Research

Question 1

What is an independent variable?

Answer 1

a constant variable that can be manipulated by the researcher

Question 2

What is a dependent variable?

Answer 2

a variable that is dependent on results which are measured by the researcher

Question 3

What is a covariate?

Answer 3

a phenomenon that affects the dependent that is not of interest to the researcher, but the researcher is unable to control

Question 4

What is a extranenous or confounding variable?

Answer 4

a phenomenon that are not of interest but may have an effect on the value of the dependent variable

Question 5

What is intra and inter rater reliability

Answer 5

how consistent one person is at measuring something vs how consistently a group of individuals can consistently measure something

Question 6

What is ANOVA (analysis of variance) used for?

Answer 6

statistical procedure to estimate reliability

Question 7

What is randomized, repeated measures, and factorial research designs

Answer 7

randomized: everything is randomized; repeated: all subjects measured against the same variables; factorial has multiple independent variables and measures all subjects against all variations

Question 8

What is used to calculate the association between two variables?

Answer 8

correlation coefficient

Question 9

What statiscal test is used to predict?

Answer 9

regression analysis

Question 10

What statiscal test is used to see if a Tx has an effect?

Answer 10

chi square, ANOVA, or T-test

Question 11

Study types in a hierarchial manner?

Answer 11

RCT, cohort study, case-control study, case series, descriptive study

Question 12

What is a meta anaylsis?

Answer 12

a variety of systematic reviews (a thorough review and summary of the research)

Question 13

How to remember specificity and sensitivity

Answer 13

Sp In Sn out

Question 14

Reliability

Answer 14

Stability, repeatability, and dependability of a test or measure

Question 15

Intra-rater Reliability

Answer 15

Consistency of a measure made by the same person

Question 16

Inter-rater Reliability

Answer 16

Consistency of a measure made by 2 or more people

Question 17

Validity

Answer 17

Appropriateness, truthfulness, authenticity, effectiveness of a test or measure

Question 18

Face Validity:

Answer 18

The appearance of a test or measure

Question 19

Construct Validity

Answer 19

The extent to which a tool measures what it claims to measure

Question 20

Content Validity

Answer 20

Does the test truly sample the behavior that I wish to study

Question 21

Concurrent Validity:

Answer 21

The relationship between test scores of what is being measured (test #1) and what it is being compared to (test #2)

Question 22

Predictive Validity

Answer 22

can a future prediction be based on a measure made today

Question 23

Internal Validity:

Answer 23

refers to the relationship between the dependent variable and the independent variable. A study will have high internal validity when all the factors that might cause a change in the dependent variable are controlled

Question 24

External Validity:

Answer 24

the generalization from the sample studied to the population

Question 25

Independent Variable

Answer 25

the “intervention” being studied

Question 26

Dependent Variable

Answer 26

the outcome measure used to study the independent variable

Question 27

Power

Answer 27

the probability of reaching a correct decision. Most statistical tests should have a power of at least 0.70

Question 28

Null hypothesis

Answer 28

the prediction that there will be no statistically significant difference between data sets

Question 29

Type 1 Error:

Answer 29

Stating there is a difference between two treatments when there is not; rejecting the null hypothesis when we should accept it (backing a loser) - The greater the power of a test, the less likely we are of having a Type 1 Error

Question 30

Type 2 Error:

Answer 30

Reject the null hypothesis and stating there is no difference when in fact there is (missing a winner). - Usually occurs due to a small sample size

Question 31

Sensitivity:

Answer 31

SnNout: high sensitivity (sn), when negative (n), rules out (out) the pathology

Question 32

Specificity

Answer 32

SpPin: high specificity (sp), when positive (p), rules in (in) the pathology

Question 33

Meta-analysis:

Answer 33

a systematic review that uses statistical modeling to summarize the quantitative results from similar studies. Studies must have a high degree of homogeneity in design, methods and data reporting. These are limited representations of the literature that are primarily designed to show either the positive or negative direction of research on a given topic

Question 34

When is Kappa coefficient (very prevalent in the literature) used

Answer 34

Nominal: Name only data

Question 35

When is Spearman Rho used?

Answer 35

Ordinal: a scale that implies a rank order (intervals between scores are not even

Question 36

When is Pearson correlation coefficient used?

Answer 36

Interval/Ratio/Metric: a rank order with consistent intervals between scores

Question 37

What is a regression analysis used for?

Answer 37

prediction

Question 38

Does a treatment have an effect: nominal data what statistical test is used:

Answer 38

Chi squared - yes/no question

Question 39

Does a treatment have an effect: ratio data what statistical test is used?

Answer 39

ANOVA or t-test (do 2 or more groups differ on the outcome variable?)