Exam 1 Flashcards
(35 cards)
Measurement of Outcomes
Is concerned with documenting and understanding the outcomes of current structures and processes in the provision of clinical services. A drawback is that the important outcomes are not well defined, and in fact tend to be relatively coarse-gained outcomes such as mortality or morbidity.
Models of Health and Disability
Focuses on discovering what outcomes are important, with an emphasis on individuals’ values and preferences. The models in a way feed in to the Measurement of Outcomes paradigm by identifying which outcomes are usefully measured
Evidence-Based Practice
focuses on the process of using scientific evidence (together with clinical expertise, clinical circumstances, and client preferences and values) to determine ahead of time how best to provide clinical services to clients. This is essentially different from the Measurement of Outcomes which measures outcomes AFTER receiving services, while EBP tries to optimize service BEFORE
PICO
P = patient characteristics / population / problem under consideration I = the intervention under consideration C = the Comparison or Control condition under consideration O = the Outcomes of interest
5 ways of “knowing”
Tradition = useful for establishing a baseline of practice and decision-making precedence (problem, it can be uncritically accepted even when it hasn’t been carefully evaluated)
Authority = like tradition, but rooted in a smaller subset of people ( problem, uncritical acceptance )
Trial and Error = haphazard and unsystematic way of finding solutions to problems (often doesn’t find the best solution
Logical Reasoning = more focused than trial and error, makes use of experience and formal systems of thought
Scientific Method = specific process of critical evaluation of tradition and authority, using logical reasoning and trial and error
Deductive Reasoning
takes a theoretical or general idea and then works out what the implications should be in specific instances. This is especially important in forming testable hypotheses, but its usefulness is dependent on the accuracy of the theoretical or general ideas at its base
Inductive Reasoning
develops theories and generalizations from specific observations (opposite of deductive) . The success of theories is limited by the quality of specific observations
Quantitative research
involves numbers
Qualitative research
more concerned with a complete characterization of the research subject
What is the difference between basic and applied research?
Basic research is aimed at the development of more abstract and general knowledge about how the world works, while applied research is more concerned with solving immediate problems.
What is the difference between experimental and non-experimental research?
Experimental research involves MANIPULATION and control of specific causes, which lead to measurable effects. Non-experimental research does not have control over the situation (like an observation) and is less able to make broad cause and effect statements
Experimental research
Aims to discover cause-and-effect relationships
Exploratory research
Aims to examine whether or not different phenomena are related to each other, and to characterize these relationships. (dont have to be cause and effect)
Descriptive research
Aims to document and describe characteristics of the research subjects without specifically looking for relationships among the characteristics or anything else.
What are the main purposes of theories?
- Summarize existing knowledge
- Provide a framework for interpreting observations
- They explain observable events
- They allow us to predict what should occur in specific circumstances
- They stimulate the development of new knowledge
Concept
an abstract idea of a thing in the world
chair is a concept of a thing with legs and a seat
Variable
a variable is a concept that can be assigned values and manipulated
(chair can have 3, 4, 5 legs, legs are the variable)
Construct
concepts or variables that cannot be tangibly observed or measured directly (they can be measured indirectly by making observations about observable markers that we think are related to the construct)
(depression, hope, faith)
What does it mean for a variable to be “operationally defined”
A variable is operationally defined when the method for measuring or evaluating it is clearly delineated (YOU ACTUALLY KNOW HOW YOU ARE GOING TO MEASURE IT)
How are models different from theories?
Theory = explanation of how something works Model = a simplified version of the thing itself (spring is a model for vocal folds)
How are inductive theories and hypothetical-deductive theories different from each other?
Inductive theories are based on generalizations from concrete observations (DATA DRIVEN). Hypothetical-deductive theories begin with a theory and make testable predictions about phenomena that have not yet been observed.
Why can we never “prove” or “confirm” a theory?
Proving a theory to be true would require us to test all possible applications of theory (which is impossible)
Why are clinicians engaged in theory testing on a regular basis in practice?
- Theories guide us in making clinical decisions
- Specific therapeutic modalities are chosen for treatment because of expected outcomes that are based on theoretical assumptions
- Theory is tested each time the clinician evaluates treatment outcomes
- The clinician is technically hypothesizing that the treatment will be successful
Respect for Persons
RFP means that we acknowledge that people are AUTONOMOUS and capable of making their own decisions about participation in research.
Application = requirement for voluntary INFORMED consent.
RFP also recognizes individuals with reduced autonomy (prisoners, kids, military) are entitled to additional protections
RESPECTED
