Clinical Research Rutgers Test

The process of systematically and carefully investigating a subject in order to learn or discover new information about the world is known as?
A. Epidemiology
B. Health
C. Research
D. None of the above

Research

Health researchers examine all of the following factors that contribute to health and to disease, illness, disability and death, EXCEPT:
A. Developmental
B. Socioeconomic
C. Biological
D. Environmental

Developmental

The process of systematically and carefully investigating a subject in order to learn or discover new information about the world is known as?
A. Epidemiology
B. Health
C. Research
D. None of the above

Research

Health researchers examine all of the following factors that contribute to health and to disease, illness, disability and death, EXCEPT:
A. Developmental
B. Socioeconomic
C. Biological
D. Environmental

Developmental

Population-based studies are typically conducted using:
A. Human subjects
B. Animals
C. Research facilities
D. None of the above

Human Subjects

Which is NOT an example of Laboratory research?
A. Compare tests of air quality in several metropolitan areas
B. Identify biological mechanisms for the emergence of drug-resistant bacteria
C. Use a food frequency questionnaire to examine dietary behaviors in a selected population group
D. Develop a new vaccine

Use a food frequency questionnaire to examine dietary behaviors in a selected population group

Which is NOT an example of population-based research?
A. Compare rates of acute lung diseases in several metropolitan areas and see whether the rates of disease are correlated with local air quality
B. Determine whether survival following a breast cancer diagnosis is linked to the presence of certain genes
C. Conduct a vaccine trial
D. Analyze biochemical composition of selected foods

Analyze biochemical composition of selected foods

Population health research objectives may include:
A. Identifying and classifying new health problems.
B. Determining risk factors for disease
C. Evaluating the impact of health policies on health outcomes
D. All of the above

All of the above

Which is NOT a step in the research process?
A. Identify a study question
B. Select a study approach
C. Report study findings
D. All of the above are steps in the research process

All of the above are steps in the research process

Which of the following would be classified as a routine practice activity?
A. An epidemiologist working for a health department tracks down the source of an outbreak of gastroenteritis.
B. An outbreak investigation team identifies an unusual food item as the cause of the outbreak, does additional survey and laboratory work to confirm the hypothesis, and then shares that discovery by writing a formal report describing their methods and results.
C. A clinician conducts a systematic search of the literature, completes a novel synthesis of the compiled articles, and then writes and disseminates that summary.
D. A client survey uses a validated questionnaire and sampling methods, is approved by an ethics committee, answers a question that builds on the evidence base provided by previously published articles, and has the results shared through presentation or publication.

An epidemiologist working for a health department tracks down the source of an outbreak of gastroenteritis.

A needs assessment answers which of the following questions?
A. What is the health status of this population?
B. What are the threats to health in this population?
C. How good are we at preventing, diagnosing, and treating health concerns in the populations in which we serve?
D. Was this intervention successful at improving the health status in this population?

What is the health status of this population?

Usually, what is the goal of any single research project?
A. To accomplish something no one else has
B. To uncover a cure or a treatment
C. To answer one well-defined question
D. To raise awareness of a particular medical condition

To answer one well-defined question

Which is a good starting point when selecting a research topic?
A. Having a brainstorming session
B. Refining research areas of interest
C. Compiling a list of key words
D. Both A and C

Having a brainstorming session

Which database, developed by the U.S. National Library of Medicine, can be helpful in narrowing the scope of the research area?
A. ISI Web
B. MeSH
C. HELLP
D. CINAHL

MeSH

Which is an example of a type of exposure?
A. Socioeconomic status
B. Depressive disorders
C. Near drowning
D. Poisonings

Socioeconomic status

Which is NOT an example of a type of population?
A. Adults with diabetes
B. Teachers with at least 10 years of classroom experience
C. Non-governmental organizations working on issues related to HIV/AIDS in Uganda
D. All of the above are examples of a type of population

All of the above are examples of a type of population

Which is NOT an example of a type of disease/outcome?
A. Bone fractures
B. Depressive disorders
C. Drinking water
D. Schizophrenia

drinking water

Most topics in population based research can be expressed in terms of which formula?
A. [disease/outcome] and [exposure] in [population]
B. [exposure] and [population] in [disease/outcome]
C. [exposure] and [disease/outcome] in [populations]
D. None of the above

[exposure] and [disease/outcome] in [populations]

Which of the following points toward the selection of key indicators that would provide evidence for the success of the intervention?
A. Brainstorming
B. Concept mapping
C. PICOT
D. Practical questions

PICOT

Which of the following, related to the candidate question, will assist the researcher in determining what is already known about the topic and what new information a new study could contribute?
A. Meta-analysis
B. Literature review
C. Questionnaires
D. Concept mapping

Literature review

What database, developed by the U.S. National Library of Medicine, can be helpful for identifying the full extent of a research area and for narrowing the scope of a research area?
A. PubMed
B. MedWatch
C. MeSh (Medical Subject Headings Database)
D. MEDLINE

MeSh (Medical Subject Headings Database)

All of the following are good sources of information that a researcher can use to explore what his/her primary area of research interest is, EXCEPT:
A. Factsheets
B. Newspapers
C. Popular magazines
D. All of the above are good sources of information

All of the above are good sources of information

A paragraph-length summary of an article, chapter, or book is known as a(n)?
A. Abstract
B. Summary
C. Review
D. Database

Abstract

Health science abstracts usually provide a brief description of:
A.The study design
B.The study population
C.Key findings of the study
D.All of the above

All of the above

Which is an example of health abstract databases available from libraries via subscription?
A. Embase
B. ISI Web of Science
C. MEDLINE
D. All of the above are examples of health abstract databases

All of the above are examples of health abstract databases

Which of the following is the most important, publicly available, health science database?
A. PsycINFO
B. ISI Web of Science
C. PubMed
D. CINAHL

PubMed

To look for a health science abstract in PubMed one can use all of the following search methods EXCEPT:
A. Keywords
B. MeSH terms
C. Boolean operators
D. Reprise operators

Reprise operators

Which database is sponsored by the U.S. National Library of Medicine and features only journals that have applied for inclusion and passed through a review process?
A. LILACS
B. MEDLINE
C. SciELO
D. EBSCO

MEDLINE

Because many peer-reviewed journals are not included in the databases, especially journals in languages other than English, which search engine may be helpful for identifying additional relevant abstracts?
A. SPORTDiscus
B. Ovid
C. Google Scholar
D. LexisNexis

Google Scholar

Critical reading involves asking a series of questions about what aspect of a study in order to ascertain how well a particular study was designed, conducted, interpreted, and reported and to assess how likely it is that the resulting paper presents the truth about a particular research question in a particular population at a particular place and time?
A. Internal validity
B. External validity
C. Specificity
D. Sensitivity

Internal validity

What type of research/study approach is used when data are newly collected and analyzed?
A.Primary
B.Secondary
C.Tertiary
D.None of the above

Primary

What type of research/study approach is used when existing data are used and analyzed?
A.Primary
B.Secondary
C.Tertiary
D.None of the above

Secondary

A study goal often includes all of the following EXCEPT:
A.Exposure
B.Direction
C.Disease
D.Population

Direction

Which of the following is an example of a study goal?
A.To compare the levels of exposure or disease in two or more populations
B.To identify possible risk factors for a particular disease in a population
C.To examine the impact of a program or policy
D.All of the above are examples of study goals

All of the above are examples of study goals

Which of the following is sketched out using boxes and arrows that illustrate the various relationships that will be evaluated during the study?
A. Conceptual framework
B. Theoretical framework
C. Experimental framework
D. Perceptual framework

Conceptual framework

At what point should the researcher identify three or more specific objectives that stem from the main study goal?
A. Prior to the literature review
B. After completion of the abstract
C. After finalizing the overarching study goal
D. Prior to development of a conceptual model

After finalizing the overarching study goal

What type of study revolves around a thorough review of existing literature?
A. Primary study
B. Secondary study
C. Tertiary study
D. Quaternary study

Tertiary study

A senior researcher is:
A.An experienced researcher who guides the work of a newer investigator
B.A researcher who is of advanced age
C.A researcher who has a senior position in the institution
D.Both B and C

An experienced researcher who guides the work of a newer investigator

The core collaborators in the support team should include all of the following EXCEPT:
A. Cultural expert
B. Subject matter expert
C. Laboratory technician
D. Lead researcher

Laboratory technician

The Committee that established authorship criteria in the health sciences that most journals have adopted is:
A.ICMJE
B.ICETS
C.COHS
D.None of the above

ICMJE

All of the following are criteria listed under the Uniform Requirements for Manuscripts Submitted to Biomedical Journals that each coauthor must have meet EXCEPT:
A.Substantial contribution to conception, design and/or data acquisition, analysis, or interpretation of the data
B.Organization of the list of authors as they should appear on the manuscript
C.Drafting the manuscript and/or revising it critically
D.Final approval of the version of the manuscript to be published

Organization of the list of authors as they should appear on the manuscript

When someone is given honorary coauthorship without having significantly contributed to the work during the study or manuscript is known as:
A.Ghost authorship
B.Gift authorship
C.Informal authorship
D.Required authorship

.Gift authorship

When someone who has made substantial intellectual contribution to the study is not appropriately recognized is known as a:
A.Gift authorship
B.Hidden authorship
C.Ghost authorship
D.Reference authorship

Ghost authorship

The person who is most involved in the writing of the manuscript is known as:
A.The lead author
B.The first author
C.The senior author
D.Both A and B

Both A and B

The researcher who will do the majority of the work is defined as which of the following?
A. Primary investigator
B. Lead researcher
C. Statistical consultant
D. Mentor

Lead researcher

For international research projects, how many local researchers at the study site should be a co-investigator who is involved in every step of the research process, including the identification of the study question, the design of the study, and the collection of data?
A. 0
B. At least 1
C. At least 3
D. At least 5

At least 1

What section of the manuscript is used to thank individuals who did not earn coauthorship but who benefitted the study with their contributions?
A. Title page
B. Introduction
C. Abstract
D. Acknowledgments

Acknowledgments

A secondary analysis of data refers to:
A.Collecting new data from individuals
B.Writing a review article
C.Using existing data
D.None of the above

Using existing data

Which study approach gives the researcher control over items like selection of a source population, and the content and wording of a questionnaire?
A.Primary studies
B.Secondary studies
C.Tertiary studies
D.Every type of study

Primary studies

The goal of a qualitative study is to:
A. Synthesize existing knowledge.
B. Seek to understand how individuals and communities perceive and make sense of the world and their experiences.
C. Compare exposure histories in people with the disease (cases) and people without the disease (controls).
D. Describe a group of individuals with a disease.

Seek to understand how individuals and communities perceive and make sense of the world and their experiences.

When a study seeks to compare the average levels of exposure and disease in several populations, it is known as a(n)?
A.Correlational (ecological) study
B.Case series
C.Cohort study
D.Experimental study

Correlational (ecological) study

Which of the following study designs is used under the 'tertiary analysis' approach?
A.Ecological
B.Cross-sectional
C.Meta-analysis
D.Experimental

Meta-analysis

A(n) example of a study approach(es) that focuses on individuals with a particular disease is:
A.Case-series
B.Cross-sectional
C.Case-control
D.Both A and C

Both A and C

Most researchers serve as what type of coauthors before moving into the lead author role for the first time?
A. Mentors
B. Consultants
C. Middle coauthors
D. Last author

Middle coauthors

An individual who is given honorary coauthorship without having significantly contributed to the work is referred to as which of the following?
A. Gift authorship
B. Ghost authorship
C. Silent authorship
D. Associate authorship

Gift authorship

In what manner are authors generally listed on a manuscript?
A. In alphabetical order
B. In order according to level of education
C. In order according to contribution to the project
D. In reverse order according to contribution to the project

In order according to contribution to the project

When should the Narrative Review approach be used?
A. When the goal is to describe a new perspective on a topic that can be supported by the existing literature.
B. When the goal is to compare the findings of previous studies on a well-defined topic.
C. When the goal is to summarize previous findings using pooled statistics.
D. When the goal is to write a report on the information found.

When the goal is to describe a new perspective on a topic that can be supported by the existing literature.

What is the first step to complete when using a systematic review approach?
A. Decide what story the article will tell
B. Decide on the specific objectives of the review
C. Select inclusion and exclusion criteria for articles
D. Select the search methods that will be used to find potentially relevant articles

Decide on the specific objectives of the review

All of the following are required steps when completing a review article EXCEPT:
A.An extensive search of the literature
B.The extraction of key information from relevant articles
C.The clear and concise presentation of information
D.The analysis of data

The analysis of data

A way for an investigator to become an expert in the literature on a well-defined topic is by:
A. Writing a review article
B. Describing the goals of the study
C. Identifying a research question
D. None of the above

Writing a review article

Which statement about review articles is FALSE?
A. A well written review article often becomes a foundation for new research
B. Review articles are often cited more often than reports of individual studies
C. All journals publish review articles
D. A good review requires meticulous library work

All journals publish review articles

The most important decision an investigator can make when selecting a topic for a review article is to:
A. Make the topic as general as possible that all relevant publications can be acquired
B. Make the topic narrow enough that all relevant publications can be acquired
C. Ensure that only other review articles are examined
D. Ensure that the topic is narrow enough to only find a few articles on the topic

Make the topic narrow enough that all relevant publications can be acquired

What type of studies seek to recruit a study population that is representative of a well-defined larger population?
A. Case-control studies
B. Case series
C. Cross-sectional studies
D. Meta-analysis

Cross-sectional studies

Secondary data collection might become labor intensive if which of the following have to be retrieved, read, coded, and entered into a database?
A. Questionnaires
B. Abstracts
C. Full-text journal articles
D. Old hospital charts

Old hospital charts

The timeline for what type of study might be very short if an entire data file and the relevant supporting documentation can be downloaded from a website?
A. Primary study
B. Secondary study
C. Tertiary study
D. Quaternary study

Secondary study

A correlational study is also known as a(n):
A. Ecological study
B. Longitudinal study
C. Aggregate study
D. Both A and C

Both A and C

Which statements about correlational studies is FALSE?
A. Uses population-level data to look for associations between two or more group characteristics.
B. It is also known as an ecological study.
C. Existing data sources are almost always used for this type of study.
D. Requires the collection of data from individual study participants.

Requires the collection of data from individual study participants.

Most exposures and outcomes used in correlational studies are in the form of:
A. Each population must be assigned its own row in the spreadsheet
B. Each exposure/outcome should be assigned its own column in the spreadsheet
C. The data should be filled into the cells in each column so that they line up with the correct population
D. All of the above

All of the above

What is the key statistical measure used when analyzing an ecological study?
A. Numbers needed to treat
B. Relative Risk
C. Correlation
D. None of the above

Correlation

A Pearson correlation coefficient (r) should be used to calculate a correlation when:
A. Continuous variables are used
B. Variables that assign a rank to responses are used
C. Variables that have ordered categories are used
D. None of the above

Continuous variables are used

A Spearman rank-ordered correlation should be used to analyze the data of an ecological study when:
A. Continuous variables are used
B. Variables that assign a rank to responses are used
C. Variables that have ordered categories are used
D. Both B and C

Both B and C

Which of the following is defined as the percentage of members of a population who die of any condition during a specified time period?
A. Morbidity rate
B. Mortality rate
C. Case fatality rate
D. Proportionate mortality rate

Mortality rate

Some case series follow patients for days, months, or even years. In this type of study approach, the case series functionally becomes what type of study?
A. Cross-sectional study
B. Cohort study
C. Case-control study
D. Correlational study

Cohort study

Which of the following is a key characteristic to watch out for when performing a case series study?
A. Lack of specificity
B. Lack of sensitivity
C. Lack of generalizability
D. Lack of validity

Lack of generalizability

A case report describes:
A. One patient with a disease condition
B. Two or more patients with the same disease condition or who have undergone the same procedure
C. People with the disease and people without the disease
D. None of the above

One patient with a disease condition

A case series study approach might be useful for all of the following EXCEPT:
A. Describing the characteristics and similarities of a group of individuals with the same signs and/or symptoms of disease
B. Identifying new syndromes and refining case definitions
C. Clarifying typical disease progression
D. All of the above are factors for which case series might be a useful study approach

All of the above are factors for which case series might be a useful study approach

A researcher conducting a case series must do all of the following EXCEPT:
A. Select one disease of interest
B. Determine what will be new and interesting about the study
C. Identify an appropriate and available source of cases
D. Look at individuals with the disease and those without the disease

Look at individuals with the disease and those without the disease

All of the following are true statements about a case series study approach EXCEPT:
A. Some case series for rare conditions may require at least one hundred participants
B. Some case series may include hundreds of individuals
C. A clear case definition must be established when using a case series study approach
D. Participants may be selected from clinical locations that use ICD codes

Some case series for rare conditions may require at least one hundred participants

When using medical records as part of the data collection process for a case series, the researcher should:
A. Be aware that information found in medical records is recorded for research purposes
B. Create a questionnaire that guides the extraction of information from the medical records
C. Remember that medical records will have all the information the researcher will like to know
D. Keep in mind that less relevant signs and symptoms, patient comments, and clinicians' observations are always recorded on medical records.

Create a questionnaire that guides the extraction of information from the medical records

Which of the following is NOT considered to be a special requirement for a case series study approach?
A. All case series require approval by a research ethics committee
B. Informed consent is needed from all study participants
C. Research must carefully protect the identities of study participants
D. All of the above are considered to be special requirements for a case series study approach

All of the above are considered to be special requirements for a case series study approach

What commonly used type of cross-sectional study asks participants about their knowledge, attitudes, beliefs, perceptions, practices, and behaviors?
A. KAP survey
B. Repeated cross-sectional survey
C. Longitudinal cohort survey
D. Meta-analytical survey

KAP survey

What type of study method is used for many of the largest studies conducted by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention?
A. KAP survey
B. Repeated cross-sectional survey
C. Longitudinal cohort survey
D. Meta-analytical survey

Repeated cross-sectional survey

Which of the following would be the first step in conducting a cross-sectional survey?
A. Define a source population
B. Develop a strategy for recruiting a representative sample
C. Decide on methods to be used for data collection
D. Describe the exposure and/or disease status in a population

Define a source population

What is the primary study question to ask when conducting a cross-sectional survey?
A. What are the key characteristics of the cases in this study population?
B. What is the prevalence of the exposure and/or disease in the population?
C. Do cases and controls have different exposure history?
D. None of the above

What is the prevalence of the exposure and/or disease in the population?

The cross-sectional study approach should be used when?
A. Time is limited and/or budget is small
B. The disease is relatively uncommon
C. The exposure is relatively uncommon
D. A source of cases is available, and no comparison group is required or available

Time is limited and/or budget is small

All of the following are the first steps that should be carried out when conducting a cross-sectional survey, EXCEPT:
A. Define a source population
B. Develop a strategy for recruiting a representative sample
C. Decide on the methods to be used for data collection
D. Assign a case definition

Assign a case definition

A cross-sectional survey is also known as a(n):
A. Ecological study
B. Cohort study
C. Prevalence study
D. Case-control study

Prevalence study

Cross-sectional surveys are used for all of the following EXCEPT:
A. Evaluating programs
B. Establishing baseline data prior to initiating longitudinal studies
C. Assessing population needs
D. Identifying new syndromes and refining case definitions

Identifying new syndromes and refining case definitions

Cross-sectional surveys measure:
A. The prevalence of various demographic characteristics in a well-defined population
B. The exposure histories of a well-defined population
C. The disease states in a well-defined population
D. All of the above

All of the above

What type of table is used in case-control studies to compare two dichotomous (yes/no) variables?
A. Crosstab
B. Bar histogram
C. Contingency table
D. Two-by-two (2x2) table

Two-by-two (2x2) table

Which of the following is the measure of association that readers will expect to be reported for a case-control study?
A. Odds ratio
B. Chi-square
C. Confidence interval
D. p-value

Odds ratio

What type of matching approach is common in genetic studies that link each case to a genetic sibling or another close genetic relative for analysis?
A. Frequency matching
B. Group matching
C. Matched-pairs matching
D. Contingency matching

Matched-pairs matching

Comparing exposure histories of people with the disease and people without the disease is the goal for what type of study design?
A. Case series
B. Case-control
C. Cohort
D. Experimental

Case-control

Participants in a case-control study are selected based on:
A. Their disease status
B. Their exposure status
C. Both exposure and disease status
D. None of the above

Their disease status

In a case-control study, 'cases' are:
A.People without the disease
B.People with the disease
C.People with the exposure
D.People without the exposure

People with the disease

All of the following are options for matching cases and controls in a case-control study, EXCEPT:
A. No matching
B. Frequency (group) matching
C. Matched-pairs (individual) matching
D. Recurrent matching

Recurrent matching

When cases and controls systematically have different memories of the past, this is known as:
A. Recap bias
B. Recall bias
C. Response bias
D. Misclassification bias

Recall bias

The key statistical measure for case-control studies is:
A. Prevalence
B. Correlation
C. Odds Ratio (OR)
D. Risk Ratio (RR)

Odds Ratio (OR)

An OR = 1 means:
A. The odds of exposure is higher in cases
B. The odds of exposure is higher in controls
C. The odds of exposure is the same for cases and controls
D. None of the above

The odds of exposure is the same for cases and controls

Longitudinal studies use what type of population in which all participants start the study at the same time and no one is permitted to join later?
A. Open population
B. Limited population
C. Fixed population
D. Dynamic population

Fixed population

Participants of what kind of study are recruited based on membership in a well-defined source population?
A. Historic cohort study
B. Retrospective cohort study
C. Prospective cohort study
D. Longitudinal cohort study

Longitudinal cohort study

What type of study design should be used to investigate an exposure that is relatively uncommon but a source of exposed individuals is available?
A. Time-series study
B. Panel study
C. Longitudinal cohort study
D. Prospective cohort study

Prospective cohort study