PTHP 7101 Research 1 Chapter Assignments INSTRUCTIONS: Go over the questions/pointers pertaining to the chapters and turn in a hard copy of your answers at the beginning of class (on the day that it is due). Due May 21 nd in class @ 8a Chapter 1 Concepts of Research 1. Describe the concept of evidence-based practice. 2. Define clinical research. 3. What is meant by the statement that clinical research must be empirical and critical? 4. Explain the three major issues that have impacted clinical research. 5. Explain the difference between the biomedical model and the disablement model. 6. Explain the different sources of knowledge: a. tradition b. authority c. trial and error d. logical reasoning (deductive and inductive) e. scientific method 7. Explain the different types of research categories a. basic versus applied research b. experimental versus nonexperimental research 8. Explain the 5 phases of the research process. Chapter 4. Principles of Measurement 1. Define and give an example of: a. continuous variable b. discrete variable c. constructs 2 Describe the 4 levels of measurement scales and give an example of each: a. nominal scale b. ordinal scale c. interval scale d. ratio scale 3. Can any of the above be converted to another? Which one(s)? Chapter 5 Reliability of Measurements 1. Give an example of a measurement error, a systematic error and a random error in research. 2. What range of reliability coefficient values are considered poor, moderate and good? 3. Explain (a) test-retest reliability, (b) intrarater reliability, (c) interrater reliability Chapter 6 Validity of Measurements 1. When we inquire about the validity of an instrument, it should be asked within what context?
2. Explain (a) face validity, (b) content validity, (c) criterion-related validity, (d) construct validity 3. What information does a factor analysis provide? Chapter 7 Asking the Research Question The following concepts are for your information -- you do not have to answer them. 1. Understand the process for developing a research question. a. selection of a topic b. clarification of a research problem c. importance and feasibility of the research question d. the target population e. the research rationale f. variables (independent and dependent variables, operational definition) g. research objectives (aims, research hypothesis, statistical hypothesis) h. review of the literature Chapter 8 Sampling 1. Define and identify the strengths and weaknesses of the following sampling techniques 2. Probability Sampling Techniques a. Simple random sample b. Systematic Sample c. Stratified Random Sample d. Cluster sample 3. Non-Probability Sampling Techniques a. Convenience sample b. Quota sample c. Purposive sample d. Snowball sample Chapter 13 & 14 Exploratory and Descriptive Research 1. Explain the differences between a. descriptive research/study b. exploratory research/study c. experimental research/study Give an example of each. Chapter 15 Surveys and Questionnaires The following concepts are for your information -- you do not have to answer them. 1. Understand the types of survey instruments: a. Interview b. Questionnaires c. Self Report 2. Things to consider when designing surveys: a. research question b. hypothesis c. outline d. review of existing instruments e. instrument designing f. pilot testing and revision of preliminary drafts g. survey administration h. cover letter and informed consent 3. Understand the types and properties of survey questions:
a. Types: Open and closed ended b. Property: Wording and sensitivity of questions c. Scales (visual analog scale) and rasch analysis 4. Understand the basics of analyzing survey data Chapter 17 Descriptive Statistics 1. Define the following: a. descriptive statistics b. parameters. c. statistic d. frequency distribution 2. Describe the three measures of central tendency: a. mode b. median c. mean How is the mean abbreviated? 3. Which one is reported most often in research articles? Why? 4. Define variability. 5. Why is variability important to know in addition to central tendency? 6. Describe the five commonly used measures of variability: 7. What does the standard deviation describe? a. how is it abbreviated? b. What does 1 standard deviation mean? 2? 3? 8. What does the Coefficient of Variation describe? a. How is it abbreviated? Chapter 23 Correlation 1. Explain the following concepts: a. strength of correlation b. direction of correlation c. correlation coefficients (CC) d. when is the Pearson product-moment CC used? e. when is the Spearman rho (rs) CC used? Chapter 26 Statistical Measures of Reliability The following concepts are for your information -- you do not have to answer them. 1. Understand commonly used reliability measures: 2. Intra Class Correlation coefficients 3. Kappa statistics (for chance agreement) 4. Cronbach Alpha (for internal consistency) Chapter 27 Statistical Measures of Validity 1. Explain the following concepts: a. sensitivity b. specificity c. likelihood ratio i. What does a likelihood ratio of 1.0 means? ii. What values of likelihood ratio are considered important? Unimportant? 2. What is the Receiver Operating Curve analyses used to determine? 3. What are the methods that one can use to measure the amount of change between two instances of measurements?
Chapter 34 Evaluating Research Reports 1. What are the common components of research reports/articles? 2. What are some questions to keep in mind when reading articles? 3. What purposes do these questions serve? Due June 4 th in class @ 8a Chapter 9 Validity in Experimental Control 1. Explain the following terms: a. experiment b. cause-and-effect relationship c. extraneous variables d. confounding e. control 2. Explain the three characteristics of a true experiment. 3. What is a single-blinded study? Double-blinded? 4. Explain the four design strategies to control for inter-subject differences. Why is it important to control for inter-subject differences? 5. Explain the different categories of threats to validity: a. statistical conclusion validity b. internal validity c. construct validity of causes and effect d. external validity Chapter 10 Experimental Designs 1. Compare and contrast true versus quasi-experimental designs. Give an example of each. 2. Define: a. completely randomized design or between-subject design. b. randomized block design c. within-subject design or repeated measures design d. single, two and three factor design e. multifactor design 3. Describe the six critical questions for choosing an experimental design. 4. For each of the design shown in the chapter, explain if there are internal or external validity problems with the various designs. 5. For each of the design shown in the chapter, suggest an experiment that the design is appropriate for. 6. Give an example of a time series design. 7. Define and diagram a factorial design. 8. What are main effects? 9. Explain the interaction effect and graph an example. Chapter 18 Statistical Inference 1. The standard deviation represents the variability of a sample of the population. What about the standard error (of the mean)? What does it represents? 2. The confidence interval (CI) is a range of scores that contains what? Take a look at the formula a large sample will produce a small or large CI? Which is better a small or large CI? Why? 3. What is the purpose of hypothesis testing? 4. What is the null hypothesis? What is another name for it? What is its symbol?
5. What is the alternative hypothesis? What is another name for it? What is its symbol? 6. Explain the type I error. 7. What is the p value? What is the assumption of the p value? 8. Explain the type II error. 9. What is power? What determines it? 10. Explain the various concepts of statistical testing. Chapter 12 Single-subject Designs 1. Describe the withdrawal design. Why does the design provide a good experimental control? 2. Understand the split-middle/celebration line procedure (Figure 12.12 and 12.13) for evaluating the effect of a treatment. We will go over it in class. 3. Understand the 2 SD band method for evaluating the effect of a treatment. We will go over it in class. Chapter 19 The t-test 1. What is the conceptual basis for comparing group means? The significance of the difference between group means is judged by a ratio. What is the numerator? What is the denominator? 2. When does one conduct a one-tailed test? A two-tailed test? 3. Why is it usually not advisable to use multiple t-tests within one set of data? What can one do to get around this potential problem? Chapter 20 ANOVA 1. When is ANOVA used? 2. What is a main effect? 3. What is an interaction effect? Should one interpret significant main effects if the interaction effect is significant? Due June 11th in class @ 8a Chapter 21 Multiple Comparison tests 1. Why do we conduct multiple comparison tests? 2. What are the some common post hoc multiple comparison tests? 3. What is the common multiple comparison procedure for a repeated measure design? 4. When is a trend analysis conducted? Chapter 22 Nonparametric Tests for Group Comparison When is it appropriate to use nonparametric tests? For each nonparametric test, identify its parametric counterpart. Chapter 25 Measures of Association for Categorical Variables: Chi-square 1. What is the symbol for the chi-square? 2. When do researchers use this statistic? Chapter 24 Regression 1. Describe the importance of regression analysis 2. Understand independent/predictor versus dependent/criterion variable. 3. What is a regression line? 4. What is a regression model? 5. List the assumptions of regression analysis. 6. Understand the meaning of accuracy of prediction.
Chapter 29 Multivariate Analysis 1. What are some examples of multivariate statistics? 2. When do researchers use multivariate statistics? Due June 18 th in class @ 8a Chapter 28 Epidemiology: Measuring Risk 1. Describe descriptive epidemiology: Case reports, correlational and cross-sectional studies. 2. Understand the meaning of commonly used epidemiological terms: Prevalence, incidence, relative risk, odds ratio, 3. Describe observational epidemiology: Case control studies and cohort studies. 4. Describe clinical epidemiology: Randomized Controlled Trials (RCT). Chapter 16 Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis 1. What is the difference between a systematic review and a meta-analysis? 2. Identify the different rating scales used to evaluate the validity of a study. 3. Explain the concept of effect size. What values are considered small, moderate and large? Chapter 31 Searching the Literature 1. What is Boolean logic? 2. Explain the PICO search technique