Chapter 2 Flashcards
What is the first step towards a successful research project?
Selecting one workable study topic.
Many research questions in the health science arise from?
From observations made during applied practice.
A good research question is one that_____.
1) Ends in a question mark. (It’s not a declaration or a statement, but a genuine query).
2) Testable (can be measured and examined)
What is a good starting point for identifying a research topic if applied practice doesn’t work?
Brainstorming
What is the goal of brainstorming?
To create a long list of possible research topics.
True or false:
Brainstorming is the stage for elimination of infeasible ideas. At this stage, the ideas should be feasible and well formed.
False; this is not the stage for eliminating infeasible ideas and the ideas do not need to be well formed.
What are the 6 areas that may help in brainstorming?
1) Values
2) Skills
3) Personal growth
4) Connections
5) Job/course requirements
6) Gaps in the literature
What process is related to brainstorming?
Concept mapping
What are the steps to concept mapping?
1) List several diseases or population groups that are interesting to study
2) Identify related ideas that show up several times and appear to be a central theme
3) Use circles and arrows to clarify connections
4) Consider which of these areas are worth exploring
What is next step towards refining the areas of interest after brainstorming and concept mapping?
Compiling a list of related keywords
How do you compile a list of keywords?
Jot down a long list of words that may help focus the research question.
What is the goal of compiling a list of related keywords?
To identify a range of potential study foci within the major area of interest.
Which database is helpful for identifying the full extent of a research area and narrowing the scope of a research area?
MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) database
How could the MeSH database help a researcher?
The researcher could move from a vague topic to a more focused one, or vice versa.
Exposures and diseases can have many characteristics. Give a few examples.
1) Social and environmental indicators
2) Nutritional status
3) Infections
4) Chronic diseases
5) Mental health status
6) Quality-of-life measures
7) Health service use
For experimental studies, the intervention being investigated is the ____. The ____ is the group of individuals, communities, or organizations that will be examined.
Exposure; Population.
The keywords compiled during brainstorming and concept mapping often fit into _____,_____, and_____.
Exposure, disease, and population.
The researcher should divide the keywords into 3 groups:
1) One for exposures or interventions
2) One for diseases or outcomes
3) One for specific populations
What is the standard format question formed from the exposure, disease, and population?
“Is [exposure] related to [disease/outcome] in [population]?”
What is an alternate approach to framing a research question?
PICOT: P: Patient/Population studied I: Intervention tested C: Intervention will be compared to O: Outcome of interest T: Timeframe for follow-up
What is PICOT helpful for?
For addressing clinical research questions and designing intervention studies.
What is one benefit of using PICOT?
It points towards the selection of key indicators that would provide evidence for the success of the intervention.
