Module 03

Question 1

What are the 5 criteria (issues of concern) for evaluating research?

Answer 1

Truth Value
Applicability
Consistency
Neutrality
Ethics

Question 2

Describe the criteria of truth value

Answer 2

Are the findings of the study believable? Are they legitimate given the research paradigm used?

Question 3

Describe the criteria of applicability

Answer 3

Are you able to use results of the research in similar contexts with similar participants?

Question 4

Describe the criteria of consistency

Answer 4

Can you follow the research steps of the study and come to similar conclusions

Question 5

Describe the criteria of neutrality

Answer 5

Has the researcher discussed all potential sources of bias

Question 6

What are bias?

Answer 6

Refers to results being skewed in an unfair or inaccurate way. In quantitative research, it is defined as a “type of systematic (nonrandom) error in the design or conduct of study that can lead to erroneous results”

Question 7

Describe the criteria of ethics

Answer 7

Was the study conducted in compliance with standards of research ethics?

Question 8

What are the 3 core principles upheld by the Ethical Conduct for Research Involving Humans?

Answer 8

Justice
Concern for Welfare
Respect for Persons

Question 9

Qualitative vs Quantitative: truth value

Answer 9

Qualitative: Credibility
Quantitative: Internal validity

Question 10

Qualitative vs Quantitative:

Applicability

Answer 10

Qualitative: Transferability
Quantitative: External Validity

Question 11

Qualitative vs Quantitative:

Ontological Stance

Answer 11

Qualitative: Trustworthiness
Quantitative: Replicability

Question 12

Qualitative vs Quantitative:

Consistency

Answer 12

Qualitative: Dependability
Quantitative: Reliability

Question 13

Qualitative vs Quantitative:

Neutrality

Answer 13

Qualitative: Confirmability
Quantitative: Objectivity

Question 14

What are the 4 issues of concern for quality research in quantitative research?

Answer 14

Internal Validity (Truth Value)
External Validity (Applicability)
Reliability (Consistency)
Objectivity (Neutrality)

Question 15

What is internal validity?

Answer 15

Issue of concern in quantitative research.
It is the extent to which the researcher can show that the information collected accurately answers the research question.
Threatened by; bias in selection of observations of participants, information collected, failure to control for extraneous factors

Question 16

What is external validity?

Answer 16

Issue of concern in quantitative research
Also called generalizability, refers to the degree to which the results of the study are true for population other than the sample studied
Complex and Judgment-based, does not define usefulness of study

Question 17

What is reliability?

Answer 17

Issue of concern in quantitative Research

Refers to the consistency of a study’s results. If finding from research are replicated consistently they are reliable

Question 18

What is Objectivity?

Answer 18

Issue of concern in quantitative research
Relates to the researcher’s neutrality
Requires safeguarding against conflicts of interest, observing reality without contamination from his/her experience and values.
Achieved by standardizing protocols for data collection, coding analysis, and reporting

Question 19

What does the positivist paradigm emphasize?

Answer 19

replicability

Question 20

What does the constructivist paradigm emphasize?

Answer 20

Trustworthiness

Question 21

What are the 4 issues of concerns in qualitative research?

Answer 21

Credibility (Truth value)
Dependability (Consistency)
Confirmability (Neutrality) Transferability (Applicability)

Question 22

What is credibility?

Answer 22

Issues of Concern in Qualitative research
Refers to how believable the findings are
Based on an assessment of the design features adopted by the researcher to verify findings
Techniques such as triangulation and member checking enhance the credibility of qualitative study results

Question 23

What is triangulation?

Answer 23

Corroboration among findings from different data sources or methods to capture

Question 24

What is Member Checking?

Answer 24

Asking participants to confirm that their words as transcribed match what they intended to say and/or that the researcher’s emerging understanding reflects the study participants’ experiences or perceptions.

Question 25

What is Dependability ?

Answer 25

Issue of concern in qualitative research
Stability or consistency of the research processes throughout the course of the study.
Review of the activities of the researched by an independent person is needed to assess dependability (dependability audit) - only possible if researcher has clearly documented how the study was conceptualized and any changes that occurred in the setting
Akin to transparency

Question 26

What is Confirmability?

Answer 26

Issue of concern in qualitative research
Degree to which the results align with the observation and/or interview data. Documentation of decisions made through the study is key to enhancing confirmability.
Can be strengthened by having an independent reviewer determine it the interpretations are supported by the data and materials documenter

Question 27

What is transferability?

Answer 27

Issue of concern in qualitative research
Degree to which the results of qualitative research can inform understanding of other contexts or settings. It is a judgment made by the reader of the research who considers the specifics of the research context and compares them to determine the extent to which the results obtained suggest further question for study or direction for actions.

Question 28

Generalizability vs Transferability

Answer 28

Generalizability:
- Applied by researcher in an academic setting
- Extension of research findings and conclusion to the population at large
- Requires data on large sample population
- Quantitative research is the best foundation for producing generalizability
Transferability:
- Applied by the readers of research
- can apply to most types of research
- does not involve broad claims but invites readers to make connections between elements of a study and their own experience

Question 29

What is a critical appraisal?

Answer 29

Process of carefully and systematically examining research to judge its replicability and/or trustworthiness, and its value and relevance in a particular context

Question 30

What are the 6 components of the organization of a research article?

Answer 30

Abstract
Introduction
Methods
Results
Discussion
Conclusion

Question 31

What is an abstract of a research paper?

Answer 31

A paragraph summary of the entire document. You will find 1-2 sentences summaries of the introduction, methods, results, and discussion/conclusion

Question 32

What is an introduction of a research paper?

Answer 32

Sets the stage for the research question. Introduction outlines background information related to the question, identifies gaps in knowledge, and addresses why the study is important

Question 33

What is a methods section of a research paper?

Answer 33

Explanation of what exactly the researcher did to answer the research question. Detailed, step-by-step explanation of the study design. Written with enough detail and clarity that the reader may re-produce the study

Question 34

What is a results section of a research paper?

Answer 34

Reports the main findings of the study. Outlines everything the researcher observed and the data collected in the form of text figures, and/or tables

Question 35

What is a discussion section of a research paper?

Answer 35

Gives researcher an opportunity to comment on the key findings of the study by drawing conclusions and contextualizing the meaning of the findings in the broader research community

Question 36

What is a conclusion section of a research paper?

Answer 36

Brief and provides a clear take home message avoiding repetition of the elements raised in the discussion. Sometimes combined with discussion