Chapter 1: The Importance of Research in Public Health Flashcards
Public Health Research Basics
What is Health Equity?
Health equity means everyone has an equal opportunity for good health. Factors, such as poverty, lack of access to quality housing, education and healthcare, impact the opportunity to live a healthy life and need to be addressed for health equity to exist.
What two questions are foundational in public health practice?
- What are we trying to change?
2. What is the best way to achieve that change?
What is evidence based public health?
Evidence based public health is term used to describe decision-making for interventions on the basis of the best available scientific evidence by systematically using data and information, and considering community preferences.
EBPH creates a higher likelihood of successful programs and policies being implemented and a more efficient use of resources.
What is empirical research?
Using data from systematic observations to inform conclusions
What are quantitative methods?
Quantitative methods use maximum objectivity and precision in order to produce generalizable findings.
For example: a survey with multiple choice response options.
What are qualitative methods?
Qualitative methods are more flexible than quantitative methods, and may evolve over time as the research progresses.
For example: holding interviews or focus groups.
What is a mixed-methods study design?
Combination of both quantitative and qualitative methods in a way that best answers the research question or achieves the study aims.
Using mixed methods helps overcome inherent limitations by balancing strengths and weaknesses of both research methods.
What are the four types of mixed-methods study designs?
1) Sequential explanatory - quantitative collected and analyzed, then qual collected and analyzed
2) Sequential exploratory - qual collected and analyzed, then quantitative collected and analyzed
3) Concurrent triangulation - collected at the same time and analyzed concurrently
4) sequential transformative - either collected first but analyzed together
What is pseduoscience?
“Fake science” not based on the scientific method. Evidence that has no merit at all. Common characteristics are extreme claims, overgeneralizations and lack of sound research
What should you consider to assess the quality of evidence?
- Was the research done in a lab? On animals? With people?
- Was there a large enough sample size? How was the sample selected?
- Where was the research conducted and who funded it?
- Are conflicts reported?
- Where was the article published?
- How do headlines compare to actual study? (Journalist may not always interpret research results correctly)
What are the six core phases in the research process?
- Identify a research topic
- Design the study
- Collect Data
- Process and Analyze Data
- Interpret Findings
- Disseminate findings
What is audience segmentation?
Dissemination strategies are tailored to specific groups. The way in which research findings are presented should fit the needs of the group.
What are the four categories of different purposes for public health?
- Exploration - aim to investigate something new or understudied
- Description - the researcher describes what is observed based on the tenets of the scientific method.
- Explanation - go beyond just describing something. They aim to identify why things occur.
- Evaluation - may encompass the other three in order to identify the effectiveness of programs, policies, or interventions.
What is quality assurance?
Planning and using a standard data-collection protocol. This facilitates consistency among the research team.
What are quality-control measures?
Quality control measures such as data monitoring, can help identify errors during data collection.
