Physics Ch 11. Research

Question 1

Scientific method

Answer 1

A series of eight steps for the generation of new knowledge

Initial steps (generate a testable question, gather data and resources, form a hypothesis) focus on generating a hypothesis

Middle steps (collect new data, analyze the data, interpret the data and existing hypothesis) focus on testing that hypothesis

Final steps (publish and verify results) relate to providing the results for further testing of the hypothesis

Question 2

FINER method

Answer 2

Asses the value of a research question on the basis of whether or not it is feasible, interesting, novel, ethical, and relevant

Question 3

Basic science research

Answer 3

Uses chemicals, cell cultures, or animal subjects, experiment based, often the set types for demonstrating causality because the experimenter has the highest degree of control over the experimental condtiions

Question 4

Independent variables

Answer 4

What is manipulated

Question 5

Dependent variables

Answer 5

Where changes are observed

Question 6

Controls

Answer 6

Used to correct for any influences of an intervention that are not part of the model

Question 7

Positive controls

Answer 7

Ensure that a change in the dependent variable occurs when expected

Question 8

Negative controls

Answer 8

Ensures that no change in the dependent variable occurs when none is expected

Question 9

Accuracy

Answer 9

aka validity, quality of approximating the true value

Question 10

Validity

Answer 10

aka accuracy, quality of approximating the true value

Question 11

Precision

Answer 11

aka reliability, quality of being consistent in approximations

Question 12

Reliability

Answer 12

aka precision, quality of being consistent in approximations

Question 13

Human subjects research

Answer 13

Human subjects research is subject to ethical constraints that are generally absent in basic science research, experiments may still be performed but causal conclusions are harder to determine because circumstances are harder to control, a lot of human subjects research is observational

Question 14

Cohort studies

Answer 14

Record exposures throughout time and then assess the rate of a certain outcome

Question 15

Cross-sectional studies

Answer 15

Assess both exposure and outcome at the same point in time

Question 16

Case control studies

Answer 16

Assess outcome status and then assess for exposure history

Question 17

Hills criteria

Answer 17

Includes temporality, strength, dose response relationships, consistency, possibility, consideration of alternative explanations, experiments, specificity, and coherence, helps determine causality

Question 18

Error types

Answer 18

Bias, confounding, or random error

Question 19

Bias

Answer 19

Systematic and results from a problem during data collection

Question 20

Selection bias

Answer 20

Samples differ from the population, is most common in human subjects research

Question 21

Detection bias

Answer 21

Arises from educated professionals using their knowledge in an inconsistent way by searching for an outcome disproportionately in certain populations

Question 22

Hawthorne effect

Answer 22

Results from changes and behaviors, by the subject, experimenter, or both, that occurs a result of the knowledge that the subject is being observed

Question 23

Confounding

Answer 23

An error in data analysis that results from a common connection of both a dependent and independent variables to a third variable

Question 24

Medical ethics

Answer 24

Generally refers to the four principles of beneficence, nonmaleficence, respect for patient autonomy, and justice, established by the Belmont Report

Question 25

Respect for persons

Answer 25

Includes autonomy, informed consent, and confidentiality

Question 26

Justice

Answer 26

Dictates which study questions are worth pursuing and which subjects to use

Question 27

Beneficence

Answer 27

Requires us to do the most good with the least harm, we cannot perform an intervention without equipoise

Question 28

Equipoise

Answer 28

The lack of knowledge about which arm of the research study is better for the subject

Question 29

Populations

Answer 29

The individuals who share a set of characteristics

Question 30

Parameters

Answer 30

Population data

Question 31

Samples

Answer 31

Subset of a population that are used to estimate population data

Question 32

Statistics

Answer 32

Sample data

Question 33

Internal validity

Answer 33

Refers to the identification of causality in a study between independent and dependent variables

Question 34

External validity

Answer 34

Refers to the ability of a study to be generalized to the population that it describes

Question 35

Statistical significance

Answer 35

Refers to the low likelihood of the experimental findings due to chance

Question 36

Clinical significance

Answer 36

Refers to the usefulness or importance of experimental findings to patient care or patient outcomes