Descriptive and Qualitative Research Methods in OT (quiz 3)

What is the focus of longitudinal studies in descriptive research?

focus on the natural history of disease or condition states, important for future clinical trial design and generating hypotheses about etiology and progression.

What philosophical approach is normative studies linked to?

linked to the philosophy of logical positivism, emphasizing logical, controlled relationships between variables.

What is the purpose of qualitative research?

examine experiences from a holistic approach, looking at the true nature of 'reality' as participants perceive it.

What are mixed methods in research?

combine qualitative and quantitative aspects within one study, allowing findings from each to relate to the nature of actual experiences.

What is the essence of qualitative research?

to look at the person's experience as lived by that individual.

What is the role of observation in qualitative research?

Observation is conducted prior to interviews to identify people, interactions, and sociocultural contexts relevant to the study.

What is the importance of interviews in qualitative research?

gather information using probing questions about participants' experiences and perceptions, requiring a flexible approach from the interviewer.

What are the key components of ensuring trustworthiness in qualitative research data?

credibility (internal validity), dependability, transferability (external validity), and consistency (reliability).

What is triangulation in qualitative research?

confirming concepts using more than one source of data, method, or researcher to enhance the trustworthiness of findings.

What is the format of a case study?

introduction with background literature, a full patient history, methods section, results, and a discussion of outcomes.

What distinguishes observational studies from experimental studies?

no manipulation of variables and data is collected in natural contexts, while experimental studies manipulate variables.

What is a cross-sectional study

provide a snapshot at one point in time

What does correlation in research indicate?

indicates the strength and direction of an association between variables, but does not imply causation.

What are common biases in evaluating causality?

selection bias, recall bias, interviewer bias, and confounding.

What are the core elements of single-subject designs (SSD)?

repeated measures with at least 3-4 data points per phase and distinct phases for baseline (A) and intervention (B).

What is an A-B-A withdrawal design in SSD?

adds a second baseline to demonstrate that behavior reverses when treatment is withdrawn.

What is the purpose of alternating treatments in SSD?

rapid switch between different interventions to compare their effectiveness.

What is replication in the context of research?

repeating a study to confirm findings and enhance external validity.

What is the significance of qualitative research in understanding human experiences?

emphasizes understanding the complex nature of human experiences and how individuals perceive their own experiences.

What is the role of field notes in qualitative research?

recorded observations that provide context and detail about the study's findings.

What is the importance of flexibility in qualitative interviews?

allows interviewers to adapt their questions based on participants' responses, enhancing the depth of data collected.

What is the goal of descriptive surveys in research?

gather information about a population or phenomenon without manipulating variables.

What are the implications of using mixed methods in research?

increase the validity of findings by integrating diverse perspectives and data types.

What is the significance of understanding a person's perspective in qualitative research?

capturing the complexity of human experiences within a social context.

What is a longitudinal study?

involve repeated measures over time.