Reasoning about the design and execution of research

Question 1

scientific method

Answer 1

a series of eight steps for the generation of new knowledge.

• initial steps focus on generating a hypothesis
• intermediate steps focus on testing the hypothesis
• final steps involves publishing and providing the results for further testing of the hypothesis

Question 2

Finer method

Answer 2

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

Question 3

during research we manipulate the

Answer 3

independent variable and observe changes in the dependent

Question 4

Controls

Answer 4

are used to correct for any influences of an intervention that are not part of the model. Controls may be positive or negative.

Question 5

Positive controls

Answer 5

ensure that change in the dependent variable occurs when expected

Question 6

Negative controls

Answer 6

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

Question 7

accuracy (validity)

Answer 7

the quality of the approximating the true value

Question 8

precision (reliability)

Answer 8

the quality of being consistent in approximations

Question 9

cohort studies

Answer 9

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

Question 10

Cross sectional studies

Answer 10

assess both the exposure and outcome at the same point in time

Question 11

Case-control studies

Answer 11

assess outcome status and then assess for exposure history .

Question 12

Hill’s criteria

Answer 12

causality in observational studies is supported by this, which include temporality, strength, dose-response relationships, consistency, plausibility, consideration of alternative explanations, experiments, specificity, and coherence.

Question 13

Bias

Answer 13

systematic and results from a problem during data collection.

Question 14

Selection bias

Answer 14

in which the sample differs from the population, is most common in human subjects research.

Question 15

detection bias

Answer 15

arises form educated professionals using their knowledge in an inconsistent way by searching for an outcome disproportionately in certain populations.

Question 16

Hawthorne effect

Answer 16

results from changes in behavior-by subject, experimenter, or both-that occur as a result of the knowledge that the subject is being observed.

Question 17

confounding

Answer 17

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

Question 18

what are the four principles of medical ethics

Answer 18

beneficence, non maleficence, respect for patient autonomy, and justice

Question 19

Respect for persons

Answer 19

includes autonomy, informed consent, and confidentiality

Question 20

justice

Answer 20

dictates which study question are worth pursuing and which subjects to use

Question 21

Beneficence

Answer 21

requires us to do the most good with the least harm. WE cannot preform an intervention without equipoise–a lack of knowledge about which arm of research study is better for the subject.

Question 22

populations

Answer 22

are all of the individual who share a set of characteristics. Population data are called parameters.

Question 23

samples

Answer 23

a subset of population that are used to estimate population data. Sampled data are called statistcs .

Question 24

Internal validity

Answer 24

refers to the identification of causality in a study between the independent and dependent variables. External validity refers to the ability of a study to be generalized to the population that it describes

Question 25

Statistical significance

Answer 25

refers to the low likelihood of the experimental findings being due to chance

Question 26

Clinical significance

Answer 26

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