Chapter 3 Flashcards

1
Q

After a general research area has been identified, what allows the aim and scope of the research idea to be refined?

A

Background reading about the topic.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

What is the starting point for learning about potential areas of inquiry?

A

To read nontechnical documents and other files available on the internet.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

What statistics are relevant when defining specific exposures, diseases, and populations?

A

1) Estimated PREVALENCE of the exposure in a particular country
2) Annual global INCIDENCE of a disease
3) SIZE of a particular population

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

What should we do regarding statistics?

A

Trace it back to its original source rather than relying on secondary sources.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

If the source of the statistical data is unclear, then ____.

A

The statistical data maybe not be trustworthy.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

What is an abstract?

A

A paragraph-length summary of an article, chapter, or book.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

What do abstracts provide?

A

A brief description of the study population (sample size + location of study), the study design, and key findings of the study.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

What do abstract databases do?

A

They allow researchers to search thousands of abstracts for keywords or other terms.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

What is the most important component of a careful literature search?

A

A careful and comprehensive search of atleast one major abstract database.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

What is the most popular publicly available health science database?

A

PubMed

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

List the health abstract databases that are available via subscription.

A

1) CAB Direct: For agriculture and nutrition
2) CINAHL
3) ERIC: Sponsored by US dept. of education.
4) MEDLINE: Sponsored by US National library of medicine and ONLY peer reviewed journals
5) PsycINFO: Supported by APA
6) Scopis, from Elsevier
7) Web of Science: Sciences and arts

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

A supplemental search with a general search engine such as ____ may be helpful for identifying additional relevant abstracts.

A

Google Scholar

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

When is a supplemental search especially important?

A

When the topic of interest is narrow enough to yield only a small or moderate number of hits.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

Abstract databases can be searched with:

A

1) Keywords or MeSH terms using Boolean operators like AND, OR, and NOT.
2) Limits (years, languages, other parameters)
3) Article title, author (last name and first initials), and journal title.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

What is the only way to truly understand a study?

A

Reading the full text of the article.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

How can you access full text articles?

A

Through journal websites (PubMed), personal websites, university libraries, HINARI (for low/middle income countries), and asking the author directly.

17
Q

What should a researcher do once acquiring a copy of a full-text article?

A

1) Re-read the abstract
2) Look carefully at the tables and figures (they display the most important results)
3) Read (or skim) the entire text of the article
4) Review the reference list for sny additional sources that the reviewer should read

18
Q

Should all articles be evaluated carefully?

A

Yes.

19
Q

Critical reading involves asking a series of questions about ____ and ____.

A

Internal validity; external validity

20
Q

What is internal validity?

A

How well a study was designed, conducted, interpreted, and reported AND how likely it is that the paper presents the truth about a particular research question in a particular population at a particular place and time.

21
Q

What is the external validity?

A

The likelihood that the results of a study with internal validity can be generalized to other populations, places, and times.

22
Q

What is one of the common approaches used to track the articles identified during a literature review?

A

The creation of an annotated bibliography.

23
Q

What does an annotated bibliography include?

A

MINIMUM:
1) A full reference for the document being reviewed
2) A brief summary of the article or report
EXTRA:
3) Notes about how a published report relates to the proposed new research project.

24
Q

What is the goal of an annotated bibliography?

A

To summarize the content most pertinent to the new investigation, NOT to replicate the document’s abstract.

25
Q

True or false:
Originality requires the discovery of a newly emergent disease in a previously unrecognized people group on a remote island.

A

False.

26
Q

What makes a research project original?

A

It needs to have only one substantive difference from previous work, like new exposure, disease, population, time period, or perspective.

27
Q

Once a researcher identifies a possible novel research question, what can confirm that the area has not already been examined?

A

A more complete review of the literature.

28
Q

What is the main challenge when selecting a research question?

A

The need to limit each research project to one focused area.

29
Q

Every research project has the possibility of contributing to advancing a field of research when it ____.

A

Addresses gaps in the literature and builds on previous work.

30
Q

What is “gaps in the literature”?

A

Missing pieces of information that a new study could fill.