Critical Appraisal of Vaccine Autism Study and Qualitative Research Methods

These flashcards cover key terms and concepts related to the controversial vaccine-autism study and qualitative research methodologies discussed in the lecture.

Vaccine-autism study

A controversial study published in 1998 led by Andrew Wakefield claiming a link between vaccines and autism, later retracted for ethical violations and methodological flaws.

Andrew Wakefield

The researcher who led the discredited 1998 study suggesting a connection between the MMR vaccine and autism.

Sample size

The number of participants involved in a study; the vaccine-autism study had only 12 participants, making its results unreliable.

Conflicts of interest

Situations in which a researcher’s financial interests or personal circumstances could potentially undermine the impartiality of the research.

Data saturation

The point in qualitative research when no new information or themes are emerging from data collection, indicating that enough data has been gathered.

Qualitative research

A type of research that focuses on exploring and understanding the meaning individuals or groups ascribe to a social or human problem.

Ethnography

A qualitative research methodology focused on studying cultural groups and understanding their behaviors, beliefs, and social interactions.

Grounded theory

A research method that aims to generate a theory that explains a process based on data collected from participants.

Reflexive journaling

A practice in qualitative research where researchers document their thoughts and reflections to help mitigate personal biases during data collection.

Phenomenology

A qualitative research approach that seeks to understand and describe the lived experiences of individuals.

The IRB (Institutional Review Board)

A committee that reviews research proposals to ensure ethical standards are met and the rights of study participants are protected.

Thick description

An in-depth and detailed account of a cultural phenomenon that provides context and insight, allowing readers to understand the intricacies of the culture being studied.