Module 2: Intro to Research Study Designs Flashcards
(41 cards)
Quantitative Research
the process of collecting and analyzing NUMERICAL DATA
can be useful to find patterns, averages, make predictions, test causal relationships, and generalize results to wider populations
Qualitative Research
a data gathering method that generates open-ended NARRATIVE DATE OR WORDS rather than numeric data or numbers
Typically research is capturing the values, beliefs, experiences, or motivations behind behaviors
EXAMPLE
Examine the relationship of serum TGs levels to BMI. Is this quantitative or qualitative research?
Since both of these variables are measurable and quantifiable using NUMERICAL DATA, it would be QUANTITATIVE RESEARCH
(TRUE/FALSE)
Designing good qualitative research questions can be quite challenging, as the question needs to be open-ended and broad enough to not lead the participant to give a specific answer, because then you would be causing bias. But also, not so broad that you cannot later analyze the data into themes.
TRUE
Mixed-Methods Research
- Incorporates BOTH QUANT and QUAL data collection in its methodology
- ANALYZES both types of data, and
- INTEGRATES the RESULTS, providing both precision (QUANT) and context/background (QUAL) *** THIS IS REQUIRED.
Basic Research
Research conducted without a specific application in mind and completed for the sake of knowledge alone. Usually (but not always) BENCH RESEARCH.
This research is used to inform future applied research studies (aka clinical studies)
Bench Research
Conducted in a lab setting, using chemical and/or biological specimens, which could include animals, tissues, cells, bacteria, or virsues
Applied Research
Research conducted to solve real-world problems and to directly influence or improve nutrition practice
Quality Improvement Research
Research conducted to address problems in your own work setting with the goal of solving an ongoing problem. Implementing research to improve a process, system, or outcome
(EXAMPLE)
What type of research is looking at cooking with GDM?
Applied Research
(EXAMPLE)
What type of research is a clinical RDN looking at TF connectors?
Quality Improvement Research
What are the 4 types of Nutrition Research Studies?
- Intervention Research
- Outcomes Research
- Epidemiological Research
- Translational Research
(TRUE/FALSE)
Different types of research CANNOT overlap.
FALSE
They CAN
What is Intervention Research?
Development and testing of an intervention and evaluating the efficacy
EXAMPLE: diet, drug, therapy
What are the 2 types of Intervention Research?
- CLINICAL STUDIES: type of intervention that uses human participants
- RCT (“gold standard” as it avoids bias): participants are randomly assigned to an intervention group/”arm” versus a control group that receives a placebo
What are 2 strengths of Intervention Research?
- Usually conducted in a VERY CONTROLLED WAY, to limit confounding variables and focus on the actual intervention
- Are often “blinded” to provide additional protection from bias or placebo effects
What is a weakness of Intervention Research?
Often not broadly generalizable to a free-living population or patients with multiple co-morbidities
What is unblinded?
Researchers AND participants know who is receiving the intervention and control
What is single-blinded?
Participants DO NOT know if they are receiving treatment or not
What is double-blinding?
Neither the participants nor the researchers know who is receiving intervention or control
*Typically, somebody from the research team is involved in data management, so they do know who has been randomly assigned to each group; they are not the main researcher
This decreases the risk of experimenter bias (but does NOT eliminate it)
What is experimenter bias?
Researchers unconsciously introduce their own bias into interpretation of study RESULTS
What is triple-blinding?
Participants, Researchers, and Anyone involved in data management is blinded.
An independent agent (could be a computer program) will determine randomization and provides the intervention in unidentifiable packaging.
(TRUE/FALSE)
Double-blinding eliminates experimenter bias.
FALSE
Double-blinding will reduce it but only triple-blinding will eliminate it.
What is Outcomes Research?
Research undertaken to test the effectiveness of an intervention under typical circumstances in a less-controlled environment (compared to intervention research).
This allows fewer restrictions on who can participate and what they can do while participating.
