Midterm Review Flashcards by Elizabeth McGuffey

True or False?

The five steps of the research process can vary according to the goal of the
research project or according to what methods are used

False

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True or False?

Population health focuses on the outcomes and determinants of health in groups of humans

True

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What type of research evaluates the best ways to prevent, diagnose, and treat adverse health issues that affect individuals and families?

A) Clinical research
B) Basic medical research
C) Population health research
D) Translational research

A) Clinical research

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Demography is often used as a tool in what type of research?

A) Clinical research
B) Basic medical research
C) Population health research
D) Translational research

C) Population health research

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What is the fourth step in the research
process?

A) Designing the study
B) Selecting a general study approach
C) Reporting the findings
D) Analyzing the data

D) Analyzing the data

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True or False?

The goal of concept mapping is to create a long list of possible
research topics

False

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True or False?

Questions derived from practice often point toward an unmet demand for
needs assessments, program evaluations, and clinical effectiveness studies

True

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Which of the following points toward the selection of key indicators that would provide evidence for the
success of the intervention?

A) Brainstorming
B) Concept mapping
C) PICOT
D) Practical questions

C) PICOT

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Which of the following, related to the candidate question, will assist the researcher in determining what is already known about the topic and what new information a new study could contribute?

A) Meta-analysis
B) Literature review
C) Questionnaires
D) Concept mapping

B) Literature review

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What database, developed by the U.S. National Library of Medicine, can be helpful for identifying the full extent of a research area and for narrowing the scope of a research area?

A) PubMed
B) MedWatch
C) MeSh (Medical Subject Headings Database)
D) MEDLINE

C) MeSh (Medical Subject Headings Database)

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True or False?

The only way to truly understand a study is to read the full text of the article.

True

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True or False?

For a research project to be considered original, it needs to have only one substantive difference from
previous work.

True

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Which database is sponsored by the U.S. National Library of Medicine and features only journals that have applied for inclusion and passed through a review process?

A) LILACS
B) MEDLINE
C) SciELO
D) EBSCO

B) MEDLINE

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Because many peer-reviewed journals are not included in the databases, especially journals in languages other than English, which search engine may be helpful for identifying additional relevant abstracts?

A) SPORTDiscus
B) Ovid
C) Google Scholar
D) LexisNexis

C) Google Scholar

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Critical reading involves asking a series of questions about what aspect of a study in order to ascertain how well a particular study was designed, conducted, interpreted, and reported
and to assess how likely it is that the resulting paper presents the truth about a particular research question in a particular population at a particular place and time?

A) Internal validity
B) External validity
C) Specificity
D) Sensitivity

A) Internal validity

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True or False?

A goal or objective statement for a clinical or population health research project usually states the exposures, diseases or outcomes, and/or populations that will be the focus of the study

True

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True or False?

When writing independent objectives, the specific aims should be interrelated and dependent on one
another

False

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Which of the following is sketched out using boxes and arrows that illustrate the various relationships that will be
evaluated during the study?

A) Conceptual framework
B) Theoretical framework
C) Experimental framework
D) Perceptual framework

A) Conceptual framework

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At what point should the researcher identify three or more specific objectives that stem from the main study goal?

A) Prior to the literature review
B) After completion of the abstract
C) After finalizing the overarching study goal
D) Prior to development of a conceptual model

C) After finalizing the overarching study goal

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What is a good way to evaluate if a new research project is likely to be successfully completed?

A) Replication study
B) External validity study
C) Feasibility study
D) Primary study

C) Feasibility study

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True or False?

Descriptive epidemiology studies seek to identify the risk factors for various health outcomes or to test the effectiveness of interventions intended to improve health status

False

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True or False?

Primary studies are often time-consuming because they require the collection of new data from participants

True

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What type of studies seek to recruit a study population that is representative of a well-defined larger population?

A) Case-control studies
B) Case series
C) Cross-sectional studies
D) Meta-analysis

C) Cross-sectional studies

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Secondary data collection might become labor intensive if which of the following have to be retrieved, read, coded, and entered into a database?

A) Questionnaires
B) Abstracts
C) Full-text journal articles
D) Old hospital charts

D) Old hospital charts

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The timeline for what type of study might be very short if an entire data file and the relevant supporting documentation can be downloaded from a website? A) Primary study B) Secondary study C) Tertiary study D) Quaternary study

B) Secondary study

True or False? Case definitions are essential for any outbreak investigation no matter which study approach is used to investigate the epidemic

True

True or False? The medical information in patient files is not recorded for research purposes, so records are unlikely to contain all the information that researchers would like to know.

True

Which of the following is defined as the percentage of members of a population who die of any condition during a specified time period? A) Morbidity rate B) Mortality rate C) Case fatality rate D) Proportionate mortality rate

B) Mortality rate

Some case series follow patients for days, months, or even years. In this type of study approach, the case series functionally becomes what type of study? A) Cross-sectional study B) Cohort study C) Case-control study D) Correlational study

B) Cohort study

Which of the following is a key characteristic to watch out for when performing a case series study? A) Lack of specificity B) Lack of sensitivity C) Lack of generalizability D) Lack of validity

C) Lack of generalizability

True or False? Cross-sectional studies measure the prevalence of various exposure histories, disease states, and demographic characteristics in one well-defined population at one point in time

True

True or False? Cross-sectional surveys are used to establish baseline data prior to the initiation of longitudinal studies

True

What commonly used type of cross-sectional study asks participants about their knowledge, attitudes, beliefs, perceptions, practices, and behaviors? A) KAP survey B) Repeated cross-sectional survey C) Longitudinal cohort survey D) Meta-analytical survey

A) KAP survey

What type of study method is used for many of the largest studies conducted by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention? A) KAP survey B) Repeated cross-sectional survey C) Longitudinal cohort survey D) Meta-analytical survey

B) Repeated cross-sectional survey

Which of the following would be the first step in conducting a cross-sectional study? A) Define a source population B) Develop a strategy for recruiting a representative sample C) Decide on methods to be used for data collection D) Describe the exposure and/or disease status in a population

A) Define a source population

True or False? The variables used as matching criteria must be considered as exposures during analysis

False

True or False? When the entire 95% confidence interval is less than 1, the odds ratio is statistically significant and the exposure is deemed to be protective in the study population

True

What type of table is used in case-control studies to compare two dichotomous (yes/no) variables? A) Crosstab B) Bar histogram C) Contingency table D) Two-by-two (2x2) table

D) Two-by-two (2x2) table

Which of the following is the measure of association that readers will expect to be reported for a case-control study? A) Odds ratio B) Chi-square C) Confidence interval D) p-value

A) Odds ratio

What type of matching approach is common in genetic studies that link each case to a genetic sibling or another close genetic relative for analysis? A) Frequency matching B) Group matching C) Matched-pairs matching D) Contingency matching

C) Matched-pairs matching

True or False? Studies that measure individuals randomly sampled from the same populations at different points in time are using a cohort study approach

False

True or False? Recruiting based on exposure status makes retrospective and prospective cohort studies the optimal study approaches for uncommon exposures

True

Longitudinal studies use what type of population in which all participants start the study at the same time and no one is permitted to join later? A) Open population B) Limited population C) Fixed population D) Dynamic population

C) Fixed population

Participants of what kind of study are recruited based on membership in a well-defined source population? A) Historic cohort study B) Retrospective cohort study C) Prospective cohort study D) Longitudinal cohort study

D) Longitudinal cohort study

What type of study design should be used to investigate an exposure that is relatively uncommon but a source of exposed individuals is available? A) Time-series study B) Panel study C) Longitudinal cohort study D) Prospective cohort study

D) Prospective cohort study

True or False? The sensitivity is the proportion of people who do not have the disease who test negative with the new test

False

True or False? Regardless of which analytic approach is used, the research protocol should include specific plans for promoting compliance and minimizing dropouts

True

Which of the following examines where a new test is good at predicting the presence of disease? A) Positive predictive value B) Negative predictive value C) Positive likelihood ratio test D) Negative likelihood ratio test

C) Positive likelihood ratio test

What type of randomization randomly assigns groups of people to an intervention group and other groups of people to a control group? A) Cluster randomization B) Block randomization C) Stratified randomization D) Cluster randomization

B) Block randomization

Which of the following is the first step when designing an experimental study? A) Decide on the intervention and eligibility criteria B) Define what will constitute a favorable outcome C) Decide on what control is an appropriate comparison for the intervention D) Select the method for randomizing participants to an intervention or control group

A) Decide on the intervention and eligibility criteria

True or False? Questions that begin with “who?”, “where?”, “when?”, and “what?” are the main types asked in qualitative research

False

True or False? A case study is a research approach that uses a single data source to examine multiple people, groups, or events

False

Under which paradigm do researchers have a relativist perspective that considers reality for each individual to be a function of that person’s lived experiences? A) Post-positivism B) Critical theory C) Constructivism D) Transformative

C) Constructivism

Which approach to gather and interpret qualitative data seeks to understand how participants understand, interpret, and find meaning in their own life experiences and feelings? A) Phenomenology B) Grounded theory C) Ethnography D) Critical theory

A) Phenomenology

What type of research might collect quantitative data first and then use a qualitative study to help interpret the results? A) Ethnographic B) Explanatory C) Theoretical D) Exploratory

B) Explanatory

True or False? Direct age adjustment requires knowing the exposure or disease rates by age group in each population

True

True or False? Correlational studies are a useful starting point for generating hypotheses about associations, but they are not the final word on risk factors for a disease

True

Before conducting a statistical analysis of aggregate data, the data from each population must be entered into which of the following? A) Histogram B) Matrix C) Scatterplot D) Spreadsheet

D) Spreadsheet

On a scatterplot used to illustrate correlation, when the points are not exactly linear but a line for trend can be drawn through them, the correlation is said to be which of the following? A) Strong B) Moderate C) Weak D) Nonexistent

B) Moderate

For continuous variables and other variables with responses that can be plotted on a number line, which of the following is used to calculate the correlation? A) Pearson correlation coefficient B) Spearman rank-order correlation C) Kendall’s rank-order correlation D) Linear regression models

A) Pearson correlation coefficient

True or False? The ethical principle of distributive justice seeks to ensure that the benefits and burdens of research are equitable

True

True or False? Coercion could include social pressure or requests from authority figures that make it difficult for an individual not to agree to enroll in a study

True

Which of the following is defined as the assurance that individuals get to choose what information they reveal about themselves? A) Privacy B) Autonomy C) Confidentiality D) Authority

A) Privacy

What type of statement provides essential information about research projects to potential research participants so that they can make a thoughtful decision about whether to enroll in a study? A) Waiver B) Informed consent C) Certificate of confidentiality D) Advance directive

B) Informed consent

Providing a small gift as a token of goodwill before an individual is asked to participate in a study is an example of what? A) Bribery B) Deception activity C) Culturally appropriate recruiting D) Understood consent

D) Understood consent

True or False? Research ethics committees are usually composed of at least five members with similar backgrounds

False

True or False? Proposals for analysis of existing data may be significantly shorter than proposals for new data collection

True

Which of the following is usually required when an intervention will be tested in individuals or a community, data will be collected through interaction with individuals, or identifiable private information will be collected? A) Exemption from review of the research proposal B) Expedited review of the research proposal C) Abbreviated review of the research proposal D) Full review of the research proposal

D) Full review of the research proposal

When should all ongoing research protocols be re-reviewed? A) Monthly B) Every 3 months C) Every 6 months D) Annually

D) Annually

Which of the following is a major function of an ethics review board? A) Conduct continuing review of long-term research projects B) Protect researchers by preventing them from engaging in activities that could cause harm C) Legally protect the researchers’ institution from the liability that could occur as a result of research activities D) Protect the human subjects who will participate in observational or experimental studies or whose personal information will be examined by researchers

A) Conduct continuing review of long-term research projects

True or False? The sample population consists of individuals from the study population who are invited to participate in the research project

False

True or False? In a case-control study, the controls must be similar to the cases in every way except for their disease status

True

Researchers attempting to generate a random sample from the source population need to avoid what type of bias that could occur if each individual in the source population does not have an equal chance of being selected for the sample population? A) Nonrandom sampling bias B) Ascertainment bias C) Nonresponse bias D) Convenience bias

A) Nonrandom sampling bias

What type of sampling is usually the preferred option for producing a sample population that is similar to the source population as a whole? A) Random sampling B) Cluster sampling C) Multistage sampling D) Probability based sampling

D) Probability based sampling

Which of the following should always be the top priority when designing and implementing an experimental study? A) Safety B) Efficacy C) Sensitivity D) Specificity

A) Safety

True or False? If too many participants are recruited, the whole study will be almost worthless because the sample will not have enough statistical power to answer the study question.

False

True or False? If the power estimates for a study are lower than desired, the easiest way to improve the power is to increase the sample size.

True

The standard expectation is that a study’s analyses should have a power of what value or greater? A) 60% B) 70% C) 80% D) 90%

C) 80%

What type of error occurs when a study population yields a significant statistical test result even though a significant difference or association does not actually exist in the source population? A) Type 1 error B) Type 2 error C) Type 3 error D) Type 4 error

A) Type 1 error

Which of the following is a statistical estimate of how close to the population value a sample of a particular size is expected to be? A) Chi-square statistic B) Confidence interval C) Study power D) p-Value

B) Confidence interval

True or False? Prospective cohort studies examining rates of incidence of disease require a series of questions about both exposure status and disease status.

True

True or False? Decisions about the types of questions to ask must include considerations of which statistical tests the researcher wants to run on the collected data

True

Factors that might influence the relationships between key exposures and outcomes are referred to as which of the following? A) Categorical variables B) Potential confounders C) Potential variables D) Type 2 errors

B) Potential confounders

What type of question forces respondents to select answers that do not truly express their status or opinions? A) Open-ended questions B) Closed-ended questions C) Categorical questions D) Dichotomous questions

B) Closed-ended questions

For what type of questions must decisions be made about how many entries to include on a scale and whether there will be a neutral option? A) Open-ended questions B) Closed-ended questions C) Categorical questions D) Ranked questions

D) Ranked questions

True or False? The goal of recruiting is to maximize the participation rate among members of a sample population so as to yield a study population that is reasonably representative of the source population

True

True or False? Only a few out of every hundred calls made by random-digit dialing may yield one person willing to participate in the survey

True

Recording responses to open-ended questions verbatim without rephrasing, paraphrasing, “correcting,” or interpreting them is an example of what type of characteristic of well-trained interviewers? A) Honest B) Careful C) Impartial D) Consistent

A) Honest

Which of the following is the highest cost associated with interviews? A) Postage B) Personnel C) Data entry D) Photocopying

B) Personnel

The major advantage of what type of survey is that costs associated with it are relatively low? A) In-person interviews B) Telephone interviews C) Postal surveys D) Internet-based surveys

D) Internet-based surveys

True or False? Focus groups often use homogeneous sampling to recruit participants with similar backgrounds, experiences, or perspectives

True

True or False? The Delphi method is a structured decision-making and forecasting process in which participants engaged in completing individual questionnaires

True

What type of data collection starts with a list of open-ended questions, which are followed up with more questions to provide a more complete or specific response? A) In-depth interview B) Focus-group discussion C) Semi-structured interview D) Overt observation

C) Semi-structured interview

What is the normal group size for a focus group discussion? A) 8 to 10 people B) 4 to 6 people C) 10 to 12 people D) 2 to 4 people

A) 8 to 10 people

What type of observation involves the researcher studying participants in a laboratory in full view of the participants? A) Natural B) Controlled C) Overt D) Covert

B) Controlled

True or False? Anthropometric measurements are physiological measurements that can be quantified accurately after minimal instruction

False

True or False? A well-trained clinician can make accurate and reliable assessments of many health states that machines are unable to assess well

True

Which of the following may be helpful for identifying the presence of a disease or markers for a disease? A) Tests of physiological function B) Laboratory analysis of biological specimens C) Medical imaging D) Clinical examination

B) Laboratory analysis of biological specimens

Which of the following is a test that measures lung function? A) Spirometry B) Audiometry C) Electrocardiography D) Electroencephalography

A) Spirometry

When conducting physical fitness tests, the top priority for researchers should be what? A) Accurate measurements B) Participant safety C) Using the right test for each category D) Muscle strength and endurance

D) Muscle strength and endurance

True or False? Some universities require a professor to be listed as the PI on any research project that involves human subjects even if a student is taking the lead role in the conduct of the project

True

True or False? A strong protocol should be detailed enough that the entire methods section of any paper that will result from the project could be written before data collection begins

True

Which of the following tasks would need to be performed by the researcher if existing data is going to be analyzed? A) Identify an appropriate way to sample and recruit participants B) Develop a questionnaire and other data collection tools C) Prepare an application for a research ethics review committee D) Identify an appropriate data source and supporting materials

D) Identify an appropriate data source and supporting materials

What research characteristic requires a detailed set of explanations about how participants were sampled? A) Rigor B) Consent C) Reproducibility D) Confidentiality

C) Reproducibility

True or False? When writing a research proposal, the researcher should assume that the readers of the proposal have an in-depth knowledge of the particular research area.

False

A Gantt chart can be very helpful for visually displaying which of the following? A) Research policy B) Research protocol C) Research timeline D) Research outline

C) Research timeline

Which of the following is normally submitted by the researcher so that the funder can confirm that there is a reasonable match between the sponsor and the proposed research plan before inviting a full proposal to be written and submitted? A) Request for applications B) Preproposal C) Solicited proposal D) External proposal

B) Preproposal

True or False? The methods section of the research proposal needs to convince the reader that the proposed approach to answering the study question is a valid and efficient one that is worth bankrolling.

True

Which of the following usually requires that a particular deliverable, such as a commissioned report, be submitted to the funding agency by the end of the agreement? A) Contract B) Internal grant C) External grant D) Solicited proposal

A) Contract

When a funder reaches out to a researcher and asks that person to submit a __________, the organization might offer a contract rather than a grant A) Request for applications B) Preproposal C) Solicited proposal D) External proposal

C) Solicited proposal