Chapter 13: Research and Data Analysis

Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ)

A federal agency within HHS that aims to make healthcare safer, higher quality, more accessible, equitable, and affordable.

Aggregate data

Data compiled and analyzed from multiple sources to draw conclusions about a specific topic.

Bar chart

A simple chart that describes qualitative, categorical, or discrete variables.

Box-and-whisker plots

Visual summaries of data that show median, range, and outliers, useful for comparing multiple data sets.

Bubble charts

Scatter charts that compare three data variables, illustrating complex relationships among them.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

A US government agency focused on health promotion, disease prevention, and preparedness for health threats.

Comparative data

Data organized numerically and compared against standards or benchmarks.

Confounding factors

Characteristics other than the characteristic of interest that may relate to the disease under study.

Continuous variable

A numerical variable that can take any value between two whole numbers.

Correlational studies

Research studies that determine if a relationship exists between two variables.

Descriptive statistics

Statistics including frequencies, percentiles, and measures of central tendency and variability.

Ethnography Experimental study

A methodology where a researcher investigates a specific culture or organization in detail.

Inferential statistics

Techniques to make deductions for a larger population based on sample data.

Institutional Review Board (IRB)

A board that protects human subjects in research and ensures rights of participants.

Line graph

Graphical representation used to display continuous data over time.

Mean

The average of a group of numerical values.

Median

The middle value in a sorted list of numbers.

Nominal variables

Variables where numbers represent categories with no intrinsic ordering.

Normal distribution

A symmetrical bell-shaped distribution where mean, median, and mode are equal.

Ordinal variables

Ranked variables where numbers indicate order but not the magnitude of difference.

Pareto chart

A bar chart that ranks values from highest to lowest, illustrating the significant few versus trivial many.

Percentile

A measure in statistics indicating the value below which a certain percentage of scores fall.

Qualitative research

Research designs that collect data reflecting participants' perceptions and feelings.

Quantitative study

Research that yields numerical results, using descriptive or inferential statistics.

Quasi-experimental study

Studies similar to experiments but lacking randomization of participants.

Range

The difference between the highest and lowest values in a data set.

Regression equations

Statistical formulas used to assess relationships between variables and predict trends.

Retrospective study

Studies that review records and recall past events to assess independent variables.

Standard deviation

A measure of variability that indicates how data points differ from the mean.