TOOLS AND INSTRUMENTS

Feasible, Interesting, Novel, Ethical, and Relevant

What does FINER stand for?

Observational study designs

For which type of study design areFeasible, Interesting, Novel, Ethical, and Relevant

Observational study designs

For which type of study design are FINER Criteria especially used to guide the development of an appropriate research question?

Population, Intervention, Comparison group, Outcome of interest, and Time

What are the components defined by the PICOT Criteria?

Experimental study designs

To which type of study design are the PICOT Criteria applicable?

Population, Intervention or Exposure, Comparator group, Outcome, and Methods

What five elements are defined when structuring research questions using the PICOM Framework?

A written or visual presentation explaining the main things to be studied, including the presumed relationship among key factors, concepts, or variables

What is the definition of a Conceptual Framework in research?

A blueprint based on existing theory in a field of inquiry

What guides a researcher’s choice of research design and data analysis plan according to a Theoretical Framework?

LFA (Logical Framework Approach)

What method, originating in the late 1960s, is used to facilitate the planning and implementation of projects?

ZOPP (Objective Oriented Project Planning)

Which project planning instrument was adopted by European countries, originating in the early 1980s?

Project Planning Matrix (PPM)

What concise framework summarizes the purpose, objectives, activities, success factors, evaluation indicators, and costs of a project?

Questionnaires

What instrument is used in quantitative studies for gathering performance data, attitude data, or census data?

Informed Consent Form (ICF)

What written document conveys necessary study information to the participant and ensures voluntary participation?

Interview Guide and Observation Guide

What instruments are used to structure qualitative interviews and qualitative observations, respectively?

Biospecimens

What obtainable materials are used for research?

Medical Records, Situation Reports, Brochures, and Archives

What types of documents are used for documentary analysis to provide background, context, and supplementary data?

Qualitative Interview (In-depth interviews/KII)

What technique is used to collect information on individual histories, experiences, and practices, particularly for sensitive topics?

Group interaction and dynamics

What aspect of Focus Groups (FGD) is explicitly used to produce insights?

Collecting data on naturally occurring behaviors in their usual contexts

What is Observation or Participant Observation appropriate for collecting data on?

Partaking in and understanding community activities

What specific activity does participant observation involve?

Mapping and Genealogy

What are two classic ethnographic techniques mentioned?

ATLAS.ti, MAXQDA, and NVivo

What are three examples of CAQDAS (Computer Assisted Qualitative Data Analysis Software) used for thematic analysis?

Microsoft Excel and Google Sheets

What two computational tools are often used for data collection, encoding, cleaning, data management, tabulation, and generating random samples?

Epi Info for Windows (CDC)

What software is used for questionnaire construction, data collection, encoding, analysis, estimation, and hypothesis testing?

OpenEpi

What free online platform is used for sampling, hypothesis testing, and statistical tests, including sample size calculation?

2x2 cross-tabulations

What specific task do Pivot Tables in Excel or Google Sheets help with to better understand data?

Compare means of two groups (independent or paired)

What is the purpose of the t-test?

Compare means of more than two groups

What is the purpose of ANOVA (Analysis of Variance)?

Test independence or association between categorical variables

What is the primary function of the Chi-Square Test?

Measure the linear association between two continuous variables

What is the purpose of the Pearson Correlation?

Predict a continuous dependent variable based on one or more independent variables

What is the goal of Regression Analysis?

Mann-Whitney U Test

Which non-parametric test replaces the independent samples t-test when comparing distributions of two independent groups?

Kruskal-Wallis Test

Which non-parametric test replaces ANOVA when comparing distributions of more than two independent groups?

Wilcoxon Signed-Rank Test

Which non-parametric test replaces the paired t-test when comparing distributions of two related groups?

McNemar’s Test

Which non-parametric test is used to compare paired proportions or frequencies in a 2x2 contingency table?

Fisher’s Exact Test

Which non-parametric test is used to compare proportions in a 2x2 contingency table, especially when the sample size is low (e.g., less than 20)?

Tabular Form

What data presentation form includes one-way tables and two-way tables or contingency tables?

Bar Graph

What visualization tool is suitable for categorical or count data?

Histogram

Which graphical tool is best for continuous quantitative variables?

Scatter Plot

What visualization tool is used for quantitative data to depict the relationship between two continuous variables?

Flow charts, tree diagrams, shape-based diagrams, mind maps, and soft systems framework

What are five types of Conceptual Framework Diagrams listed?

Matrices, tables, diagrams, or flow charts

What are examples of Data Displays included in qualitative reports?

Vignettes

What refers to focused descriptions of a series of events used in qualitative reports?

Forest Plot

What tool is typically used to visualize results in a meta-analysis?

Critical Appraisal Tools (General)

What instruments are used to assess the completeness and quality of reporting methods and procedures?

CASP (Critical Appraisal Skills Programme)

What is an available online critical appraisal tool/checklist?

STROBE (Strengthening the Reporting of Observational studies in Epidemiology)

What design-specific checklist is used for observational studies (cross-sectional, case-control, cohort)?

CONSORT (Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials)

What design-specific checklist is used for Randomized Controlled Trials (RCTs)?

COREQ (Consolidated Criteria for Reporting Qualitative Research)

What 32-item checklist is used for interviews and focus groups in qualitative reports?

ENTREQ (Enhancing Transparency in Reporting the Synthesis of Qualitative Research)

What tool is used for enhancing transparency in reporting the synthesis of qualitative research?

AGREE instrument

What instrument is used for the critical appraisal of Clinical Practice Guidelines (CPGs)?

Good Clinical Practice (GCP) Guidelines/Certification

What provides core principles and guidelines covering how a clinical trial is designed, conducted, and reported to ensure reliable results and patient protection?