Physics Ch 11. Research Flashcards
Scientific method
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
FINER method
Asses the value of a research question on the basis of whether or not it is feasible, interesting, novel, ethical, and relevant
Basic science research
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
Independent variables
What is manipulated
Dependent variables
Where changes are observed
Controls
Used to correct for any influences of an intervention that are not part of the model
Positive controls
Ensure that a change in the dependent variable occurs when expected
Negative controls
Ensures that no change in the dependent variable occurs when none is expected
Accuracy
aka validity, quality of approximating the true value
Validity
aka accuracy, quality of approximating the true value
Precision
aka reliability, quality of being consistent in approximations
Reliability
aka precision, quality of being consistent in approximations
Human subjects research
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
Cohort studies
Record exposures throughout time and then assess the rate of a certain outcome
Cross-sectional studies
Assess both exposure and outcome at the same point in time
Case control studies
Assess outcome status and then assess for exposure history
Hills criteria
Includes temporality, strength, dose response relationships, consistency, possibility, consideration of alternative explanations, experiments, specificity, and coherence, helps determine causality
Error types
Bias, confounding, or random error
Bias
Systematic and results from a problem during data collection
Selection bias
Samples differ from the population, is most common in human subjects research
Detection bias
Arises from educated professionals using their knowledge in an inconsistent way by searching for an outcome disproportionately in certain populations
Hawthorne effect
Results from changes and behaviors, by the subject, experimenter, or both, that occurs a result of the knowledge that the subject is being observed
Confounding
An error in data analysis that results from a common connection of both a dependent and independent variables to a third variable
Medical ethics
Generally refers to the four principles of beneficence, nonmaleficence, respect for patient autonomy, and justice, established by the Belmont Report
Respect for persons
Includes autonomy, informed consent, and confidentiality
Justice
Dictates which study questions are worth pursuing and which subjects to use
Beneficence
Requires us to do the most good with the least harm, we cannot perform an intervention without equipoise
Equipoise
The lack of knowledge about which arm of the research study is better for the subject
Populations
The individuals who share a set of characteristics
Parameters
Population data
Samples
Subset of a population that are used to estimate population data
Statistics
Sample data
Internal validity
Refers to the identification of causality in a study between independent and dependent variables
External validity
Refers to the ability of a study to be generalized to the population that it describes
Statistical significance
Refers to the low likelihood of the experimental findings due to chance
Clinical significance
Refers to the usefulness or importance of experimental findings to patient care or patient outcomes
