Lecture 4 - Scientific Considerations And Generalisability Of Research Flashcards
What is conflict of interest?
A situation in which a person is (or persons are) in a position to derive personal benefit and unfair advantage from actions or decisions made in their official capacity
What is researcher bias?
Any factor (e.g. investment in the product being studied or gifts from the product manufacturer) that might influence the researcher to favour certain results
What is selection bias?
Individuals or groups recruited, or the data used in analysis, are selected in a way that is not random
What is self-report bias?
Error introduced with self-report data
What is recall bias?
Differences in the ability of participants to accurately recall the variable being measured (e.g. physical activity level)
What is reporting bias?
Differences between reported and unreported results
What is publication bias?
Tendency for journals to publish studies with positive results
What is confounding?
Error or inaccuracy in the effect of an exposure on an outcome due to the influence of another factor
What is residual confounding?
The error or inaccuracy that remains after controlling for confounding in the design and/or analysis of a study
List some ways to minimise bias in research
• Journals enforce disclosure requirements and penalise anyone who does not disclose
• Prevent industry influencing research design, data analysis, and interpretation of findings
• Develop more accurate measurements to reduce self-report and recall bias
• More funding for well-designed, large-scale, long-term RCTs that examine cause and effect
• Improve transparency by researchers providing access to datasets from studies for re-analysis and that all RCTS must be registered (methods described)
• Require journals to publish studies with negative findings
• Avoid using language implying causation when the results are indicative of associations
• Support researchers and journalists to work together to help the general public gain a more complete understanding of what studies are really telling us
What is health inequality?
The preventable, unfair and unjust differences in health status between groups, populations or individuals that arise from the unequal distribution of social, environmental and economic conditions within societies, which determine the risk of people getting ill, their ability to prevent sickness, or opportunities to take action and access treatment when ill health occurs.
What is deprivation?
The damaging lack of material benefits considered to be basic necessities in a society
What are the 3 R/s in NC3Rs?
• Replacement - replacing animal use e.g. cell cultures, computer modelling or human tissue
• Reduction - where animal use is necessary, keeping numbers to the minimum e.g. use statistical methods to determine the smallest number of animals that need to be used
• Refinement - where animal use is necessary, minimising pain and suffering and improving welfare
