Final Exam - Weeks 7 & 8

Question 1

A _____________ is most useful for obtaining a broad perspective on a topic, and is often an account of what has been published on a topic by accredited scholars and researchers.

Answer 1

Narrative review.

Question 2

In a _________________ the researcher may begin with a clear question to be answered, but they more often involve general discussion of a subject with no clearly stated hypothesis. They do not usually attempt to locate all relevant literature.

Answer 2

Narrative review.

Question 3

What makes a narrative review different from a systematic review?

Answer 3

Unlike a systematic review, which uses a structured and comprehensive approach to search for and analyze the literature, a narrative review typically relies on a more subjective and narrative approach.

Question 4

A _____________________ is a critical and systematic analysis of published research literature, books, articles, and other sources relevant to a particular research question, topic, or field of study. The main goal of a ___________________ is to identify, evaluate, and summarize the existing knowledge and research on a specific topic.

Answer 4

Literature review.

Question 5

A literature review can serve multiple purposes, including:

Answer 5

• Identifying gaps in the literature and areas for future research
• Providing context and background information for a research study
• Evaluating and synthesizing the existing research findings
• Identifying controversies, debates, or areas of disagreement in the literature
• Developing a theoretical or conceptual framework for a research study

Question 6

Are scoping reviews explanatory or exploratory?

Answer 6

Exploratory.

Question 7

A ________________ is a type of literature review that aims to provide an overview of a broad research topic or question by mapping the existing literature, identifying gaps, and summarizing the main findings. The main goal of a __________________ is to explore the extent, range, and nature of research on a particular topic, rather than to answer a specific research question.

Answer 7

Scoping review.

Question 8

_____________________________ purpose is to map rapidly the key concepts underpinning a research area and the main sources and types of evidence available. _______________________ address broad topics (many study designs may be applicable) and aim to answer broad questions (less likely to asses quality of studies)

Answer 8

Scoping reviews.

Question 9

The reasons for performing a scoping review may include…

Answer 9

• To examine the extent, range and nature of research activity.
• To determine the value of undertaking a full systematic review.
• To summarize and disseminate research findings quickly.
• To identify research gaps in the existing literature.

Question 10

Explain the main difference between scoping reviews and systematic reviews.

Answer 10

Scoping reviews seek to present an overview of a potentially large and diverse body of literature pertaining to a broad topic.

Systematic reviews attempt to collate empirical evidence from a relatively smaller number of studies pertaining to a focused research question.

Question 11

A form of knowledge synthesis that addresses an exploratory research question.

Answer 11

A scoping review.

Question 12

Scoping reviews are ________________, while systematic reviews are _____________________.

Answer 12

Scoping reviews are exploratory, while systematic reviews are explanatory.

Question 13

A __________________________ is a review of a clearly formulated question that uses systematic and explicit methods to identify, select and analyze data from the studies that are included in the review.

Answer 13

Systematic review.

Question 14

Why might a researcher decide to conduct a systematic review?

Answer 14

• Conflicting evidence exists on the topic.
• To determine the best practice.
• To explore relationship between exposure and outcome.
• To identify research gaps.

Question 15

Systematic reviews aim to…

Answer 15

• Minimize bias by using a replicable, systematic, and transparent approach.
• Summarize results.
• Generate balanced inference based on a collation and analysis of available evidence.
• Establish whether scientific findings are consistent across populations.

Question 16

A _______________ is a combination of at least two studies to produce a single estimate of the effect of an intervention under investigation.

Answer 16

Meta-analysis.

Question 17

What is a meta-analysis?

Answer 17

A meta-analysis is a statistical technique used in research to combine and analyze data from multiple independent studies on a particular topic, with the goal of drawing more reliable and generalizable conclusions than would be possible from individual studies alone.

Question 18

____________________ in the context of meta-analysis refers to the degree of variation or diversity among the results of the individual studies included in the analysis. It can arise due to differences in study design, participant characteristics, interventions or treatments, outcome measures, or other factors.

Answer 18

Heterogeneity

Question 19

Heterogeneity can be investigated to determine difference in populations studies, interventions used, outcomes, study design, study quality and random error. Explain how statistical methods can be used to measure heterogeneity.

Answer 19

Heterogeneity can be assessed using statistical methods such as the I-squared statistic, which estimates the proportion of total variability in effect sizes that is due to heterogeneity rather than chance.

High levels of heterogeneity can indicate that the individual studies are not sufficiently similar to be combined in a meaningful way, or that the results are influenced by factors other than the intervention being studied.

Question 20

The ____________________ is a measure of heterogeneity that is commonly used in meta-analysis to quantify the degree of variation or inconsistency among the results of the individual studies included in the analysis. It estimates the proportion of total variability in effect sizes that is due to heterogeneity rather than chance.

Answer 20

I-squared (I²) statistic.

Question 21

Explain the I-squared (I²) statistic scores.

Answer 21

The I-squared statistic ranges from 0% to 100%, with higher values indicating greater heterogeneity. A value of 0% indicates no heterogeneity, meaning that all of the studies have the same effect size, while a value of 100% indicates complete heterogeneity, meaning that the studies have widely varying effect sizes.

Question 22

What is publication bias

Answer 22

Publication bias refers to the tendency of researcher, reviewers and editors to selectively publish or report positive results and to suppress negative or inconclusive results in scientific research. This can lead to a distorted view of the overall evidence on a particular topic and can affect the validity and generalizability of research findings.

Question 23

What is this an example of? Researchers may be more likely to submit papers with positive results for publication, while journals may be more likely to accept and publish such papers. Negative or inconclusive results may be deemed less interesting or important, and researchers may not even bother to submit them for publication. This can lead to an overrepresentation of positive results in the published literature, which can skew our understanding of the true effects of an intervention or phenomenon.

Answer 23

Publication bias.

Question 24

Why does publication bias matter?

Answer 24

Publication bias matters because it can have serious consequences for decision-making in healthcare, policy, and other areas that rely on scientific evidence. For example, if only positive results are published for a certain drug, policy makers may be misled into thinking that the drug is more effective than it actually is. This can lead to inappropriate allocation of resources and even harm to patients who receive ineffective treatments.

(overestimation of benefit and underestimation of harm)

Question 25

A ____________________ is a graphical representation that is commonly used to detect publication bias in a meta-analysis. In a ___________________, the effect size (such as the mean difference or the standardized mean difference) of each study is plotted against a measure of its precision (such as the standard error or the sample size). The plot typically displays the effect estimates as dots, while the size of the dots reflects the sample size of each study.

Answer 25

Funnel plot.

Question 26

When using a funnel plot to detect publication bias in meta-analysis, explain how you can interpret the plot?

Answer 26

If there is no publication bias, the dots should be evenly distributed around the overall effect estimate, with smaller studies showing more variation in their effect estimates due to random error. In this case, the plot should resemble a symmetrical inverted funnel.

However, if there is publication bias, the plot may show a distinct asymmetry, with a lack of small studies that show negative or null effects. This is because negative or null studies may be less likely to be published, leading to a gap in the lower part of the funnel plot. As a result, the plot may appear skewed or tilted towards one side.

Question 27

The goal of ___________________ research is the development of concepts which help us to understand social phenomena in natural (rather than experimental settings), giving emphasis to meanings experiences and perspectives of participants.

Answer 27

Qualitative.

Question 28

One might engage in qualitative research…

Answer 28

• To explore complex phenomena not amenable to quantitative research
• Precursor or as a follow-up to quantitative research
• Supplemental (triangulation) to quantitative data

Question 29

These methodologies are common in ___________ research:
- Grounded theory
- Ethnography
- Critical discourse analysis
- Narrative inquiry
- Phenomenology
- Case study/ multiple case study

Answer 29

Qualitative

Question 30

The following are common _______________ data collection methods.
- Interviews
- Focus groups
- Observations
- Documents/visuals

Answer 30

Qualitative

Question 31

Interviews are not an oral survey, they are a ____________.

Answer 31

purposeful conversation.

Question 32

When would the choice to do an interview be appropriate for data collection?

Answer 32

• When you want in-depth exploration of a particular topic.
• When you want a flexible, iterative, responsive approach.
• When you want to access participants’ understandings, attitudes and/or perceptions.

Question 33

When would the choice to use a focus group for data collection be appropriate?

Answer 33

• When the interaction amongst group members is desirable.
• When the perspective of a group is desirable.
• When group “consensus,” or capturing divergent views is the goal.

Question 34

When would the choice to use observations for data collection be the most appropriate?

Answer 34

• When you want to move beyond individual thinking, attitudes, perceptions and instead capture behaviors and actions.
• When you want to study the cultural and relational aspects of social phenomena.
• When you want to build a thick description of a particular context.

Question 35

Quantitative and qualitative approaches are often artificially seen as opposing poles. They are different, but ______________ ways of viewing similar phenomena.

Answer 35

Complimentary.

Question 36

___________ research offers insight into what/why/how things matter to people. This is critical information for occupational scientists.

Answer 36

Qualitative.