Final Flashcards
Basic science research (benchtop)
acquisition of new knowledge for its own sake, motivated by intellectual curiosity, without reference the potential practical use of results
Translational research
the application of basic scientific findings to clinically relevant issues and simultaneously, the generation of scientific questions based on clinical dilemmas
Applied Research
is directed toward solving immediate practical problems with functional applications and testing the theories that direct practical
Hierarchy of Evidence
prioritizing sources of knowledge based upon their scientific rigior (and how relevant it is to your clinical question)
Experimental Design
Allows for manipulation of independent variables
Longitudinal or cross sectional study
Prospective study (occuring in “real time”)
Non-experimental design
CAN NOT manipulate independent variable (ex: case study, case control, thematic analysis)
Correlational study
Retrospective study (looking over past studies)
Descriptive Statistic
characterizes shape, central tendency, and variability within a set of data, often with the intent to describe a population
Inferential Statistics
To derive a conclusion from facts or premises
involves a decision making process that allows us to estimate population characteristics from sample data
analysis of data is based on testing a statistical hypothesis, which differs from the research hypothesis in that it will always express no difference or relationship between the independent and dependent variables.
Variable
a property that can differentiate individuals or objects. It can be a number or characteristic that is coded in numerical form
Independent variable
presumed to cause, explain or influence a dependent variable, a variable that is manipulated or controlled by the researcher, who sets its values or levels
Dependent variable
a response variable that is assumed to depend on or be caused by another (independent variable)
Continuous variable
a # that can take on any value along a continuum within a defined range (like a number line). Between any 2 points, there exists an infinite number of fractional values -> THINK QUANTITATIVE DATA
Discrete Variable
can ONLY be described in whole units. If the choices are only 2, you can call them dichotomous variables -> THINK QUALITATIVE DATA
Ratio
scale data, measurements along a continuous scale whole scale begsins at 0 (length or width), distance, age, time
Interval
scale data, same as ratio, but data do not have 0 as low end of scale years, degrees (C, F)
Ordinal
scale data, generally used for irregular scaled data converted to ranks or relative position manual muscle test, function, pain
Nominal or categorical data (ex: binary data)
gender, blood type, dx
Single Factor Experimental
manipulates 1 independent variable but the independent variable may have diff levels if the variable is exercise, levels may be no exercise, aerobic exercise or weight training.
Alternative hypothesis
true difference between the groups and the treatment was effective
null hypothesis
statistical hypothesis which states that the group means are not different
Repeated measures design
WITHIN subjects design, results of one intervention compared to results of another intervention in the same subjects
Same subjects are measured under ALL levels of the independent variable.
VERY powerful design, as using same subjects as their own controls eliminates threats to internal validity
Single subject design (n of one)
results of one intervention compared to results of another intervention in the same subject
Single-case experimental design (SCED)
researcher controlling for variables
Single Subject (ABA or Withdrawl Design)
A: the number of observarions with no treatments
B: number of observations with treatments
If the treatment is successful there should be improvement on the dependent varaible in the B sessions. To show the improvement is the effect of the IV, A session is given. If improvement reverse, the hypothesis is supported.
Single Subject (ABAB Design)
Represents an attempt to measure a baseline (the first A), a treatment measurement (the first B), the withdrawl of treatment (second A), and the re-intro of treatment (the second B).
Ethnography
Discover and describe the perspective of people or social scene/cultural group, a systematic investivagtion of language, activities, routines, structures of social life, relationsips, and cultural beliefs (habits)
Phenomenology
A way of doing research (method) and a way of conceptualizing thought
How the ordinary/ everyday experience is perceived and expressed by the individual
Grounded theory
Inductive reasoning designed to construct a theory
Theory emerges from already collected data
The theory is a generalization of the empirical data collected by the investigator
Existed theory doesn’t direct the investigation
Skewness
a measure of symmetry or more precisely the lack of symmetry, a NORMAL distribution or data set is symmetric (skewness = 0)
Kurtosis
a measure of whether the data are peaked or flat relative to a normal distribution
Variance
compare how much one group will vary from another
Standard deviation
how much variability there is within a dataset that is expressed in terms of the same units as the dataset in question
SD reported with the average mean as a way to express something about how variable the sample datasets are
z-score
a statistical measurement that describes a value’s relationship to the mean of a group of values. Z-score is measured in terms of standard deviations from the mean.
Prospective Non-Experimental Analysis of Differences: Cohort Studies
Involves identification of 2 groups (cohorts) one that received the treatment (exposure) of interest and one that did not
Not randomized or blinded
Ex: smoking (follow over time, compare)
A study in which patients who presently have a certain condition and/or receive a particular treatment are followed over time and compared with another group who are not affected by the condition under investigation
PROBLEM is they can end up taking a very long time since researchers have to wait for the conditions of interest to develop
Retrospective, non-experimental, analysis of differences
a study involving the identification of patients who have the outcome of interest (cases) and control patients without the same outcome, and looking back to see if they have exposure of interest
Case Control Studies: patients who already have a condition compared to people who don’t. Ex: lung cancer pt asked how much they smoked in the past compared to general
Simple random sampling
Get a list or sampling frame (hard part bc it must not systemically exclude anyone)
Generate random numbers
Select one person per random number (equal opportunity)