Reasoning & Execution of Research

Question 1

FINER Method

Answer 1

Feasible
Interesting 
Novel 
Ethics
Relevance

Question 2

The ability of an instrument to measure a true value is termed ?

Answer 2

Accuracy (validity)

Question 3

The ability of an instrument to read consistently is termed ?

Answer 3

Precision (reliability)

Question 4

Test subjects that are placed into groups based on exposure to experimental variable is termed ?

Answer 4

Cohort studies (a type of longitudinal study)

Ex: 100 smokers & 100 nonsmokers are followed for 20 yrs while counting the # of individuals who develop lung cancer in each group

Question 5

Categorizing patients with exposure to desired experimental variable at a specific point in time is termed ?

Answer 5

Cross sectional studies

Question 6

Categorizing subjects with the desired experimental variable and noting factors of their past that could influence the data is termed ?

Answer 6

Case control studies

Ex: 100 people w/ lung cancer & 100 people w/o lung cancer are assessed for their smoking history

Question 7

Test subjects changing their behavior based on the idea that they know they are being studied is termed ?

Answer 7

Hawthorne Effect (observation bias)

Question 8

______ ________ describes the components of an observed relationship that increase the likelihood of causality in the relationship

Answer 8

Hill’s Criteria

Question 9

What are all of Hill’s Criteria ?

Answer 9

Temporality: Exposure must occur before outcome

Strength: More variability in the outcome variable is explained by variability in study variable

Dose-response Relationship: As IV increases, so does the response

Consistency: Relationship is similar in multiple settings

Plausibility: Reasonable mechanism for IV to impact DV supported by existing literature

Consideration of alternative explanations: If all other plausible explanations have been eliminated, then the remaining one is more likely

Experiment: If an experiment can be performed, then a causal relationship can be confirmed

Specificity: Change in outcome variable is only produced by an associated change in IV

Coherence: New data & hypothesis are consistent w/ the current state of scientific knowledge

Question 10

What is the difference btwn bias & confounding ?

Answer 10

Bias is caused by flaws in data collection phase, while confounding is an error during analysis

Question 11

How does selection & detection bias differ ?

Answer 11

SB is when subjects are not representative of the target population, and DB is when one study shows correlation & leads to the likelihood of the research looking for the 2nd one

Question 12

What are the 4 core ethical tenets of medicine ?

Answer 12

Beneficence: act in patient’s best interest

Nonmaleficence: Harm should not outweigh benefit

Autonomy: respect patient’s decisions & choices

Justice: treat similar patients with similar care (fairly)