Primary Components of a Research Study Flashcards
What are the primary components of a research study?
Target population
Independent variable
Dependent variable
Should these components be easily identifiable?
Yes
In the research question, the purpose or aim statement, and the hypothesis
Should you start with the methods section?
Yes
Gives information on the quality of the article
What is a conceptual definition?
Dictionary definition, a general description; clinical meaning
Body temperature: degree of heat maintained by body
Aphasia: impairment of language caused by damage to the language area of brain
Concussion?
What is an operational definition?
Defines a variable according to its unique meaning within a study—how it will be manipulated or measured
Body temperature: oral, tympanic, or rectal temperature
Aphasia: receptive, Broca/expressive, conduction, etc.
Concussion?
Who’s job is it to justify the operational definitions?
The researcher
What must operational definitions be?
Described in a manner that other researchers can replicate
Standardized, reliable, and valid (*more on these later…)
What should the operational definition of the target population include?
Include primary characteristics (eg, demographics) of the population
Be so clear that it is obvious who is and is not a member of the population
Should clearly describe the inclusion and exclusion criteria of the study
What is inclusion criteria?
The primary characteristics of the population
What is the exclusion criteria?
Variables that could over or underestimate the outcomes of the study
Could affect the outcomes of the study
Identify the confounding variables that might skew the outcomes
What is the independent variable?
The variable that is manipulated, or the intervention variable
Often the IV is a condition, intervention, or characteristic that is thought to predict a given outcome
What is a good operational definition of an IV?
It is clear the who the levels (eg, groups) differ from each other
The procedures (eg, interventions) can be replicated by a clinician or researcher
Example: duration of treatment, frequency of treatment, and intensity of treatment
What is a dependent variable?
The variable(s) you would expect to see a difference based on the manipulation of the IV
Often referred to as the outcomes (eg, study outcomes, main outcomes)
Example: dizziness, balance, and health-related quality of life will differ based on vestibular rehab vs. rest only
What will a good operational definition of the DV include?
Identify the construct to be measured
Directly link the construct to the instrument that will be used to measure it
How is it being measured
Examples: Dizziness handicap inventory, balance error scoring system
