Research

Question 1

what are the different categories of quantitative study designs (break it down) (4)

Answer 1

1- experimental vs. observational study
2- exp: RCT vs. non-RCT
3- obs: analytical (comparison grp) vs. descriptive (no comparison)
4- analytical:
*exp -> outcome: cohort
*outcome -> exp: case-control
*exp and outcome at same time: cross-sectional study

Question 2

what are differences between analytical and descriptive observational studies (4)

Answer 2

1-descriptive generates hypothesis, analytic tests hypothesis
2- desc has no comparison group; ana has comparison group
3- desc about measures of disease occurance; ana about measures of disease association
4- desc asks, “what is the distribution of disease X in a population”; ana asks, “what is the effect of exposure to factor X on outcome Y”

Question 3

what is the difference between RR and OR (3)

Answer 3

1- RR (relative risk) is a ratio of probabilities (Incidence-exp/Incidence-un) – OR (odds ratio) compares events with non-events, it is a ratio or ratios
2- OR can overestimate risk if disease is more common
3- RR and OR can be similar if disease is rare

Question 4

define bias (1)

Answer 4

1- Systematic deviation of a study’s result from a true value leading to an overestimation (positive
bias) or underestimation (negative bias) of the measure of association

Question 5

what are ways of controlling for bias in a study - i.e. at what points in conducting a study (5)

Answer 5

1- Design: ensure study design is appropriate for
addressing hypothesis
2- Procedures: establish procedures for identifying,
enrolling, and following/retaining study subjects
3- Execution: establish procedures for data
definitions, measurements, and collections
4- Analysis: use appropriately data analysis
5- Post hoc: quantify the potential magnitude of bias
(bias analysis)

Question 6

what is social network analysis, SNA (1)

Answer 6

1- structural approach to examining the linkages between actors, using
mathematical and computational models

Question 7

re: SNA, what are nodes (1)

Answer 7

1- individual actors, people, things within a network

Question 8

re: SNA, what are ties, edges or links (1)

Answer 8

1- relationships or interactions that connect nodes