Chapter 2

Question 1

What is the first step towards a successful research project?

Answer 1

Selecting one workable study topic.

Question 2

Many research questions in the health science arise from?

Answer 2

From observations made during applied practice.

Question 3

A good research question is one that_____.

Answer 3

1) Ends in a question mark. (It’s not a declaration or a statement, but a genuine query).
2) Testable (can be measured and examined)

Question 4

What is a good starting point for identifying a research topic if applied practice doesn’t work?

Answer 4

Brainstorming

Question 5

What is the goal of brainstorming?

Answer 5

To create a long list of possible research topics.

Question 6

True or false:
Brainstorming is the stage for elimination of infeasible ideas. At this stage, the ideas should be feasible and well formed.

Answer 6

False; this is not the stage for eliminating infeasible ideas and the ideas do not need to be well formed.

Question 7

What are the 6 areas that may help in brainstorming?

Answer 7

1) Values
2) Skills
3) Personal growth
4) Connections
5) Job/course requirements
6) Gaps in the literature

Question 8

What process is related to brainstorming?

Answer 8

Concept mapping

Question 9

What are the steps to concept mapping?

Answer 9

1) List several diseases or population groups that are interesting to study
2) Identify related ideas that show up several times and appear to be a central theme
3) Use circles and arrows to clarify connections
4) Consider which of these areas are worth exploring

Question 10

What is next step towards refining the areas of interest after brainstorming and concept mapping?

Answer 10

Compiling a list of related keywords

Question 11

How do you compile a list of keywords?

Answer 11

Jot down a long list of words that may help focus the research question.

Question 12

What is the goal of compiling a list of related keywords?

Answer 12

To identify a range of potential study foci within the major area of interest.

Question 13

Which database is helpful for identifying the full extent of a research area and narrowing the scope of a research area?

Answer 13

MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) database

Question 14

How could the MeSH database help a researcher?

Answer 14

The researcher could move from a vague topic to a more focused one, or vice versa.

Question 15

Exposures and diseases can have many characteristics. Give a few examples.

Answer 15

1) Social and environmental indicators
2) Nutritional status
3) Infections
4) Chronic diseases
5) Mental health status
6) Quality-of-life measures
7) Health service use

Question 16

For experimental studies, the intervention being investigated is the ____. The ____ is the group of individuals, communities, or organizations that will be examined.

Answer 16

Exposure; Population.

Question 17

The keywords compiled during brainstorming and concept mapping often fit into _____,_____, and_____.

Answer 17

Exposure, disease, and population.

Question 18

The researcher should divide the keywords into 3 groups:

Answer 18

1) One for exposures or interventions
2) One for diseases or outcomes
3) One for specific populations

Question 19

What is the standard format question formed from the exposure, disease, and population?

Answer 19

“Is [exposure] related to [disease/outcome] in [population]?”

Question 20

What is an alternate approach to framing a research question?

Answer 20

PICOT:
P: Patient/Population studied
I: Intervention tested
C: Intervention will be compared to
O: Outcome of interest
T: Timeframe for follow-up

Question 21

What is PICOT helpful for?

Answer 21

For addressing clinical research questions and designing intervention studies.

Question 22

What is one benefit of using PICOT?

Answer 22

It points towards the selection of key indicators that would provide evidence for the success of the intervention.