Intro to research

Epistemology

The study of the origins of knowledge

Rhetoric

The study of persuasion and argumentation

Observation

Careful study using the basic senses of sight, hearing, touch, smell, and taste

How do we go from belief to knowledge?

1. observation

2. systematic inquiry

3. Modeling

Systematic inquiry

AKA scientific method. Builds on observation is operationalized and reported to that it can be replicated

What does PICO stand for?

Population, Intervention, Comparison, Outcome

Citation:

mention or listing of a scholarly source within a text

Reference:

a complete list of indexical information for that source at the end of the text

What is a dependent variable:

Something that a researcher measures in an experiment

Reliability (in a experimental research context):

ensuring that researchers tell the truth to participants

Validity (in a experimental research context):

a way to ensure two people could conduct an experiment the same way

SMART Scientific Questions

Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Temporally and spatially bound

Hypotheses

scientific questions that have been reformulated to reflect the possible outcomes in an experiment

Null hypothesis

stated in the negative, or that there will be no difference. Almost never what we expect to happen

Alternative hypothesis

stated in the positive, either as an expected but nondirectional difference, or better yet, as a directional difference

What created the “foreign body sensation” in the case presented by Arakoni et. al

An artery pushing against the esophagus

what is the difference between knowledge and content?

Knowledge is always true whereas we often do not know if content is true

Informal literature:

Your collection of relevant articles

Formal literature:

A part of a research paper in which relevant scholarly work is reviewed

Level 1a:

meta-analysis of 2 or more randomized controlled trials

Level 1b:

Single RCT with a narrow confidence band and quality controls must be reported

Level 2a:

A systematic review or meta-analysis of level 2-4; meta analysis that don’t meet level 1a criteria

Level 2b:

well designed and controlled study without randomization

Level 3:

Case studies, multiple baseline research designs; Observational study with quality controls

Level 4:

Observational studies without controls

Level 5:

Expert committee report, consensus conference, clinical experience of respected authorities

Conclusive rating of study:

Evidence levels 1a or 1b; quality controls present clearly relevant to client/patient

Preponderant rating of study:

Evidence levels 1a through 2b with some problems with quality controls

Suggestive rating of quality:

Evidence level 3 with some quality controls (and some missing)

Inconclusive rating of quality:

Evidence level 4 and below; missing quality controls

Propositional knowledge

Set of facts that can be known and are true

Justified true belief

three-part definition of knowledge

According to Karl Popper, how does science provide objective knowledge?

by allowing scientists to falsify bad theories or ideas

what is the final step of the seven steps in systematic inquiry?

reporting data and its support for hypothesis in a system of external review

Independent variable

Factor that is controlled and changed

Dependent variable

Measurable factor

What are the categories that clinical scientific questions typically fall under?

Assessment, Treatment, and the Nature of the disorder

What are three essential characteristics used to recognize an academic source?

Academic authors with credentials, use of citations, and a history of peer review

What are three requirements for a scientific question to be ‘original’ according to Perneger and Hudelson?

It should extend existing scientific knowledge

What is included in the ‘Methods"‘ portion of an experimental research article?

Participants, Materials, Procedure, and Analyses

Dysphagia Lusoria

A rare condition where an aberrant subclavian artery compresses the esophagus?

what is the percentage of patients with aberrant arteries who actually experience symptoms

20 to 40%

first-line instrumental investigations for oropharyngeal dysphagia assessment?

Flexible Endoscopic Evaluation of Swallowing (FEES) and Videofluoroscopic Swallowing Study (VFSS)

What clinical risk is associated with a ‘weak swallow’ in patients like Dr.Weeks?

Aspiration (food reaching the lungs), which can lead to pneumonia

Nondirectional difference

going to get a difference that we don’t know what it will be

Directional difference

what we expect

What is a problem linked specifically to pediatric dysphagia in their abstract?

Unparalleled physical growth

What was the chief complaint of the 44-year-old female in the Arakoni et al. case study?

Foreign body sensation in her throat (feeling like a ‘ball of phlegm’)

A research article summary should conclude with a rating of

Study quality

What does 1761 year in context of dysphagia lusoria?

it is the year David bayford coined the term

which part of a research article describes ‘how the study was conducted’?

the procedure (within the methods section)

A study without randomization but low-quality controls would be classified as which level?

Level 2b

The Seven Steps of Systematic Inquiry:

1. Observation

2. Hypothesis

3. Implementation

4. Data Analysis

5. Decision Making

6. Reporting

Authorship scholarly source

Written by professors or experts with advanced degress

Peer review:

A history of being reviewed by experts in the field prior to publication

Structure of an Experimental Research Article:

• title and abstract

• introduction/literature review

• methods

• results

• discussion

• references

Joint attention:

sharing attention with another person toward the same object or activity