Research Flashcards
(106 cards)
Studies in order of best evidence
Systematic reviews>RTCs> cohort study, case control, cross sectional, case series, case reports, ideas/opinions
Meta analysis
Type of systematic review - has an estimate of effect size by comparing multiple RTCs to determine the effectiveness of a treatment; can minimize the issue of a small sample size
Cohort studies
Observational longitudinal study - looks at a specific group of people with a risk factor and follows to see if they get the disease or not; can be done prospectively or retrospectively; difficult bc a lot of lifestyle factors can influence outcomes
Case control study
Retrospective observational study; individuals with a disease are matched with a comparison group of those without the disease - looking for differences in exposture and occurrence of disease = the odd’s ratio
Cross sectional study
Observational study - data collection done only at one point in time and all participants are tested at relateively the same time. Describes relationships between a disease and factors of interest that exist in that population at a given time; can look at prevalence - but can’t look at newly occurring conditions, and doesn’t give a causal relationship
Case report or series
In depth description of an individual’s condition or response to treatment; cannot test hypotheses or estabilish cause & effect
Descriptive research
Analyzing with the goal of classifying and understanding a clinical phenomenon EX: developmental, normative, qualitative, case report, series
Experimental research
Comparing 2 or more conditions for the purpose of determining cause and effect EX: RTCs, quasi experimental studies, single subject designs
Exploratory research
Examines the dimensions of a phenomenon of interest and its relationships to other factors; EX: cohort studies, case control, historical research, methodological
Qualitative research
Data from observation/interviews focused on meaning and interpretations to gain an understanding in thoughts and opinions or develop hypotheses; global, probing, small sample size, non statistical, exploratory or investigative - findings cannot be used to make generalizations
Quantitative
Data or measurements that are analyzed via statistics with the goal of quantifying data to generalize results onto a population; non-probing, specific, large sample size, objective observer, used to recommend a final course of action
Respect for persons
Refers to individuals rights to make autonomous decisions about their health care
Beneficent
The obligation of the researcher to provide for the well being of their subjects by maximizing benefits and minimizing the possible harm
minimal risk
The magnitude of harm or discomfort anticipated in the research is not greater than that ordinarily encourntered in daily living
Vulnerable populations
Typically minors, those with diminished capacity to consent, pregnant women, human fetuses, neonate, non-English speaking, prisoners, students
Continuous data
Can assume any value along a continuous scale that covers a range of values without gaps or interruptions
Discrete data
Measured in whole units: HR, number of clinic visits, etc.
Dischotomous data
Type of discrete data; limited to only two values: gender, smoking vs non smoking, etc.
Qualitative data
Categorical; non numeric
Quantitative data
Measurements or numerical value
Nominal scale
Classification scale; Ea object and person can only be assigned to one category; ex: blood type, breath sound
Ordinal scale
Ranking scale, based on the property of the variable; muscle grading tests, level of assistance, joint laxity scale
Interval scale
Measurement scale where intervals are equal and there is no true zero point; Ex: temperature on the F or C scale
Ratio
measurement scale where the intervals are equal and there is a true zero: ex; ROM, distance walked, time to complete an activity