An Overview of Bootstrapping Method Applicable to Survey Researches in Rehabilitation Science

Background: Parametric statistical procedures are typically conducted under the condition in which a sample distribution is statistically identical with its population. In reality, investigators use inferential statistics to estimate parameters based on the sample drawn because population distributions are unknown. The uncertainty of limited data from the sample such as lack of sample size may be a challenge in most rehabilitation studies. Objects: The purpose of this study is to review the bootstrapping method to overcome shortcomings of limited sample size in rehabilitation studies. Methods: Articles were reviewed. Results: Bootstrapping method is a statistical procedure that permits the iterative re-sampling with replacement from a sample when the population distribution is unknown. This statistical procedure is to enhance the representativeness of the population being studied and to determine estimates of the parameters when sample size are too limited to generalize the study outcome to target population. The bootstrapping method would overcome limitations such as type II error resulting from small sample sizes. An application on a typical data of a study represented how to deal with challenges of estimating a parameter from small sample size and enhance the uncertainty with optimal confidence intervals and levels. Conclusion: Bootstrapping method may be an effective statistical procedure reducing the standard error of population parameters under the condition requiring both acceptable confidence intervals and confidence level (i.e., p=.05).