Midterms Flashcards
a large controlled vocabulary (or metadata system) for the purpose of indexing journal articles and books in the life sciences.
MeSH
Medical Subject Headings
It is used by the MEDLINE/PubMed article database and by NLM’s catalog of book holdings.
Medical Subject Headings
MeSH Search Tags
● ___ to search a MeSH heading
● ___ to search a MeSH heading that is a major topic of an article
s
● [mh] to search a MeSH heading
● [majr] to search a MeSH heading that is a major topic of an article
MeSH terms have ‘automatic explosions’, meaning ??
MeSH terms have ‘automatic explosions’, meaning PubMed automatically searches the MeSH headings as well as the more specific terms beneath that heading in the MeSH hierarchy. This is known as the explosion feature
Would usually be indicated as “research” on the header of the article but this is not always the case as it depends on the journal
Characteristics of a Research Article
__ can search and include everything under the tree, whereas, no explosion features focuses on one topic
Explosions
Study design are usually indicated in the title but this is not
always the case as it depends on the author/s
Characteristics of a Research Article
The abstract is an important component for research articles as well as other types of literature. The presence of an abstract might indicate that this type of literature is a research article
● May be structured or unstructured
Characteristics of a Research Article
Other Characteristics of a Research Article
● Usually follows the IMRaD format
What is IMRaD format?
○ Introduction or Background - shows what has been done before
○ Methods - includes subheadings, participants, and sample size
○ Results
○ Discussion
This format is not rigid. Subheadings may exist within the article, as well as other headings such as ethical considerations, conclusions
IMRaD format
Types of Research
According to Purpose
According to Depth of Scope
According to Type of Data Used
According to Degree of Variable Manipulation
According to Time Duration
According to Sources of Information
Research According to Sources of Information
Primary Research
Secondary Research
The data is collected directly from the source, that is, it consists of primary, first-hand information
Primary Research
Developed with information from secondary sources, which are generally based on scientific literature and other documents compiled by another researcher
Secondary Research
Formulating new general concepts, establishes new theories
■ Example: philosophical Dissertations
Theoretical Research
Addresses a specific research problem and
draws on theory to generate scientific knowledge
Applied Research
For subjects not well understood or researched
■ Relies less on theory and more on data collection
■ What’s inside the black hole?
Exploratory Research
Defines the characteristics of a particular phenomenon
Descriptive Research
Similar to descriptive research, but establishes cause-and-effect relationships
Explanatory research
Identifies the relationship between two or more variables
Correlational Research
Has a linguistic-semiotic basis for discourse analysis, interviews, surveys, records, and participant observation
Qualitative Research
Variables are manipulated under strictly controlled conditions in order to identify or discover its effect on another independent variable
Experimental Research
Uses a mathematical, statistical, and computer aided tools to measure phenomena
Quantitative Research
Uses a combination of quantitative and qualitative data, usually presented through a joint display analysis
Mixed Methods Research
An observational study
■ It focuses on the analysis of a phenomenon in its natural context
Non-experimental Research
Controls only some variables of the phenomenon under investigation
■ This is to ensure the collected data is relevant
■ The sample is not randomized
Quasi-experimental Research
Monitoring of the same event, individual or group over a defined period of time
Longitudinal Study or Diachronic Research
Observe phenomena, and individual or a group of research subject at a given time
Cross-sectional Study or Synchronous Research
Which is false
● Qualitative Research - investigations which use sensory methods such as listening or observing to gather and organize data into patterns or themes
● Quantitative Research - investigation in which numbers are used to measure variables such as characteristics, concepts, or things
● Mixed Methods - investigations which use a mix of both.
These are often employed for research questions requiring complex answer like Pain
All are correct
It is a primary research
Collects and describes an individual patient or groups of
patients, project, or event
● It is descriptive and not experimental. It documents the unique or atypical. It poses further questions for further research
Case Study
The important factor is that subjects are measured once
and at the same point in the disease, injury, or
rehabilitation process. Care must be taken in the design of
the research that within a longer data collection period
important and relevant changes have not occurred that
would seriously affect the outcome of the event
Cross-Sectional Study
T or F
Case studies are considered a very high level of evidence because they are only based on one or a few patients and are not based on a rigorous methodology
FALSE
Case studies are considered a very low level of evidence
because they are only based on one or a few patients and
are not based on a rigorous methodology
It is a primary research
● It may pertain to studies with which data was collected at
one point in time or data collection was taken at different
times per participant, but emphasis was given on taking it
only once
Cross-Sectional Study
It is a primary research
● Research has been conducted after an outcome of
interest has occurred
Case-Control Study
It can be done as long as one year and as short as one day, make sure that the subjects are measured only once at the same point of the case
● Example: When a new medication is introduced
Cross-Sectional Study
T or F
“Cohort” means a group of people
TRUE
It is a primary research
● Research on the timing of an outcome. These kinds of studies define possible causal factors for a particular outcome and effect
Cohort Study
It can either be “prospective” or “retrospective”
● All ___ have forward directionality, but because
in retrospective studies the exposure status is known before the outcome
● Can answer clinical questions relating to prognosis and/or harm or prevention
Cohort Study
It is primary research. It can answer clinical questions relating to intervention
● It is considered the “gold standard” for research designs relating to intervention studies. It is used to evaluate the efficacy of an intervention
● An RCT has several characteristic features. If one is lost, it means that it is a Quasi experimental
Randomized Controlled Trials
The significance of the results is determined statistically according to a predetermined algorithm
● An RCT typically involves comparison of two or more intervention
● Example: Drug A vs. Drug B
Randomized Controlled Trials
Define: (in the context of RCT)
○ Manipulation
○ Controlled
○ Manipulation - independent variable is active
○ Controlled - used to establish the null effect
Define: (in the context of RCT)
○ Randomized
○ Blinded
○ Randomized - promotes group equality at baseline
○ Blinded - minimizes the Hawthorne effect, a type reactivity in which individuals modify their behavior
It is a secondary research
● It is a “study of studies”. This research is developed using a documented, systematic approach that minimizes bias
Systematic Reviews
It pools data from various studies, usually intervention studies or clinical trials and descriptively analyzes the data to create an even broader conclusion
● Developed because of the strength in numbers principle
○ While the population increases, the conclusion strengthens
Systematic Reviews
a bibliographic database that has been designed
to support the practice of evidence-based physiotherapy
PEDro
It gives rapid access to the best research evaluating the
effects of physiotherapy interventions - randomized RCTs,
SRs, and evidence-based CPGs
PEDro