Topic C: Research Applications Flashcards
Results vs Discussion
Results: Specific lab, clinical, objective, or subjective findings
Discussion: Interpretation of results
In a study, which group receives the program/treatment?
Experimental group
Study Designs: Parallel
Participants are randomly assigned to a particular treatment group and remain on that treatment throughout the study
Descriptive Research
Gathers new data needed to generate cause & effect relationships
- Provides baseline data and monitors change over time
- Establishes associations among factors, but does NOT allow causal relationships to be determined
Types of Descriptive Research
- Qualitative research
- Case report, case study, or case series
- Surveys
- Correlation/ecological studies
Qualitative Research
A type of descriptive research
- Often precedes other research
- Describes observations in non-numerical terms
- Data (narrative, non-numeric) is collected via interviews, observations, questionnaires
Case report, case study, or case series
A type of descriptive research
- Intensive inquiry abut a person or population with a common disease/condition
- Helps identify variables related to the condition’s etiology, care, or outcomes
Survey
A type of descriptive research
- Questionaire or interview to describe the characteristics of a population
- Has defined time frame; pinpoints problems
Correlation/Ecological Study
A type of descriptive research
- Compares the frequency of events (or disease rates) in different populations VS the per capita consumption of certain dietary factors
- Ex: Correlation between fish consumption and breast cancer incidence
Analytical Research
Evaluates the effects of variables to establish cause & effect relationships
Types of Analytical Research
- Experimental Model
- Quasi-experimental design
- Cohort studies
- Case-control studies
- Cross-sectional/prevalence studies
Experimental Model
A type of analytical research
- Participants are randomized into experimental and control groups
- Gold standard: Randomized control trial (RCT)
Best method for evaluation medical treatments and interventions
Randomized control trial
Parallel Design of a RCT
Participants are randomly assigned to a particular treatment group and remain on that treatment throughout the study
Quasi-Experimental Study Design
A type of analytical research
- Time series: Measurements are taken before and after a program to see if there’s a noteworthy change
Cohort Study
A type of analytical research
- Tracks a group of people with something in common (to see if they develop a disease/condition over time)
Case-control Study
A type of analytical research
- Compares the past behaviors of two similar groups - one with a disease and the other without - to see how they differ
Cross-sectional/prevalance study
A type of analytical research
- One-time data collection (snapshot) to count all cases of a specific disease among a group of people at a specific time
- Describes current, not past events
Relevance/Validity: Definition and when it is used
Ability to measure phenomenon it intends to measure
- Used when several products compete against one another
Reliability
Consistency/reproducibility of test results
Sensitivity vs Specificity
Sensitivity: Proportion of afflicted individuals who test positive
Specificity: Proportion of non-afflicted individuals identified as non-afflicted
Percentage of all observations in a normal distribution that fall within 1 SD of the mean
68% (2/3)
Double-blind study
Neither the researcher nor the subject know who is receiving treatment vs placebo (removes bias from research)
Mortality
Rate of death
Morbidity
State of disease
Inferential statistics
Techniques that allow conclusions to extend beyond an immediate data set (ex- what is the probability that the results can be applied to a large group? What can you infer from the results of your study?)
Pilot Study
A scaled-down version of a larger study to see if the study plan will work
- Includes every step in the study
