Surveys/Quest and Systematic review/meta-analysis (2) Flashcards
What is one of the most popular methods for collecting descriptive or subjective data and composed of a series of questions that are posed to a group of subjects?
surveys
Survey data can be used in what type of studies?
ALL THREE
experimental, exploratory or descriptive studies
Surveys can be conducted as what two things?
- Oral interview
2. Written/electronic questionnaire
What is a questionaire?
Structured surveys
self-administered
using pen / paper or electronic formats
Advantages of using a questionnaire: (4)
- More efficient - respondents complete on their own time
- Data gathered from large sample in a wide geo distribution in a short time
- standardized written forms are used - it reduces potential bias from interactions with an interviewer
- useful as a research method for assessing attitudes and values
Disadvantages of using questionnaire: (3)
- not as useful for studying behavior that require objective observation
- potential for misinterpreting questions or response choices
- accuracy or motivation of the respondent unknown
Common methods of distributing questionnaires: (3)
- Through the mail
- In-person distribution
- Electronic distribution (most common, economical)
Major concerns in regard to surveys and questionnaires: (2)
- Return rate low - 30-60% for most studies and lowered further by incomplete, incorrect, or missing data (survey samples large to obtain sufficient usable responses)
- Self-report - always potential for bias or inaccuracy in self-reports
recall bias -
when respondents are asked to remember past events
Self-report is generally valid for variables such as: (4)
- injury
- mobility function
- hypertension
- smoking habits
Self-report is only direct way to obtain info for: (4)
- perceptions
- fears
- motivations
- attitudes
Design of surveys (7 steps):
- Identify questions
- formulate hypothesis
- develop questionnaire outline
- Review existing instruments
- Design instrument
- Preliminary drafts
- Pilot testing and revision
When pilot testing/revising survey, who test it on and serves to do what?
- small rep sample of 5-10 subjects from target population
2. serve to check the validity (face validity and content validity)
How do respondents answer open-ended survey questions?
respondents to answer in their own words
What is open-ended survey questions useful to find?
useful for feelings and opinions without biases/limits imposed by the researcher
open-ended survey questions are often used in what part of the study?
pilot study to determine a range of responses, then converted to a multiple choice item
T/F open-ended survey questions are difficult to code and analyze
True, difficult to code and analyze because so many different responses can be obtained
Closed-ended survey questions -
provide multiple response choices
T/F Closed-ended survey questions are easily coded
True, great uniformity across responses
Closed-ended survey questions should be exhaustive, what does that mean?
they should include all possible responses that can be expected
Closed-ended survey questions should be mutually exclusive, what does that mean?
each choice should clearly represent a unique answer (not 2/4/6 but rather 1-2/3-4/5-6)
What is a scale?
ordered system for a series of questions that provide an overall rating
What were scales devloped to measure
- attitudes
- function
- health and quality of life
- pain
- exertion
- other physical, physiological and psychological variables
Categorical scales -
used with categorical variables such as gender; race; diagnosis
Continuous scales -
used with continuous variables such as age; blood pressure; years of experience