Brief history

• Dickersin K, Chalmers I (2010). Recognising, investigating and dealing with incomplete and biased reporting of clinical research: from Francis Bacon to the World Health Organisation.
• Kaptchuk TJ (2011). A brief history of the evolution of methods to control of observer biases in tests of treatments.
• O’Rourke K (2006). A historical perspective on meta-analysis: dealing quantitatively with varying study results.
• Silverman WA, Chalmers I (2002). Casting and drawing lots: a time-honoured way of dealing with uncertainty and for ensuring fairness.
• Tröhler U (2010). The introduction of numerical methods to assess the effects of medical interventions during the 18th century: a brief history.