research methods, questions and integrity Flashcards
what is qualitative data?
- describes experiences, perceptions motivations and intentions in words
what is quantitative data?
- numerical data, measured in numbers
what is the starting point of qualitative data?
- situations
what is the starting point og quantitative data?
- data and/ or hypothesis
are qualitative and quantitative data similar at all?
- yes, a lot of overlap
what questions do qualitative data answer?
- how?
- why?
what questions do quantitative data answer?
- how much?
- when?
what does qualitative data provide compared to quantitative?
- qualitative data provides context whereas quantitative provides details
what is the goal of qualitative data?
- participants provide reliable observations
what is the goal of quantitative data?
- methods are repeatable
- findings quantifiable
what are examples of qualitative methods?
- semi- structured interviews
- focus group
- participant observation
- text/ document analysis
- narrative reviews
what are some quantitative methods?
- surveys
- questionnaires
- biomarkers/ imaging
- randomised controlled trials
- lab experiments
- systematic reviews and meta- analysis
what are the advantages of qualitative data ?
+ provides understanding
+ explore different areas
+ hear and understand participants’ voices #
+ produces narrative, stories
what are the limitations of qualitative data?
- small samples
- time intensive
- less rigour
- researcher training
what are the advantages of quantitative data?
- limited variables
- representative samples
- anonymised
- precise; statistical comparison
- test theories: policy relevance
what are the limitations of quantitative data?
- little understanding of individual experience
- less contextual understanding
do you ever use both methods at the same time?
- yes
- combine the best parts of btoh approaches
what is induction?
- using the data to generate new hypothesis or theories
- generalisations based on specific observations
what approach is induction?
- bottom up approach
what is deduction?
- making predictions and hypotheses from a theory
- tests theory through observations and empirical evidence
what approach is deduction?
- top- down approach
does qualitative or quantitative use induction or deduction?
- both methods can use both
what does a good research question identify?
- research area, domain or scope
- relevant variables or contexts
what does a good research question do with the research area and relevant variables?
- asks a specific question about them
what principle does a good research question follow?
- SMART
what does SMART stand for?
- specific
- measurable
- achievable
- realistic
- time bound
what is a bad research question?
- non- specific
- immeasurable
- unachievable
- unrealistic
- infinite
what is PICOT?
- problem
- intervention
- comparison
- outcome
- time
what does the P in picot mean?
- problem
- what is the problem? which population? patients?
what does the I in picot mean?
- intervention
- what is the treatment, test or process
- main action
what does the c in picot mean?
- comparison
- what are the best alternatives or control conditions
what does the o in picot mean?
- outcomes
- what do I expect to happen
- what do I want to avoid
what does spice stand for?
- setting
- perspective
- intervention
- comparison
- evaluation
what is meant by the s in spice?
- setting
- where is the study taking place e.g., in a school
what is meant by p in spice?
- perspective
- whose perspective
e.g., parents ?
what does i stand for in spice?
- intervention
- is there a group exercise or similar
what does c stand for in spice?
- comparison
- will we compare to another setting or perspective
what does e stand for in spice?
- evaluation
- how will we evaluate the information gained
what does ppt stand for?
- problem
- phenomenon
- time
what does the first p in ppt mean?
- problem
- who or what are we studying
e.g., first- time mothers
what does the second p in ppt stand for?
- phenomenon
- what is particularly of interest
e.g., attitude to exercise
what does t in ppt stand for?
- time
- when is of interest
what should you think about when forming a research question?
- think about novelty, importance and impact
what should you do to the question after thinking?
- refine the question
what questions can indicate if the research question is good?
- must it be new?
- must it be important?
- must it be impactful?
- what is worth your time and resources?
- is it feasable
what does research integrity question?
- do others trust my research?
- could others reproduce my research?
what needs to be meet and responded to for research integrity?
- professional standards
- response to criticism
what are the five principles of research integrity?
- honesty
- rigour
- transparency
- independence
- responsibility
what is honesty?
- being accurate
- being open
- refraining from fabricated or untrue claims
what is rigour?
- using scientific methods
- exercising the best possible care in designing, undertaking, and reporting research
what is transparency?
- be clear on how the research was based on
- data were obtained
- results were achieved
what is independence?
- not allowing the research to be guided by non- scientific considerations
- impartiality
what is responsibility?
- a researcher does not operate in isolation
- conducting research scientifically and/ or societally relevant
what are the four Mertonian norms?
- communism
- universalism
- disinterestedness
- organised skepticism
what is communism?
- common ownership of research knowledge
what is universalism?
- research does not depend on particular people, places or time
what is disinterestedness?
- work for benefits of science, not for personal gain
what is organised skepticism?
- temporarily detach yourself, suspend judgement
