SNHP 330: Research and Evidence-Based Practice - Week 7

Flashcards covering qualitative research types, quantitative study designs, biases, variables, operational definitions, ethical principles, and research methods from Week 7 of SNHP 330.

In qualitative research, what is the primary purpose and focus of phenomenology?

To explore lived experiences and meaning-making.

What are the major strengths and limitations of a phenomenological study design?

Strengths: Provides deep insight into subjective experiences and captures meaning and emotion. Limitations: Features small sample sizes and results are not generalizable.

What is the primary purpose of grounded theory in qualitative research?

To develop new theories or frameworks from data.

What are the key strengths and limitations of grounded theory?

Strengths: Builds new conceptual frameworks and generates data-driven theory. Limitations: Time-intensive and requires iterative data collection and analysis.

What is the primary focus of ethnography, and what are its major limitations?

Focus: Understand cultural beliefs and practices around health. Limitations: Requires immersion, carries potential cultural bias, and is long-term.

What is the focus and primary limitation of a case study qualitative design?

Focus: In-depth analysis of one or a few cases. Limitation: Limited scope and not generalizable.

What is the purpose and primary strength of narrative research?

Purpose: Analyze stories and personal accounts. Strength: Preserves the human voice and highlights individual perspectives.

What are the core characteristics of correlational studies?

They explore the relationship between two or more variables, measure the degree of association (positive, negative, or none), do not imply causation, and typically use observational data.

What is synthesis research, and what is its primary goal?

It combines results from multiple studies (including systematic reviews and meta-analyses) to summarize overall evidence and identify patterns, strengths, and gaps in literature.

What is the starting point, temporality, and major bias risk of a cross-sectional study?

Starting Point: Exposure and outcome measured simultaneously (together). Temporality: No. Major Bias Risk: Survivor bias.

What is the starting point, key strength, and major bias risk of a case-control study?

Starting Point: Outcome first (cases vs. controls, looking back for exposure). Key Strength: Efficient for rare diseases. Major Bias Risk: Recall and selection bias.

What is the starting point, temporality, and major bias risk of a cohort study?

Starting Point: Exposure first (followed forward to outcome). Temporality: Yes. Major Bias Risk: Loss to follow-up.

What is the starting point, key strength, and major bias risk of an experimental study?

Starting Point: Assigned exposure. Key Strength: Strongest design for causal inference (causality). Major Bias Risk: Attrition / noncompliance.

What are the major bias risks identified for correlational studies and synthesis research?

Correlational studies: Confounding variables. Synthesis research: Publication bias.

What three critical aspects of a study are determined by its research design?

1. What data you collect, 2. How reliable your results are, and 3. Whether causal conclusions are possible.

What are the sequential steps in the research process from initial idea to analysis?

Topic → Research Question → Study Design → Data Collection → Analysis.

How are variables defined in research methodology?

Characteristics that vary among individuals (e.g., age, income, blood pressure).

How do independent, dependent, and confounding variables differ from one another?

Independent: The predictor or cause. Dependent: The outcome being measured. Confounding: A variable that influences both the independent and dependent variables.

What is an operational definition, and what does it allow in research?

An explanation of how a variable will be measured (e.g., physical activity measured as minutes of moderate exercise per week); it allows consistency, replication, and clear measurement.

What are the three core ethical principles and their meanings as presented in the lecture?

Respect for persons: Informed consent. Beneficence: Maximizing potential benefits and minimizing potential harm. Justice: Distributing benefits and burdens fairly across populations.

What four elements are required for good research according to the key takeaways?

Clear questions, appropriate design, defined variables, and ethical oversight.

What are the assigned homework reading chapters and the due date for the Literature Review?

Homework: Read Chapters 13 - 15. Research Paper Literature Review: Due Oct. 11.