Chapter 19 - Research Methods Flashcards
Applied Research
A type of research that focuses on the use of scientific theories to improve actual practice, as in medical research applied to the treatment of patients.
Basic Research
A type of research that focuses on the development and refinement of theories
Bibliographic Database
Databases of published literature such as journals, magazines, newspaper articles, books, book chapters, and other information sources
Case Study
A type of nonparticipant observation in which researchers investigate one person, one group, or one institution in depth
Case-Control (retrospective) Study
A study that investigates the development of disease by amassing volumes of data about factors in the lives of persons with the disease (cases) and persons without the disease
Causal Relationship
A type of relationship in which one factor results in a change in another factor (cause and effect)
Causal-Comparative Research
A research design that resembles experimental research but lacks random assignment to a group and manipulation of treatment
Cohort Study
A study, followed over time, in which a group of subjects is identified as having one or more characteristics in common
Comparative Effectiveness Research (CER)
Research that generates and synthesizes evidence that compares the benefits and harms of alternative methods to prevent, diagnose, treat, and monitor a clinical condition, or to improve the delivery of care
Confounding Variable
In research an event or a factor that is outside a study but occurs concurrently with the study
Content Analysis
A method of research that provides a systematic and objective analysis of communication effectiveness, such as the analysis performed on tests
Control Group
A comparison study group whose members do not undergo the treatment under study
Correlational Research
A design of research that determines the existence and degree of relationship among factors
Cross-Sectional Study
A biomedical research study in which both the exposure and the disease outcome are determined at the same time in each subject
Deductive Reasoning
The process of developing conclusions based on generalizations
Dependent Variable
A measurable variable in a research study that depends on an independent variable
Descriptive Research
A type of research that determines and reports the current status of topics and subjects
Double-Blind Study
A type of clinical trial conducted with strict procedures for randomization in which neither research nor subject knows whether the subject in in the control group or the experimental group
Ethnography
A method of observational research that investigates culture in naturalistic settings using both qualitative and quantitative approaches
Evaluation Research
A design research that examines the effectiveness of policies, programs, or organizations
Experimental (Study) Group
A group of participants in which the exposure status of each participant is determined, and the individuals are followed forward to determine the effects of the exposure
Experimental Method
Researchers randomly assign participants into an experimental group or into a control group and actively intervene to test a hypothesis; they manipulate an independent variable (treatment or intervention) in order to assess its effect on the dependent variable (the outcome)
Experimental Research
- A research design used to establish a cause and effect 2. A controlled investigation in which subjects are assigned randomly to groups that experience carefully controlled interventions that are manipulated by the experimenter according to a strict protocol
External Validity
An attribute of a study’s design that allows its findings to be applied to other groups
Focus Group
A group of approximately 6 to 12 subjects, usually experts in the particular area of study, brought together to discuss a specific topic using the focused interview method, usually with a moderator who is not on the research team
Focused Study
A study in which a research orally questions and conducts discussions with members of a group
Generalizability
The ability to apply research results, data, or observations to groups not originally under study
Grounded Theory
A theory about what is actually going on instead of what should be going on
Health Services Research
Research conducted on the subject of healthcare delivery that examines organizational structures and systems as well as the effectiveness and efficiency of healthcare services
Health Technology Assessment (HTA)
The evaluation of the usefulness (utility) of a health technology in relation to cost, efficacy, utilization, and other factors in terms of its impact
Heterogeneity
The state of fact of containing various components
Historical Research
A research design used to investigate past events
Hypothesis
A statement that describes a research question in measurable terms
Independent Variable
The factors in experimental research that researchers manipulate directly
Inductive Reasoning
A process of creating conclusions based on a limited number of observations