Health Research Methods Quiz

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Questions and Answers

What is a key characteristic of quantitative research?

It is primarily exploratory and not hypothesis-driven.

It relies solely on qualitative data.

It focuses on subjective interpretations.

It involves the computation of numerical values. (correct)

Which of the following types of studies would be primarily observational?

Cohort studies (correct)

Experimental studies

Randomized control trials

Systematic reviews

What does a case-control study typically investigate?

It examines the effects of an intervention in a controlled setting.

It identifies the time-series of data to forecast outcomes.

It compares individuals with a condition to those without it. (correct)

It relies on random assignment of participants.

How is a prospective study characterized compared to a retrospective study?

It follows subjects into the future to observe outcomes. Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary goal of a systematic review?

To summarize existing research on a specific question. Signup and view all the answers

What is the main focus of ecological studies?

Comparison of groups Signup and view all the answers

Which statement correctly describes ecological fallacy?

It supports that group differences apply to all individuals. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of ecological studies?

Data is collected at the individual level Signup and view all the answers

What is an example of ecological studies as mentioned in the content?

Chocolate consumption and Nobel prize reception Signup and view all the answers

In the 1930s, the misconception about immigrants and literacy in the USA represents which concept?

Ecological fallacy Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary measure calculated in a cross-sectional study?

Prevalence Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is true regarding incidence proportion in a cross-sectional study?

It cannot be calculated. Signup and view all the answers

What does incidence rate measure during follow-up in a study?

Number of new cases per unit of person time Signup and view all the answers

What is a limitation of cross-sectional studies related to exposure and disease?

They cannot determine if exposure preceded disease. Signup and view all the answers

Which aspect is NOT a strength of a cross-sectional study?

Assessing the incidence rate Signup and view all the answers

What is a key characteristic of cohorts identified by occupational groups?

They cannot be generalized to the wider population. Signup and view all the answers

Which method is NOT a way to assess exposure in cohort studies?

Random social media polling. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following defines 'exposure' in a cohort study?

Exposed or non-exposed, based on yes/no criteria. Signup and view all the answers

What is a birth cohort?

A population of individuals born in a given year. Signup and view all the answers

In assessing obesity, which of the following is NOT a method of defining exposure?

Subjective weight estimations. Signup and view all the answers

What is a characteristic of ecological studies?

They often utilize available secondary data sources. Signup and view all the answers

What does 'point prevalence' refer to in cross-sectional studies?

The proportion of a population with a disease at a specific time point. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is a limitation of ecological studies?

They may suffer from ecological bias or fallacy. Signup and view all the answers

What is cumulative incidence in the context of cross-sectional studies?

The proportion of the population with a new event during a given time period. Signup and view all the answers

Which aspect is typically NOT associated with cross-sectional studies?

They generally require long-term data collection. Signup and view all the answers

What is a strength of ecological studies?

They allow for investigating high-risk populations. Signup and view all the answers

In cross-sectional studies, which of the following is a common term used for these types of studies?

Prevalence studies. Signup and view all the answers

Why might some secondary data sources be challenging in ecological studies?

They may not be comparable due to differences in areas or times. Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary characteristic of a cohort study?

It tracks individuals forward in time from exposure to disease outcome. Signup and view all the answers

How do case-control studies primarily identify subjects?

By enrolling patients who have previously developed the disease. Signup and view all the answers

What type of bias can occur in case-control studies due to reliance on patient memory?

Recall bias Signup and view all the answers

In which study design is a hypothesis formulated before data collection?

Prospective study Signup and view all the answers

Which study design is considered to be placed fairly low on the evidence pyramid?

Case-control studies Signup and view all the answers

What is a key feature of a retrospective study?

It analyzes outcomes that have already been established in the past. Signup and view all the answers

What defines a cohort in a cohort study?

A group of individuals with a shared characteristic prior to disease incidence. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following statements about prospective studies is correct?

They have a forward orientation in time for data collection. Signup and view all the answers

What type of study design could potentially be subject to patient-selection bias?

Case-control study Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary goal of cohort studies?

To compare past exposures between patients with and without an outcome. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

GTU 304/3 - RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

This course covers research methodology, specifically focusing on quantitative research designs.
The presentation was delivered on November 28th, 2024, for a Semester 1, 2024/2025 academic session.
The presenter is Dr. Faridah Naim, from the Environmental and Occupational Health department.

Learning Outcomes

Students will understand various research designs and main types of quantitative research used in Health Sciences.
Understand the differences between descriptive and analytic quantitative studies.
Learn about the design features, strengths, and limitations of different types of quantitative studies, including ecological studies, cross-sectional, cohort, case-control, randomized controlled trials, meta-analysis, and systematic reviews.
Distinguish between prospective, retrospective, observational, and experimental studies.
Interpret measures of association for different study designs.
Understand the differences between quantitative and qualitative study approaches.

Quantitative Study

A positivistic study approach that involves computing numerical values to represent phenomena.
Based on the scientific method, involving hypothesis formulation, objective experiments, and sound reasoning supported by data.
Examples in positivistic research include studying the association between cigarette smoking and lung cancer, involving statistical calculations based on predictor and response variables.

Observational Studies

Quantifies phenomena without intervention to alter outcomes.
Useful to identify trends and variables of interest.
Examples include epidemiological studies.

Descriptive Studies

Describe patterns of disease occurrence in relation to time, person, and place.
Examples include trends in current cigarette smoking among high school students and adults and UK obesity rates.

Case-Report and Case-Series

A case-report documents an unusual case of a disease by a physician.
A case-series documents a set of consecutive cases of a disease.
Together, they're useful for identifying potential causal hypotheses for analytic studies.

Ecological Studies

Focuses on correlating groups rather than individuals.
Data represent aggregate exposures/disease for regions, worksites, schools, etc.
Examples include meat intake and colon cancer incidence, and chocolate consumption vs. Nobel prize winners.
Limitations include ecological fallacy, meaning that group-level associations may not hold true for individuals.
Understanding the strengths and weaknesses of ecological studies is important.

Cross-Sectional Studies

A snapshot of a population at a specific point in time, assessing exposure and outcome together.
Also known as prevalence studies or surveys.
Useful for estimating the prevalence of diseases and exposures.
Examples include studies on e-cigarette use and second-hand exposure to asthma symptoms.
Defining point prevalence and cumulative incidence are important.

Retrospective Studies

Examine an outcome that has already happened using existing data.
Often used in case-control studies to identify risk factors for a disease.
Examples may include data from patient charts or existing medical data.
Common biases include subject selection bias, and patient recall bias.

Prospective Studies

Start with a hypothesis and collect data over a defined timeframe
Defining characteristics include a forward orientation in time and defining characteristics.
These are helpful for assessing disease development in groups over time after an exposure is established.

Cohort Studies

Involves following a group of people over time to observe the development of disease.
Useful for assessing the incidence of disease in relation to exposure.
Examples include the NIH-AARP Diet and Health Study and the EPIC cohort.
Methods for assessing exposure include self-reported data, and clinic-measured data.
Understanding defining exposures and types of outcomes is important.
Bias in cohort study may include selection bias or information bias.

Case-Control Studies

Comparing individuals with a disease (cases) to individuals without the disease (controls).
Useful for studying rare diseases or exposures.
Gathering information on past exposures helps investigate possible risk factors.
Understanding how cases and controls are defined and selected, as well as possible biases is crucial.

Causal-Comparative/Quasi-Experimental Studies

Studying a phenomenon where random assignment isn't possible.
Researcher controls independent variables to study relationships.
This research design may not be generalizable to the entire population due to limitations in random assignment.

Randomised Controlled Trials

Patients randomly assigned to treatment or control groups.
Researcher controls for explanatory variables such as age and gender.
Commonly used to assess the effectiveness of medical treatments or interventions.
Often used in situations where a controlled intervention is possible.

Community Trials

Involves intervening with whole communities rather than individuals to assess the effects of an intervention.
Often used in public health interventions or preventive studies.

Before-After (Pre-Post) Studies

Measuring a variable of interest before and after an intervention.
Used to see if there's a relationship and if the intervention had an impact.
Can be useful for a quick evaluation of the intervention's effect. However, without a control group it is hard to isolate the cause/effect.

Observational vs Experimental Studies

Observational studies involve observation of populations/individuals without intervention, whereas experimental studies involve determining and controlling exposures.

Meta-Analysis

Combining data from several studies to give a more reliable estimate of effectiveness or impact.

Systematic Reviews

A comprehensive survey of a topic that takes great care to find all relevant studies, both published and unpublished, and provides a balanced summary of the findings.

Quantitative vs Qualitative Studies

Quantitative research involves numbers and focuses on understanding the causal relationship or statistical differences, whereas Qualitative research involves words, providing insights into lived experiences and phenomenon.

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Description

Test your knowledge on key characteristics and methods of health research. This quiz covers observational studies, systematic reviews, and various types of research designs, such as case-control and cross-sectional studies. Ideal for students and professionals looking to refresh their understanding of quantitative research methods.