Research Midterm

A major source of potential research ideas is medical journals

True

A pneumotachometer is used to measure gas flow

True

A spirometer is used to measure changes in gas volume

True

A dew-point hygrometer is used to determine the humidity of a gas sample

True

An IRB protocol will require a statement about any financial compensation to study subjects

True

Calibration reduces systematic errors but not random errors

True

Efficacy studies attempt to answer the question, "Does the intervention work in a tertiary care setting under controlled conditions?" while effectiveness studies attempt to answer the question "does the intervention work in clinical practice settings?"

True

Funding should never be an obstacle for the novice researcher beginning with a small project

True

In simple random sampling, every unit in the population has an equal chance of being selected

True

One advantage of ANOVA is that more than two equal groups can be compared at a time

True

One good reason to perform the literature review is to see how other researchers designed similar studies

True

One of the main challenges for outcomes studies is to move from description and methods development to problem solving and quality improvement

True

One of the major reasons for writing a study protocol is that it is required to obtain permission from the IRB

True

Outcomes research is centered on patients and communities, while traditional clinical research is disease-centered

True

The IRB is intended to protect the rights of patients involved in research studies

True

The Law of the Single Factor states that if two situations are equal except for one factor, any difference between the situations is attributable to that factor

True

The best thing you can do if you want to really learn how to do research is to find a mentor

True

The case control design is considered quasi-experimental

True

The following is the correct series of steps for using the scientific method: a) formulate the problem b) generate a hypothesis c) define the rejection criteria d) perform the experiment e) test the hypothesis

True

The most important reason for studying research methodology is to gain the ability to read and critically evaluate studies published in medical journals

True

The pre-test/post-test design is classified as pre-experimental

True

The problem statement is important because it dictates the concepts and methods used to gather data

True

The randomized control design is the only true experimental design

False

Two-types of clinical measures used in outcomes research are patient symptoms and quality of life

False

Operational definitions

terms based on specific operations, observations, or measurements used in the experiment

The general thought process in developing a research protocol is to go from a narrow scope to an expanded scope

False

Quality Assurance

Delivery of optimal patient care with available resources and consistent with achievable goals

Typical components of an IRB proposal include:

Description of investigator's previous experience

At the core of modern medical ethics is the Hippocratic Oath, which obligates caregivers to:

Do no harm

In which of the following area(s) may the principles of scientific analysis to improve patient care be applied?

Education

A U-tube manometer is used for measuring humidity

False

A description of risks and benefits can be omitted if the study subjects are prisoners

False

A hot-wire anemometer senses changes in fluid volume

False

A laboratory notebook is no longer necessary now that computers can perform statistical analysis

False

A literature review is necessary only if you do not know anything about your study problem

False

A rotameter is used to calibrate pressure sensors

False

Books are the best source of information because they are themselves based on literature reviews

False

Experiments are designed to prove that a hypothesis is true

False

If your study idea has already been published, you should abandon it.

False

Most IRBs will allow the use of any type of outline for a protocol so long as it includes both methods and a risk/benefits analysis

False

Pre-experimental research designs are preferred because there is full control of nuisance variables

False

Qualitative research uses classical experimental designs, whereas quantitive research relies on textual data in the form of observational field notes

False

Random sampling is essential for descriptive statistics but not for inferential statistics used in hypothesis testing

False

The IRB is composed of the people who designed the research study

False

The consent form should be written in a technical style so the subject's referring physician can interpret the feasibility of the study

False

IRB (Institutional Review Board)

Panel of experts who evaluate and approve research protocols involving humans

Three fundamental ethical principles relevant to clinical research are:

Respect for person, Justice, and Beneficence

Basic Research

Seeks new knowledge rather than attempting to solve an immediate problem

Applied Research

Seeks to identify relationships among facts to solve an immediate problem

Informed consent

The voluntary permission given by a person allowing him/her to be included in a research study after being informed of the study's purpose, method of treatment, risks, and benefits

Three good sources of information for a literature review are books, journal articles, and the internet

True

You should record everything you do and the sequence of events in a laboratory notebook because you cannot always tell what will be important later

True

Benchmarking

a continuous process of measuring products, services, and practice against one's toughest competitors

Continuous quality improvement

a cycle of activities focused on identifying problems or opportunities, creating and implementing plans, and using outcomes analysis to redefine problems and opportunities

Rejection criteria

a set of criteria set up before the experiment and used to test the hypothesis

Hypothesis

a short statement that describes your belief or supposition about a specific aspect of a research problem

In which section of a published research article would you find a brief overview of the study? a) abstract b) introduction c) methods d) results e) discussion/conclusion

a) abstract

Which of the following sources of bias occur if the zero point is not set correctly? a) constant error b) proportional error c) range error d) hysteresis e) frequency response f) noise

a) constant error

The main value of benchmarking is: a) it is a practical alternative when there is not enough time/money for a scientific study b) it is better than continuous quality improvement c) no patient data are needed d) many hospitals can collaborate

a) it is a practical alternative when there is not enough time/money for a scientific study

Which of the following non-experimental designs attempts to reason from current effects back to antecedent causes? a) retrospective study b) prospective study c) case study d) survey e) correlational study

a) retrospective study

Deciding whether the results of a study may lead to practical applications applies to which factor in the feasibility analysis? a) significance of study results b) measurability of research variables c) duration and timing of study d) availability of research subjects e) availability of equipment and funds f) knowledge and experience of investigators

a) significance of study results

Evidence-based medicine

an approach to practice and teaching that integrates pathophysiological rationale, caregiver experience, and patient preferences with valid and current clinical research evidence

The two-point calibration procedure involves: a) adjusting the sensitivity and the linearity b) adjusting the offset and the gain c) measuring a known quantity and reducing the random error d) decreasing both bias and imprecision

b) adjusting the offset and the gain

An economic evaluation that is applied when two or more interventions are compared on the same outcomes and the outcomes have similar effectiveness is: a) cost identification b) cost minimization c) cost effectiveness d) cost utility

b) cost minimization

Where would you find a statement about the research problem or a hypothesis? a) abstract b) introduction c) methods d) results e) discussion/conclusion

b) introduction

The ideal situation for a measurement is to have: a) high bias and low imprecision b) low imprecision and low bias c) high imprecision and high bias d) low bias and high imprecision

b) low imprecision and low bias

Which source of error is due to an improperly set sensitivity? a) constant error b) proportional error c) range error d) hysteresis e) frequency response f) noise

b) proportional error

Which type of study attempts to reason from a present event to future effects? a) retrospective study b) prospective study c) case study d) survey e) correlational study

b) prospective study

A benchmarking indicator that establishes a relationship between two measures such as worked hours per unit of service is called a: a) process indicator b) ratio indicator c) outcome indicator d) all of the above

b) ratio indicator

Which type of study usually provides a description of a single subject that is unusual and provides a good teaching example? a) retrospective study b) prospective study c) case study d) survey e) correlational study

c) case study

An economic analysis used when the same outcomes are measured but effectiveness differs is: a) cost identification b) cost minimization c) cost effectiveness d) cost utility

c) cost effectiveness

Realizing that the sample size required will take too long to gather applies to which factor in a feasibility analysis? a) significance of study results b) measurability of research variables c) duration and timing of study d) availability of research subjects e) availability of equipment and funds f) knowledge and experience of investigators

c) duration and timing of study

In which section would you find a description of the statistical analysis? a) abstract b) introduction c) methods d) results e) discussion/conclusion

c) methods

What type of error would you expect if the needle on the measurement device went off the scale? a) constant error b) proportional error c) range error d) hysteresis e) frequency response f) noise

c) range error

Which factor in a feasibility analysis would prompt you to see if rabbits were available in the medical school's animal lab? a) significance of study results b) measurability of research variables c) duration and timing of study d) availability of research subjects e) availability of equipment and funds f) knowledge and experience of investigators

d) availability of research subjects

If the instrument gives a different reading for a given input value depending upon whether the input is increasing or decreasing, the device is said to show: a) constant error b) proportional error c) range error d) hysteresis e) frequency response f) noise

d) hysteresis

Common responses of managers confronted with benchmarking results include all but: a) arguing that the data are incorrect b) attempting to explain away results by asserting that their situation is unique c) learning from the experience of others d) insisting on performing a gap analysis

d) insisting on performing a gap analysis

All of the following are true about a highly linear measurement device except: a) the ratio of the output to the input remains constant over the operating range b) the linearity specification can be assessed using least-squares regression c) the linearity specification is defined as the maximum deviation from the regression line d) linearity is desirable because the system does not have to be calibrated

d) linearity is desirable because the system does not have to be calibrated

In which section would you find any p values associated with statistical tests? a) abstract b) introduction c) methods d) results e) discussion/conclusion

d) results

Which type of study gathers information from groups of subjects using questionnaires? a) retrospective study b) prospective study c) case study d) survey e) correlational study

d) survey

All of the following are steps in conducting scientific research except: a) search the literature b) design the experiment c) analyze the data d) survey patients e) publish the results

d) survey patients

Which type of study seeks information on the strength of relation between two variables? a) retrospective study b) prospective study c) case study d) survey e) correlational study

e) correlation study

In which section would you expect to find the author's interpretation of the experimental data? a) abstract b) introduction c) methods d) results e) discussion/conclusion

e) discussion/conclusion

If the signal is moving faster than the measuring device is capable of following, what type of error would you expect? a) constant error b) proportional error c) range error d) hysteresis e) frequency response

e) frequency response

Comparing the experimental results with the rejection criteria is a part of which step in the scientific method? a) creating the problem statement b) formulating the hypothesis c) creating the prediction d) formulating a conclusion e) testing the hypothesis

e) testing the hypothesis

Systematic errors

errors that occur in a predictable manner and cause measurements to consistently under- or overestimate the true value

Random errors

errors that occur in an unpredictable manner due to uncontrollable factors

Deciding to consult a statistician applies to which factor in the feasibility analysis? a) significance of study results b) measurability of research variables c) duration and timing of study d) availability of research subjects e) availability of equipment and funds f) knowledge and experience of investigators

f) knowledge and experience of investigators

Which source of error can be caused by electromagnetic radiation? a) constant error b) proportional error c) range error d) hysteresis e) frequency response f) noise

f) noise

Feasibility analysis

judging the overall practicality and worth of a proposed research project

Deductive reasoning

reasoning from general theories to specific observations

Inductive reasoning

reasoning from specific observations to general theories

Precision

the degree of consistency among repeated measurements of the same variable

Accuracy

the maximum difference between a measured value and the true value, often expressed as a percentage of the true value

Calibration

the process of adjusting the output of a device to match a known input, thus minimizing the systematic error

Calibration verification

the process of measuring a known value with a calibrated device and making a judgement of whether or not the error is acceptable

Outcomes research

the scientific study of the results of diverse therapies used for particular diseases, conditions, or illnesses

Resolution

the smallest incremental quantity measurable

Disease management

the systematic, population-based approach to identify patients at risk, intervene with specific programs, and measure outcomes