NURS 3117 nursing research II Flashcards
(161 cards)
Define paradigm.
A distinct set of concepts or thought patterns, including theories, research methods, postulates, and standards for what constitutes legitimate contributions to a field.
Define positivism.
Assumes that there is one truth, and asserts that all authentic knowledge allows verification.
Positivists attempt to identify causes, associations, and correlations which influence outcomes.
A philosophical system that holds that every rationally justifiable assertion can be scientifically verified or is capable of logical or mathematical proof.
Name a term that defines the following definition:
A philosophical system that holds that every rationally justifiable assertion can be scientifically verified or is capable of logical or mathematical proof.
Positivism
What is a clinical question and how do you frame it?
A question that arises from a clinical situation and is used as a basis to search literature.
PICO (T)
A research question focuses on ________.
(3 possible answers)
- describing variables
- specifying the population being studied.
- examining testable relationships among variables.
What are variables?
A variable is any characteristic, number, or quantity that can be measured or counted.
EXAMPLES: age, sex, socioeconomic class, country of birth, capital expenditure, class grades, eye colour, etc.
T/F:
The independent variable (X) stand’s alone and is not changed by the other variables.
True
The dependent variable (Y) is being ________ in an experiment.
answers: measured, observed, tested
Determine the independent and dependent variables:
Does vitamin C intake prevent influenza in older people?
independent: vitamin C
dependant: influenza
Determine the independent and dependent variables:
Did the “back to back” campaign improve SIDS rates in newborn infants?
independent: back-to-back campaign
dependant: SIDS rates
Determine the independent and dependent variables:
Does eating spinach give you bigger muscles?
independent: eating spinach
dependant: bigger muscles
Define “a priori”.
A formal statement of expected relationships between two or more variables in a specified population that suggests an answer to the research question.
AKA formal word for the hypothesis.
Relationship statement; define causal.
cause and effect versus associative
Relationship statement; define simple..
relationship between two variables. The relationship can exist but may not be causal.
Relationship statement; define directional.
states which way the relationship should exist.
Relationship statement; define non-directional.
states that the relationship exists, but not the direction.
A true experiment is __________, has a _________, and consists of manipulation.
- randomized
- control group
What is the goal of randomization?
The aim is to make an allocation to the two groups (control and experimental) random so there is an equal probability for an individual to be assigned to any given group.
What is allocation concealment used for (related to randomization)?
allocation concealment is used to prevent selection bias. Groups should be equal at the outset. An example is a researcher who does not know which is the experimental group and which is the control group.
What is double blinding?
A type of clinical trial in which neither the participants nor the researcher knows which treatment or intervention participants are receiving until the clinical trial is over. This makes the results of the study less likely to be biased.
What is a randomized control trial?
A randomized controlled trial (RCT) is an experimental form of impact evaluation in which the population receiving the intervention is chosen at random from the eligible population, and a control group is also chosen at random from the same eligible population.
When are RCTs the “right” design?
- to test the cause and effect of treatment and outcome
- highly important for medical interventions, particularly medication research where the focus is on the efficacy of a treatment.
- RCTs are the only research design that can test cause and effect
T/F
RCTs are the golden standard.
True
Name 3 “cons” of RCTS.
- overreliance on RCTs and discounting other evidence and knowledge.
- may not answer the questions of how and for whom a certain treatment is best
- transferability to other populations (Western medicine is not transferable to other world healthcare systems).
- some interventions should not and cannot be verified by RTC (ethical and pragmatic reasons).