs allowed little scope for the identification of new needs, which was intrinsic to the iterative nature of the research enterprise.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Making greater provision for the uncertain nature of these costs in future studies is a key practical lesson for the planning of future online behaviour change studies.</p> |
first_indexed | 2024-12-21T08:15:57Z |
format | Article |
id | doaj.art-c25f376c9c1f4ba0aa71cc3a4a127ed9 |
institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
issn | 1756-0500 |
language | English |
last_indexed | 2024-12-21T08:15:57Z |
publishDate | 2010-06-01 |
publisher | BMC |
record_format | Article |
series | BMC Research Notes |
spelling | doaj.art-c25f376c9c1f4ba0aa71cc3a4a127ed92022-12-21T19:10:33ZengBMCBMC Research Notes1756-05002010-06-013117210.1186/1756-0500-3-172How big is the elephant in the room? Estimated and actual IT costs in an online behaviour change trialMurray ElizabethLinke StuartKhadjesari ZarnieGodfrey ChristineO'Donnell OrlaMcCambridge JimWallace Paul<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The practical and methodological challenges inherent in online behaviour change studies are both novel and complex. We relate our experiences of estimating and managing information technology (IT) research and intervention costs in an ongoing internet trial in the hope that others will find this information useful.</p> <p>Findings</p> <p>Actual IT costs were approximately twice those that had been originally estimated by external contractors. These original estimates for IT costs allowed little scope for the identification of new needs, which was intrinsic to the iterative nature of the research enterprise.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Making greater provision for the uncertain nature of these costs in future studies is a key practical lesson for the planning of future online behaviour change studies.</p>http://www.biomedcentral.com/1756-0500/3/172 |
spellingShingle | Murray Elizabeth Linke Stuart Khadjesari Zarnie Godfrey Christine O'Donnell Orla McCambridge Jim Wallace Paul How big is the elephant in the room? Estimated and actual IT costs in an online behaviour change trial BMC Research Notes |
title | How big is the elephant in the room? Estimated and actual IT costs in an online behaviour change trial |
title_full | How big is the elephant in the room? Estimated and actual IT costs in an online behaviour change trial |
title_fullStr | How big is the elephant in the room? Estimated and actual IT costs in an online behaviour change trial |
title_full_unstemmed | How big is the elephant in the room? Estimated and actual IT costs in an online behaviour change trial |
title_short | How big is the elephant in the room? Estimated and actual IT costs in an online behaviour change trial |
title_sort | how big is the elephant in the room estimated and actual it costs in an online behaviour change trial |
url | http://www.biomedcentral.com/1756-0500/3/172 |
work_keys_str_mv | AT murrayelizabeth howbigistheelephantintheroomestimatedandactualitcostsinanonlinebehaviourchangetrial AT linkestuart howbigistheelephantintheroomestimatedandactualitcostsinanonlinebehaviourchangetrial AT khadjesarizarnie howbigistheelephantintheroomestimatedandactualitcostsinanonlinebehaviourchangetrial AT godfreychristine howbigistheelephantintheroomestimatedandactualitcostsinanonlinebehaviourchangetrial AT odonnellorla howbigistheelephantintheroomestimatedandactualitcostsinanonlinebehaviourchangetrial AT mccambridgejim howbigistheelephantintheroomestimatedandactualitcostsinanonlinebehaviourchangetrial AT wallacepaul howbigistheelephantintheroomestimatedandactualitcostsinanonlinebehaviourchangetrial |