Research

Question 1

what is a systematic review?

Answer 1

Secondary analysis of individual studies with similar characteristics

Question 2

which type of systematic review is best for interventions?

Answer 2

randomized controlled trials

Question 3

what type of systematic review is best for diagnostic tests?

Answer 3

cross-sectional studies

Question 4

what is a meta-analysis?

Answer 4

Aggregation of raw data from multiple studies to increase sample size and generate
conclusions based on a larger study population

Question 5

what is a randomized controlled trial?

Answer 5

Experimental and control groups are assigned randomly; Outcomes in the two groups are compared

Question 6

what is a cohort study?

Answer 6

Observational study that compares a cohort who share a common characteristic; with and without the intervention

Question 7

what is the difference between retrospective and prospective longitudinal studies?

Answer 7

-Retrospective study: uses past information (eg, review previous medical records)
-Prospective longitudinal study: follows patients over a period of time

Question 8

what is a case control study?

Answer 8

-Nonexperimental research design (observational study); looks at previous cases of
condition
-Compares subjects with condition (cases) to subjects without condition (controls)

Question 9

what is a cross-sectional study?

Answer 9

-Observational study
-Analyzes population at specific point in time
-Subjects are measured once and at the same point in time of the disease, injury, or rehabilitation phase

Question 10

what is a case series?

Answer 10

tracks subjects with similar diagnoses

Question 11

what is a case report?

Answer 11

Detailed report of signs and symptoms (S/S), diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up of single patient
Information can be used to generate inductive hypothesis for experimental methods
Important for generating and testing theories

Question 12

what are the levels of evidence (ranked high to low)?

Answer 12

1. systematic review and meta-analysis
2. randomized controlled trials
3. cohort study
4. case control
5. cross-sectional study
6. case series
7. case report

Question 13

what is random sampling?

Answer 13

All individuals in population have an equal chance of being selected

Question 14

what is systematic sampling?

Answer 14

Selected from population; eg, taking every 10th name from a list

Question 15

what is stratified sampling?

Answer 15

Selected from identified subgroups within population
-Height, weight, gender

Question 16

what is convenience sampling?

Answer 16

Based on ease of gathering participants (not ideal)

Question 17

what is cluster sampling?

Answer 17

Large subgroups are selected first (usually in a geographical area), and then smaller units are randomly selected from the clusters
-High chance of sampling error

Question 18

what is double-blind sampling?

Answer 18

Control and randomization of experiment when neither experimenter nor subject knows who is actually receiving treatment

Question 19

what is large sample size sampling?

Answer 19

Greater probability that statistical test will lead to rejection of null hypothesis

Question 20

what is small sample size sampling?

Answer 20

Less likely to represent the population of interest

Question 21

qualitative vs quantitative?

Answer 21

Qualitative: No statistical methods; think quality of life (QOL); based on emotions, feelings; Data often collected through observations, interviews, and questionnaires

Quantitative: Statistical methods used; Data collected as outcome measures and data analysis; Hypotheses tested

Question 22

what scales of measurement are used with qualitative studies?

Answer 22

nominal: Basic-level differentiation into groups (Examples: males vs females or different blood types)

ordinal: Data measured in ranks, not equal intervals (Examples: manual muscle test (MMT) grades, level of assistance scale, joint laxity grades)

Question 23

what scales of measurement are used for quantitative studies?

Answer 23

interval: Does not have a true zero or equal intervals (Examples: developmental and functional status scales)

ratio: Has a true zero and equal intervals (Examples: range of motion (ROM), nerve conduction velocity study, distance walked, height and weight scale)

discrete data: Type of data that has clear spaces between values; Measured in whole units (Examples: heart rate, number of visits to a physical therapy clinic)

continuous data: Type of data that falls in a constant sequence (Examples: ROM, height and weight scales)

Question 24

independent vs dependent variable?

Answer 24

independent: influenced by the researcher to bring about a change in the outcome
of the study; effects of independent variable can be seen and measured by dependent variable

dependent: Variable that is studied and measured; outcome of the study; affected by changes in the independent variable

Question 25

sensitivity vs specificity?

Answer 25

sensitivity: Identifies true disease; test able to recognize when a condition is present; True positive (TP) - rules out specificity: Identifies absence of disease; test able to recognize when the condition is absent; True negative (TN) - rules in

Question 26

what is a positive predictive value?

Answer 26

Likelihood that condition is present when the test is positive How many of the positive test results are true positives

Question 27

what is a negative predictive value?

Answer 27

Likelihood that condition is not present when the test is negative How many of the negative test results are true negatives

Question 28

what is a hypothesis?

Answer 28

Tentative and testable statement that explains the relationship between independent and dependent variables

Question 29

what are the types of errors?

Answer 29

Type I (false positive): Reject null hypothesis and state that there is a statistically significant relationship when there is not Type II (false negative): Accept null hypothesis when there actually is a statistically significant relationship

Question 30

what is the effect size?

Answer 30

Amount of impact of interventions on subjects (The greater the effect size, the more significant the difference between variables)