Module 2 Flashcards
Study Paradigms, and Study Designs
What are paradigms?
Systems of beliefs and practices that influence how researchers select both the questions to study and the methods they use to study them
What are the 3 paradigms explored within the context of health research?
positivist, constructivist, and realist
What is ontology?
Philosophy of existence and the assumption and beliefs that we hold about the nature of being and existence
What is epistemology?
Branch of philosophy concerned with determining what can be known and how it can be known
What are the 2 theories of knowledge acquisition in this class?
Representationalism
Subjectivism
What is methodology?
Strategic approach to the production of date: how we gain knowledge of what exists
What are the 3 types of methodologies in this class?
Quantitative, Qualitative and Mixed
What is the acronym to help remember what/how to contrast research paradigms
POEM Paradigms Ontology Epistemology Methodology
Using POEM, describe the positivist paradigm
P = Positivist O = Realist E= Representational M = Quantitative
Give an example of a positivist paradigm
Seeking to understand the relative burden to society from different disease using national health surveys
Using POEM, describe the constructivist paradigm
P = Constructivist O = Relativist E = Subjectivist M = Qualitative
Give an example of Constructivist paradigm
Seeking to understand the burden from different disease using in-depth interviews with select patients and their families
Describe the positivist paradigm in sentences
Believes there is an objective reality (realist O) and that symbols can be used to described and explain reality (representational E). Rely on analysis of numbers, hypothesis generation and testing, and experimental designs (quantitative M)
Describe the constructivist paradigm in sentences
Believes that reality is constructed intersubjectively through the meanings and understandings developed socially and experientially (relativist O), we cannot separate ourselves from what we know (subjectivist E). Analyze words or behaviours where meanings emerge from the research process through naturalistic methods (qualitative M)
Describe the realist paradigm in sentences
Believes that there is an objective reality but that our ability to know reality is imperfect, we can only know reality from our own perspective of it (realist O). We cannot separate ourselves from what we know (subjectivist E), but objectivity remains ideal. Research is seen as an opportunity to discover rather than testing hypotheses. Natural settings are favoured over laboratory giving priority to situation and contextual data (Mixed M)
Using POEM, describe the realist paradigm
P= realist
O= realist
E = Subjectivist
M=Mixed (both quantitative and qualitative)
Give an example of a realist paradigm
Seeking to understand the relative burden to individuals and society from different disease using population health survey data combined with in-depth interviews with select patients and their families
What are the 3 founding principles of experimental studies?
- Randomization
- Local control
- Replication
What is randomization?
Assign subjects randomly to study or control group. It ensure study group and control groups are as similar as possible and accounts for known and unknown factors that may affect the outcome
What is local control?
refers to the practices and techniques used to ensure the intervention is applied uniformly and under standard conditions
What is replication?
Repetition of the experiment on many experimental units is needed to provide an estimate of experimental error. Number of replication is the sample size
What is the goal of experimental studies?
Seek to introduce a factor or change and rule out alternative causes for the resulting observation, leaving only the actual factor as the real cause
When can experimental studies be conducted?
When ethically feasible. Benefits must outweigh the risks
What are the 3 components of laboratory based research?
- basic research
- preclinical studies
- experimental