Research designs

research questions

fundamental core of a research study

focuses study, determines methodology, guides all stages of inquiry, analysis, and reporting

descriptive research questions

describes what is going on/what exists

relational/correlational research question

looks at relationships between two or more variables

causal research question

determines whether one or more variables causes or affects one or more outcome variables

hypothesis

specific statement of prediction

describes in concrete terms what is expected to happen in a study

true/false: all studies have hypothesis

false

null hypothesis

no significant difference/changes will be observed

alternate (non-directional) hypothesis

significant differences/changes will be observed

alternate (directional) hypothesis

significant differences will either increase or decrease in study

evidence-based decision making

combines experience and judgment, patient preferences, clinical circumstances, and scientific evidence to make an informed decision

purpose of EBDM

use of an evidence-based approach in clinical practice is intended to close the gap between what we know and what we practice

primary research design covers:

descriptive

exploratory

experimental

secondary research design covers:

systematic reviews

meta-analysis

descriptive research

investigator attempts to describe a group os individuals on a set of variables/characteristics

what types of research fall under descriptive research

quantitative/qualitative

cross-sectional

quantitative research

involves measurement of outcomes using numerical data under standardized conditions

Qualitative research

concerned with narrative information under less structured conditions that often takes the research context into account

cross-sectional studies

studies group of subjects at one point in time

examines associations

exploratory research

investigator examines a phenomenon of interest and explores its dimensions- how it relates to other factors

what falls under exploratory research

case reports/case studies

case control study

cohort study

case report/case series

often a description of an individual case's condition/responses to an intervention

case-control study

indenifies groups with/without condition

look backward in time to find differences in predictor variables that may explain why the cases got the condition and the controls did not

cohort study

a group of individuals who do not yet have the outcome of interest are followed together over time to see who develops the condition

what falls under experimental research

true experimental designs

quasi-experimental designs

experimental research

provides basis for comparing 2 or more conditions

provides highest degree of confidence in the validity of outcomes

true experimental design

subjects are randomly to at least 2 comparison groups

group differs solely based on what occurs between measurements

quasi-experiment design

uses natural groupings of participants instead of using randomized assignments for comparisons

most basic type of experimental design

pretest-posttest control group

level 1 evidence

randomized control trial

meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials with homogenous results

systematic review

A comprehensive survey of a topic in which all of the primary studies of the highest level of evidence have been systematically identified, appraised and then summarized according to an explicit and reproducible methodology

meta-analysis

a survey in which results of all the included studies are similar enough statistically that the results are combined and analyzed as if it was one study

when is a meta analysis appropriate

studies have small number of subjects

report conclusions do not agree

improve estimates of effect size

level 2 evidence

prospective comparative study

meta-analysis of level 2 studies or level 1 studies with inconsistent results

level 3 evidence

Retrospective cohort studies

case-control study

meta-analysis of level 3 studies

level 4 evidence

case series

level 5 evidence

case report

expert opinion

personal observation

bench tests/first principles

pico (p)

patient population

problem

what tense is scientific research written in

past tense, 3rd person

pico (i)

intervention

pico (c)

comparison

pico (o)

outcome

critical thinking

rational examination of ideas, inferences, assumptions, principles, arguments, conclusions, issues, statements, beliefs, and actions

what does it critical reading require?

reader must identify and clarify concepts, question assumptions, and determine supporting evidence

critical reading

process involving stages of understanding

preliminary understanding

familiarize yourself with the article by quickly skimming abstract, headings and content

comprehensive understanding

understand intent of researcher by re-reading article and clarifying unclear terms

read additional sources related to the article

write main ideas in your own words

analysis understanding

break content into parts so that each aspect of the study can be understood

must comprehend article beforehand

apply critiquing criteria to each step of research process

synthesis understanding

fit info together in a way that makes sense and explain relationships

summarize articles in own words

identify strengths and weaknesses of study

include citation

chronological organization when writing

organize research by order it was conducted

publication organization when writing

group sources by the type of research they present or the area/field of research

trends organization when writing

categorizing sources will present changes in data interpreted over time

thematic organization when writing

organize ideas around topics or issues

presents emphasis on ideas or themes

methodological organization when writing

groups studies by way the research is conducted

purpose of methods section in research article

allows others to see how you conducted your experiment and reproduce your experiment

major issues when conducting research

use of human subjects

informed consent to participate

confidentiality of records

three basic ethical principles

respect for persons

beneficence

justice

application of respect of persons

informed consent, including information comprehensive and voluntariness

application of beneficence

nature and scope of risks and benefits must be assessed in a systematic manner

application of justice

fair procedures and outcomes in the selection of research subjects

basic principles of human subjects

must be based on scientific principles

researcher must be scientifically qualified to conduct the research

rights and welfare of subjects must be supported

informed consent must be obtained

privacy

capacity of individuals to control when and under what conditions others will have access to info about them

Confidentiality

ability to link info or data to a persons identity- how personal information is disclosed

subject at risk

any individual who may be exposed to the possibility of injury, physical, psychological or social, related to their environment in a particular study