Fundamentals of Research Flashcards

You may prefer our related Brainscape-certified flashcards:
1
Q

How do we know anything?

A
  • scientific method drives knowledge
  • starts with observation/question, then hypothesis, tested, result, and conclusion
  • update collective thinking
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

observational

A

independent variable not under the control of the observer, just observing the dependent variables

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

experimental

A

independent variable directly manipulated by experimenters and then observe dependent variables

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

What are examples of observational studies?

A
  • case control
  • cross-sectional
  • cohort
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

What are examples of experimental studies?

A
  • non-randomized controlled trial
  • randomized controlled trial (parallel/crossover group)
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

What is the gold standard of research design?

A

one placebo-controlled, double-blind, randomized trial of a sufficient and generalizable sample; can provide the highest quality of evidence

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

What are some pros and cons of background information, expert opinions, and non-EBM guidelines?

A

Pros:
- easy to access
- can be agreed upon knowledge
- trust in the expert can be high

Cons:
- can be wrong information
- people can say whatever they want (no quality control)
- not necessarily based on evidence
- not necessarily based on scientific method
- biases rampant

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

What are some pros and cons from individual case reports?

A

Pros:
- real data from patient/case
- new observations possible
- generate hypotheses
- useful for rare disorders

Cons:
- small amount of data
- poor for cause/effect understanding
- no ability to generalize

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

What are some pros/cons from case series or studies?

A

Pros:
- more useful than case reports as more data
- very useful for rare disorders/conditions
- observational, can record data
- easy to do

Cons:
- no control group
- difficult to generalize
- selection bias (biases of who is available to come to your clinic)
- often a single time point

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

What are some pros and cons of a cohort study?

A

Pros:
- can determine temporal sequence (for cause/effect)
- determine incidence (how often X happens)
- can study rare exposures
- can evaluate multiple exposures and outcomes
- avoids selection bias

Cons:
- very expensive and time consuming (ex. follow people for years and years)
- not useful for rare diseases/outcomes
- not useful for diseases with long prodromal phase
- loss of follow-up can lead to bias

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

What are the pros/cons of a non-randomized controlled trial?

A

Pros:
- generally cheaper and quicker than RCTs
- can show evidence of benefit/harm of an intervention
- randomization might be unethical (ex. smoking during pregnancy/ 9/11 individuals who had health outcomes)

Cons:
- poor ability to generalize
- may be reasons for group membership
- blinding may not be possible

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

What are the pros/cons of randomized controlled trials?

A

Pros:
- randomization limits bias and confounders (includes variation)
- group membership not influenced by choice
- comparative
- only study type that can definitively show cause & effect (how people were at beginning vs. end)

Cons:
- expensive
- major problems with dropout/poor adherence = affects credibility of experiment (strive for 80-90%)
- may need huge study to actually test the question (smaller difference you want, more people you need)

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

What are the pros/cons of evidence-based practice guidelines?

A

Pros:
- generally from trusted sources (ex. APA)
- generally accurate information
- can integrate information across many different studies and give one conclusion

Cons:
- still requires transparency/trust to be useful (still may have people talk about things for a reason)
- often slow to adapt to new information (sometimes only update guidelines every 10 years)
- no quantitative data (no numbers; just yes/no)

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

What are the pros/cons of systematic reviews?

A

Pros:
- typically comprehensive
- can identify gaps in evidence
- show methodological problems/concerns

Cons:
- no quantitative assessment
- can be biased
- may miss information

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

What are the pros/cons of meta-analyses?

A

Pros:
- provide a single effect size estimate (how much?)
- can also include moderator/modifier estimates (does X matter?)
- provide systematic evidence
- can compare between treatments
- the most useful!
- synthesizes all studies conducted into one study

Cons:
- may not be asking the right question
- reliant on quality of studies that go into it

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

What is contained in the new pyramid of evidence?

A
  • lines separating study designs become wavy
  • systematic reviews are “chopped off” pyramid
  • systematic reviews are a lens through which evidence is viewed
17
Q

effect size (ES)

A

standardized mean difference between groups