CO

Introduction to Research:


Research: Systematic and Structured

Evidence-Based Practice: Our ability to make choices that have been confirmed by scientific data.

  • Understanding a multitude of information from different perspectives and integrating it into your practice.

Sources of Knowledge:

Scientific Method: Controlled tests with logic.

  • Empirical and controled.

Logical Reasoning: Systematic process that follows logic.

  • Tested to prove logic.

Trial and Error: Trying to see what works (tested with some logic).

  • Integration of what you know and what you think you can find.

Authority: Told what way to do something.

  • Point of questioning, “Why is it done this way, and how can it be improved?”

Tradition: Always been done in this manner.

Logical Reasoning:

Deductive: Broad statements commonly found in the Introduction of an article.

  • General statement + general statement= specific statement.

Inductive: Interpretation of findings applied to a general population.

  • Specific statement + specific statement= general statement.

  • Typically found in the Discussion section of an article.

Scientific Method: Something that can be measured (control).

Types of Research:

Basic: New knowledge for its own sake.

  • Test to see what happens based on something we know.

Applied: Solving practical problems.

  • Information based on what we know and applied to a group to test an outcome.

Experimental: The researcher is manipulating one or more variables and changing conditions or interventions.

  • Example: Tai chi and yoga and the effects of balance: Tai chi and yoga are different forms of exercise that can improve balance but which one worked better?

Non-experimental: The researcher does not exhibit direct control (no manipulation).

  • Observational, descriptive, exploratory.

  • Example: Looking at the correlation between modular GPAs.

Qualitative: Purpose is clearly defined and then data is collected.

  • Interviews/ direct observation.

  • Non-experimental: nothing is manipulated.

Quantitative: Data is gathered and then a purpose is clearly defined.

  • Validate or test the hypothesis in a controlled experiment.

  • Experimental: manipulation occurs.

Model of the Research Process: Quantitative approach.

Step 1: Identify the research question

  • Review of literature.

  • Identify variables.

  • State hypothesis.

Step 2: Design the study.

  • Design the protocol.

  • Choose a sample.

Step 3: Methods.

  • Collect data and reduce it.

Step 4: Data Analysis.

  • Interpret findings.

  • Analyze data.

Step 5: Communication.

  • Report findings: raises suggestions/questions for further studies.

Hypothesis: An educated assumption (can be a generalization).

  • Typically found in the last sentence of the Introduction.

Null hypothesis (H=0)

  • Does not assume there will be a change/impact after the intervention.

  • Example: The gait speed of participants who exercise will not be different than those who do exercise.

  • Researcher tests this.

Alternative hypothesis (H= 1)

  • Specifically states there will be change as a result of the intervention.

  • Example: The gait speed of participants who exercise will be different than those who do not exercise.

  • Prediction of what the outcome will be.

Non-Directional: Does not commit to change as a result of the intervention.

  • Not choosing whether the findings will be better or worse.

  • Example: The gait speed of participants who exercise will be different than those who do not exercise.

Directional: Commits to a change as a result of the intervention.

  • Predicts there will be a better or worse outcome.

  • Example: The gait speed of participants who exercise will be better than those who do not exercise.

(3) Types of Variables:

1.) Independent: Manipulated by the investigator to observe an effect.

  • The thing that is changing or being controlled.

  • Time of intervention (pre, during, post).

2.) Dependent: Response or effect variable.

  • Outcome the investigator wants to measure, explain, or predict.

  • Dependent on the independent variable.

3.) Intervening & Confounding (Controlled): An uncontrolled variable that impacts the dependent variable.

  • External factors beyond your control.

Example:

Purpose: To evaluate the effects of 12 weeks of hippotherapy (PT using the movement of a horse) on muscle activity and quality of life in children with spastic cerebral palsy.

Independent Variable:

  • Group (people who received hippotherapy vs control group who received no therapy).

  • Time of evaluation: (before the intervention vs after 12 weeks of the intervention).

Dependent Variable:

  • Muscle activity.

  • Quality of life.

Potential Confounding Variables:

  • Level of involvement of cerebral palsy.

  • Comfort level with horses.

  • Other forms of PT.

Quantification of Measurement:

Continuous: Any value along a continuum.

  • Age, height, intelligence.

Discrete: Described in whole units.

  • Measuring BP in whole numbers (120/80) and not in fractions (120.5/80.5).

Dichotomous: One of two values (A or B).

  • Were you born in NC or not born in NC?

Direct: Measures exactly what you're looking to measure.

  • Height is a measure of how far you are off the ground.

  • Telling someone to run 20 meters.

Indirect: Measuring one unit through another method.

  • Blood pressure measures the change in pressure using a BP cuff, not the actual blood pressure.

  • Telling someone to run, stop, and measure how far they ran.

Constructs: dependent variable.

  • Physical activity level, mental health, bodily pain, general health perceptions.

Scales/Levels of Measurement- NOIR

Nominal(Naming): Category, Labels, Classification.

  • Sex, race, diagnosis.

Ordinal: Numbers indicate rank order of observations.

  • MMT, Functional Status, Pain Scale.

  • Gap between each number does not indicate anything about the score.

  • Order to numbers 0-10.

Interval: Equal intervals between numbers but not related to true zero.

  • Calendar Years, IQ, Temperature.

Ratio: Numbers represent units with equal intervals, measured from true zero.

  • Distance, age, time, weight, strength, BP.