Since this is an exploratory study, validation in independent data sets is necessary.
In the exploratory, validation 1, and validation 2 population, participants were interviewed by trained doctors or nurses in the local community clinics.
Exploratory validation of the approach provided support for the inclusion of most framework components and showed good agreement of MCDA value estimates at the individual level (test-retest) but large variations across panelists reflecting different perspectives and personal values.
Therefore, we designed this study, including an exploratory and a validation study, in order to further assess the performance of SEPT9 methylated DNA as a marker in the detection of colorectal precancerous lesions.
For a more rigorous validation, an exploratory factor analysis was performed starting from all questionnaire items that addressed newcomer integration.
Thus, our paper is, at best, an exploratory analysis rather than a validation analysis of the effect of a well-studied CDKAL1 polymorphism.
Regardless of whether a candidate gene or a genome-wide approach is used, we suggest that in order to improve the quality of results, genetic association studies should be carried out in two phases: an exploratory phase, followed by a validation phase.
While planning an NGS project, there should be sufficient material set aside for an exploratory (profiling) experiment, as well as for technical validation and downstream experiments.
The power of these studies allows for an exploratory phase where thousands of SNPs are examined and a validation phase that attempts to replicate positive associations independently.
The first sample was used to perform an exploratory factor analysis (exploratory phase) and the second was used to validate the results (validation phase) and to perform a confirmatory factor analysis by means of the unweighted least squares method.
