Quantitative Studies Flashcards
What is a systematic review of RCTs?
A study designed to provide a complete, exhaustive summary of current RCTs relevant to a research question.
What are advantages and disadvantages of a systematic review of RCTs?
PRO: replicable as it is systematic with a documented search strategy. good validity.
CON: time consuming. data dependent - citation bias
What is a RCT?
People are allocated at random to receive one of several clinical interventions. One of these interventions is the control condition.
What are advantages and disadvantages of a RCT?
PRO: good internal validity, avoid bias relating to confounding factors through control group.
CON: time-consuming and expensive
What is a pseudo-RCT?
Study with an independent, blinded comparison with a valid reference standard between the participants.
What are advantages and disadvantages of a pseudo-RCT?
PRO: decrease selection bias, minimised confounding due to unequal distribution, decrease patient and observer bias.
CON: expensive, time-consuming, poor external validity, subject allocation bias
What is a cohort study?
A longitudinal study that follows cohorts to determine participant exposure to risk factors and the subsequent outcome.
What are advantages and disadvantages of a cohort study?
PRO: useful in determining prognosis and risk, suitable for rare exposures.
CON: not suitable for rare outcomes, expensive, time-consuming
What is a case-control study?
A study that compares participants who have an outcome of interest with those who don’t, and looks back retrospectively to compare how frequently the exposure is present.
What are advantages and disadvantages of a case-control study?
PRO: suitable for rare outcomes, cost effective
CON: recall bias, reporting bias, selection bias.
What is a cross-sectional study?
A study that examines the relationship between an outcome and variables of interest present in multiple samples at the same time.
What are advantages and disadvantages of a cross-sectional study?
PRO: inexpensive, assess multiple exposure outcomes, can be repeated.
CON: relies on self report, recall bias, reporting bias
What is a case series research design?
A research study that tracks cases of subjects with a known exposure or outcome, and investigates their health progress.
What are advantages and disadvantages of a case series research design?
PRO: generates in-depth information
CON: recall bias, reporting bias
What is a correlational research design?
Researcher measures two variables and assesses the statistical relationship between them without the influence of an extraneous variable.
