L1 - Research Questions

Question 1

What are the 4 steps in developing a research question?

Answer 1

Step 1 - Find a broad topic

Step 2 - Review the literature

Step 3 - Identify your research problem

Step 4 - Refine your initial, broad question

Question 2

Define Step 1 of developing a research question:

Answer 2

• Do not be too narrow initially
• Find a broad topic that you are interested in and motivated by

Question 3

Define Step 2 of developing a research question:

Answer 3

Literature Review

• What do we and do we not know?
• Is the existing information conflicting?
• Critically appraise the literature

Question 4

Define Step 3 of developing a research question:

Answer 4

Identify a research problem

• Systematic reviews can be helpful

Question 5

Define Step 4 of developing a research question:

Answer 5

Refine the question:

• Define specific terms
• Specify populations, outcomes, comparators

Question 6

What are the criteria for a good research question?

Answer 6

1. The question has not already been adequately addressed
2. It passes the ‘so what’ test
3. The question is answerable
4. The question is feasible

Question 7

What is an independent variable?

Answer 7

AKA predictor variable or exposure variable

An independent variable is the condition, intervention or characteristic that will predict a given outcome

Question 8

What is a dependent variable?

Answer 8

AKA outcome variable or measure, or predicted variable

A dependent variable is the response or effect that is presumed to change depending on the independent variable

Question 9

What is an experimental study?

Answer 9

The researcher does something to the participants (manipulates the independent variable) and measures any changes to the dependent variable

Question 10

What is an observational study?

Answer 10

The researcher observes a group and has no control over what happens. They measure the dependent variable in pre-existing groups of participants.

Question 11

What is the formula for a RQ in an experimental study?

Answer 11

Is there a difference in (DV) in (population) who (IV 1) and (IV 2)?

Question 12

What principle is used for the design of an experimental study RQ?

Answer 12

The PICO Principle

Question 13

Explain the PICO Principle:

Answer 13

P - Patient/Population

I - Intervention/IV 1

C - Comparison/IV 2

O - Outcome/DV

Question 14

What is the formula for an RQ in an observational study?

Answer 14

Is there an association between IV and DV in population?

Question 15

What principle is used in the design of observational studies?

Answer 15

The PECO Principle

Question 16

Explain the PECO Principle:

Answer 16

P = Patient/Population

E = Exposure/IV/Predictor/Risk Factor

C = Comparison IV

O = Outcome

Question 17

What is the formula for a RQ in qualitative research?

Answer 17

What is (phenomenon under investigation) of population

e.g. What are the school experiences of people who stammer?

Question 18

What is sampling and why do we do it?

Answer 18

Taking a sub-group that is representative of a full population to take part in the study - this is more resource-effective and feasible than studying a whole population.

Question 19

What is a sampling error?

Answer 19

The error between the mean in a sample compared to the mean in the population.

Question 20

Why may samples be different?

Answer 20

• Samples were taken from 2 truly different populations
• Samples were drawn from populations that were not truly different, but a difference was found due to sampling error

Question 21

Why may samples not have a difference?

Answer 21

• Drawn from 2 populations that did not differ
• Samples were drawn from 2 populations that were different but the difference was not evident due to sampling error

Question 22

What is inferential statistics?

Answer 22

Looking at the mean from 2+ samples and attempts to correct for sampling errors when looking for difference.

Something is inferred about a population based on the sample.

Question 23

What is descriptive statistics?

Answer 23

Purely describe the data that is in the sample, with no manipulation/attempt to correct for error.

i.e. establish the mean, median and SD of a data set

Question 24

What is a hypothesis?

Answer 24

A potential answer to a RQ

Question 25

What is a null hypothesis?

Answer 25

The hypothesis that there is no significant difference between specified populations, and that any observed difference is due to a sampling or experimental error.

Question 26

What is the formula for a null hypothesis?

Answer 26

There is no difference between group A and group B in…

Question 27

What is the principle of falsification?

Answer 27

The principle of falsification states we try to disprove a theory, not prove it.

Question 28

How do you formulate a hypothesis?

Answer 28

As a declaritive rephrasing of the RQ:

E.g.

Is there a difference in F0 in the voices of people who have read out loud for 2 hours, and people who have read silently?

H0: There is no difference in F0 in the voices of people who have read out loud for 2 hours and people who have read silently

Ha: There is a difference in F0 in the voices of people who have read out loud for 2 hours and people who have read silently

Question 29

Why are the results of qualitative studies not generalisable?

Answer 29

In qualitative research, samples are typically small and hand-selected, meaning they’re not representative of populations

This means that comparisons between samples cannot be generalised to populations, meaning there’s no need for inferential statistics and hypotheses