Module 2: Intro to Research Study Designs Flashcards

1
Q

Quantitative Research

A

the process of collecting and analyzing NUMERICAL DATA

can be useful to find patterns, averages, make predictions, test causal relationships, and generalize results to wider populations

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

Qualitative Research

A

a data gathering method that generates open-ended NARRATIVE DATE OR WORDS rather than numeric data or numbers

Typically research is capturing the values, beliefs, experiences, or motivations behind behaviors

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

EXAMPLE

Examine the relationship of serum TGs levels to BMI. Is this quantitative or qualitative research?

A

Since both of these variables are measurable and quantifiable using NUMERICAL DATA, it would be QUANTITATIVE RESEARCH

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

(TRUE/FALSE)

Designing good qualitative research questions can be quite challenging, as the question needs to be open-ended and broad enough to not lead the participant to give a specific answer, because then you would be causing bias. But also, not so broad that you cannot later analyze the data into themes.

A

TRUE

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

Mixed-Methods Research

A
  1. Incorporates BOTH QUANT and QUAL data collection in its methodology
  2. ANALYZES both types of data, and
  3. INTEGRATES the RESULTS, providing both precision (QUANT) and context/background (QUAL) *** THIS IS REQUIRED.
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

Basic Research

A

Research conducted without a specific application in mind and completed for the sake of knowledge alone. Usually (but not always) BENCH RESEARCH.

This research is used to inform future applied research studies (aka clinical studies)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

Bench Research

A

Conducted in a lab setting, using chemical and/or biological specimens, which could include animals, tissues, cells, bacteria, or virsues

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

Applied Research

A

Research conducted to solve real-world problems and to directly influence or improve nutrition practice

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

Quality Improvement Research

A

Research conducted to address problems in your own work setting with the goal of solving an ongoing problem. Implementing research to improve a process, system, or outcome

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

(EXAMPLE)

What type of research is looking at cooking with GDM?

A

Applied Research

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

(EXAMPLE)

What type of research is a clinical RDN looking at TF connectors?

A

Quality Improvement Research

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

What are the 4 types of Nutrition Research Studies?

A
  1. Intervention Research
  2. Outcomes Research
  3. Epidemiological Research
  4. Translational Research
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

(TRUE/FALSE)

Different types of research CANNOT overlap.

A

FALSE

They CAN

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

What is Intervention Research?

A

Development and testing of an intervention and evaluating the efficacy

EXAMPLE: diet, drug, therapy

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

What are the 2 types of Intervention Research?

A
  1. CLINICAL STUDIES: type of intervention that uses human participants
  2. RCT (“gold standard” as it avoids bias): participants are randomly assigned to an intervention group/”arm” versus a control group that receives a placebo
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

What are 2 strengths of Intervention Research?

A
  1. Usually conducted in a VERY CONTROLLED WAY, to limit confounding variables and focus on the actual intervention
  2. Are often “blinded” to provide additional protection from bias or placebo effects
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

What is a weakness of Intervention Research?

A

Often not broadly generalizable to a free-living population or patients with multiple co-morbidities

18
Q

What is unblinded?

A

Researchers AND participants know who is receiving the intervention and control

19
Q

What is single-blinded?

A

Participants DO NOT know if they are receiving treatment or not

20
Q

What is double-blinding?

A

Neither the participants nor the researchers know who is receiving intervention or control

*Typically, somebody from the research team is involved in data management, so they do know who has been randomly assigned to each group; they are not the main researcher

This decreases the risk of experimenter bias (but does NOT eliminate it)

21
Q

What is experimenter bias?

A

Researchers unconsciously introduce their own bias into interpretation of study RESULTS

22
Q

What is triple-blinding?

A

Participants, Researchers, and Anyone involved in data management is blinded.

An independent agent (could be a computer program) will determine randomization and provides the intervention in unidentifiable packaging.

23
Q

(TRUE/FALSE)

Double-blinding eliminates experimenter bias.

A

FALSE

Double-blinding will reduce it but only triple-blinding will eliminate it.

24
Q

What is Outcomes Research?

A

Research undertaken to test the effectiveness of an intervention under typical circumstances in a less-controlled environment (compared to intervention research).

This allows fewer restrictions on who can participate and what they can do while participating.

25
Q

What are the 4 Types of Outcomes Research?

A
  1. Direct Nutrition Care Outcomes
  2. Clinical Outcomes
  3. Patient Outcomes
  4. Cost Outcomes
26
Q

Which type of outcomes research looks at outcomes directly due to a nutrition intervention?

A

Direct Nutrition Care Outcomes

27
Q

Which type of outcomes research looks at outcomes related to changes in the progression or severity of a specific disease?

A

Clinical Outcomes

28
Q

Which type of outcomes research looks at outcomes related to what is important to the patient? Note this is more subjective.

A

Patient Outcomes

29
Q

Which type of outcomes research looks at outcomes related to direct costs and indirect costs?

A

Cost Outcomes

Note: not all interventions have cost outcomes

30
Q

What are 2 strengths of Outcomes Research?

A
  1. Typically all participants receive the intervention (a placebo is not usually used).
  2. Multiple outcomes can be assessed in one study (like clinical parameters, costs, quality of life) because it has a broader scope.
31
Q

What are 2 limitations of Outcomes Research?

A
  1. Often requires a large sample size (due to confounders) to see results (compared to a highly controlled study)
  2. It can be difficult to recruit/represent minority populations to make results broadly applicable.
32
Q

What is Epidemiology?

A

The study of the distribution and determinants (ie: causes and risk factors) of health-related states and events in specific populations

33
Q

What are the 2 broad categories of Epidemiological Research?

A
  1. Descriptive Epidemiology
  2. Analytic Epidemiology
34
Q

Descriptive Epidemiology

A

Provides information about who has a disease in a given population and its frequency, DESCRIBES patterns of the disease, such as time, place, and personal characteristics of those with the disease (age, rage, socioeconomic status, or lifestyle behaviors)

35
Q

Analytic Epidemiology

A

Identifies the strength of an ASSOCIATION between a risk factor and a health-related state

36
Q

Nutritional Epidemiology

A

The study of nutritional effects on incidence and prevalence of diseases, injuries, birth defects, environmental health, and other health-related areas

37
Q

(EXAMPLE)

The fortification of grains with folic acid is an example of what type of epidemiological research?

A

Nutritional Epidemiology

38
Q

What are 3 strengths of Epidemiological Research?

A
  1. Narrows down potential risk factors related to health-related outcome
  2. May identify risk factors previously not considered (when looking at broad groups of people)
  3. Often used as foundational information to drive intervention research
39
Q

What are 4 weakness of Epidemiological Research?

A
  1. Often requires large numbers of participants to derive meaningful associations (due to confounders in free-living participants)
  2. Inability to control variables influencing health-related outcomes being studied
  3. Incomplete data
  4. CANNOT EXPERIMENTALLY establish cause and effect
40
Q

What type of research can establish cause and effect?

A

Intervention Research ONLY

41
Q

What is Translational Research?

A

Transforming findings from basic science or clinical research into practical applications and evidence-based practice

Researchers work to develop earlier research (BENCH RESEARCH, ANIMAL RESEARCH) into CLINICAL PRACTICE/BEDSIDE, to implement the results in the COMMUNITY

PICTURE OF:

Bench ——————–> Bedside –> Community
(preclinical, animal) –> (human, clinical)–> community recs