Podcast
Questions and Answers
What is a primary advantage of case-control studies?
What is a primary advantage of case-control studies?
- They provide absolute risk estimates.
- They require a large sample size.
- They are valuable for studying rare conditions. (correct)
- They can study multiple outcomes simultaneously.
What is a limitation of case-control studies regarding outcome measurement?
What is a limitation of case-control studies regarding outcome measurement?
- They rely on subjective assessments. (correct)
- They measure outcomes over an extended period.
- They cannot measure outcomes at all.
- They only measure outcomes in the present.
Why do case-control studies not establish the sequence of events?
Why do case-control studies not establish the sequence of events?
- They rely on retrospective exposure data from participants. (correct)
- They only focus on controlled environments.
- They compare outcomes across multiple time points.
- They assess participants’ conditions in real-time.
Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of case-control studies?
Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of case-control studies?
In a case-control study, how are cases and controls typically selected?
In a case-control study, how are cases and controls typically selected?
What type of bias might occur due to the way cases and controls are selected?
What type of bias might occur due to the way cases and controls are selected?
What is the purpose of measuring exposure in case-control studies?
What is the purpose of measuring exposure in case-control studies?
Which of the following statements about case-control studies is true?
Which of the following statements about case-control studies is true?
What is the primary criterion for choosing a research design?
What is the primary criterion for choosing a research design?
Which aspect does not directly influence the choice of research design?
Which aspect does not directly influence the choice of research design?
Which type of study is considered a non-experimental design?
Which type of study is considered a non-experimental design?
What is a characteristic feature of exploratory research?
What is a characteristic feature of exploratory research?
What step comes after specifying the objectives in the anatomy of research?
What step comes after specifying the objectives in the anatomy of research?
Which of the following is NOT a type of observational study?
Which of the following is NOT a type of observational study?
What is one of the purposes of descriptive research?
What is one of the purposes of descriptive research?
Which of the following factors is essential for the validity of research?
Which of the following factors is essential for the validity of research?
What is a primary characteristic of applied research?
What is a primary characteristic of applied research?
Which of the following best defines action research?
Which of the following best defines action research?
What distinguishes evaluation research from other research types?
What distinguishes evaluation research from other research types?
Which study design is classified as qualitative?
Which study design is classified as qualitative?
Descriptive epidemiology is concerned with which of the following aspects?
Descriptive epidemiology is concerned with which of the following aspects?
In descriptive studies, which dimensions are primarily tracked?
In descriptive studies, which dimensions are primarily tracked?
Which of the following best describes the nature of findings in applied research?
Which of the following best describes the nature of findings in applied research?
What type of study design focuses primarily on identifying possible causes for diseases?
What type of study design focuses primarily on identifying possible causes for diseases?
What is the best method for confirming a diagnosis of lung cancer?
What is the best method for confirming a diagnosis of lung cancer?
Which type of control involves individuals living in the same neighborhood as cases?
Which type of control involves individuals living in the same neighborhood as cases?
What is one benefit of using severe forms of a disease in a study?
What is one benefit of using severe forms of a disease in a study?
What ratio of controls to cases is commonly used in studies?
What ratio of controls to cases is commonly used in studies?
Which characteristic is NOT commonly used for matching cases and controls?
Which characteristic is NOT commonly used for matching cases and controls?
When might an investigator choose to use more than one type of control for each case?
When might an investigator choose to use more than one type of control for each case?
What is the main disadvantage of increasing the ratio of controls to cases?
What is the main disadvantage of increasing the ratio of controls to cases?
Which type of control consists of individuals at the same hospital as the cases?
Which type of control consists of individuals at the same hospital as the cases?
What is one major disadvantage of prospective studies?
What is one major disadvantage of prospective studies?
Which study design involves participants being selected based on their disease status?
Which study design involves participants being selected based on their disease status?
What type of design primarily focuses on changes over time in a population?
What type of design primarily focuses on changes over time in a population?
Which of the following is NOT a problem commonly associated with prospective studies?
Which of the following is NOT a problem commonly associated with prospective studies?
In cohort studies, how are participants selected?
In cohort studies, how are participants selected?
What is a key characteristic of case-control studies?
What is a key characteristic of case-control studies?
In a retrospective cohort study, the focus is on what?
In a retrospective cohort study, the focus is on what?
What typically contributes to the high cost of prospective studies?
What typically contributes to the high cost of prospective studies?
In cohort studies, what does exposure status refer to?
In cohort studies, what does exposure status refer to?
Which type of study is designed primarily to establish cause-and-effect relationships?
Which type of study is designed primarily to establish cause-and-effect relationships?
Flashcards are hidden until you start studying
Study Notes
Case-Control Design
- Involves comparing subjects with an outcome of interest to an appropriate control group without the outcome.
- Factors are measured retrospectively for both cases and controls.
Case-Control Studies: Results
- Outcomes categorized into present or absent based on exposure to the intervention or causal factor.
- Results are displayed in a contingency table format, facilitating analysis of exposure effects.
Advantages of Case-Control Studies
- Effective for studying rare conditions.
- Short duration of study compared to other designs.
- Lower cost and smaller sample sizes are sufficient.
- Yields odds ratios, which approximate relative risk reasonably well.
Disadvantages of Case-Control Studies
- Limited analysis to one outcome variable.
- May introduce bias from the selection process of cases and controls.
- Sequence of events cannot be established.
- Exposure measurement bias can occur.
- Survivor bias may affect results.
- Does not provide absolute risk estimates.
Retrospective Nature of Case-Control Studies
- Participants are selected based on disease status, and past exposures are recalled.
- Example includes lung cancer cases recalling past cigarette smoke exposure.
Selection of Cases
- Requires a specific case definition based on medically diagnosed conditions.
- Subjective assessments may lead to less precision in case definitions.
Research Design Selection Criteria
- Appropriate design must adequately test the hypothesis and control for extraneous factors.
- Generalizability of results and resource efficiency are crucial considerations.
Anatomy of Research Process
- Involves problem definition, specifying objectives (hypotheses), selecting study design, identifying study population, data collection, data analysis, and conclusion determination.
Types of Research Design
- Types include observational (e.g., correlational, case reports, cross-sectional, case-control, cohort studies) and experimental (e.g., community and clinical trials).
Applied Research
- Focused on addressing real-world problems perceived by participants.
- Aimed at immediate, practical value in fields like education, policy, and evaluation.
Action Research
- A self-reflective inquiry conducted by participants to improve their practices and understanding of those practices.
Evaluation Research
- Emphasizes practical application, often seen as isolated case studies with transferable methodologies.
- Reports aim at implementers and users, shaped by values and politics.
Quantitative vs. Qualitative Research Designs
- Quantitative designs include experimental, quasi-experimental, survey, and correlational studies.
- Qualitative designs comprise ethnographies, case studies, and historical studies.
Descriptive Epidemiology
- Characterizes the distribution of diseases in a population and identifies possible causes.
- Analyzed through the dimensions of person, place, and time.
Challenges in Prospective Studies
- High dropout rates and costs, logistical demands, and maintenance of study quality can hinder prospective studies.
Cohort Studies
- Involves high, medium, low, and no exposure groups, comparing outcomes among them.
- Cohort studies can be either prospective or retrospective.
Case-Control Studies: Key Points
- Frequently used design focusing on disease status for participant selection.
- Cases are participants with the disease, while controls do not have the disease.
Selection of Controls
- Controls should be representative of the population with potential to develop the disease.
- Types include population, neighborhood, friends, and hospital controls.
Matching Controls to Cases
- Characteristics used for matching include age, gender, body mass index, smoking status, and marital status.
- A ratio of controls to cases typically starts at 1:1, with higher ratios increasing precision but also cost.
Studying That Suits You
Use AI to generate personalized quizzes and flashcards to suit your learning preferences.
