20 Questions
Which type of study involves data collection from a population at one specific point in time?
Cross-sectional study
What is a major challenge in conducting observational studies?
Matching techniques bias
Which type of study involves repeated observations of the same variables over long periods of time?
Longitudinal study
Which of the following best describes an observational study in the field of epidemiology and social sciences?
A study that draws inferences from a sample to a population where the independent variable is not under the control of the researcher
What is the main difference between an observational study and an experiment?
Observational studies lack an assignment mechanism, while experiments have a randomized assignment of subjects to treatment and control groups
Why would a randomized experiment investigating the abortion – breast cancer hypothesis be considered unethical?
It would violate ethical standards
Which bias occurs when several hypotheses are tested at the same time and the likelihood increases that at least one of the recorded factors will be highly correlated with the data output simply by chance?
Multiple comparison bias
Which bias occurs when the recorded factors may not be directly causing the differences in the output and there may be more important factors which were not recorded but are, in fact, causal?
Omitted variable bias
Which bias occurs when researchers may themselves be biased in their observational skills, allowing them to seek out the information they're looking for while conducting their research?
Selection bias
According to a 2014 Cochrane review, observational studies produce results similar to those conducted as randomized controlled trials, regardless of design, heterogeneity, or inclusion of studies of interventions that assessed drug effects.
True
Which of the following best describes the purpose of an observational study in the field of epidemiology and social sciences?
To draw inferences about a population based on a sample
What is a major challenge in conducting observational studies?
Lack of an assignment mechanism
What is the main difference between an observational study and an experiment?
Observational studies aim to draw inferences about a population, while experiments aim to determine causal relationships
Which of the following is a potential source of bias in observational studies?
Selection bias
What is the purpose of an observational study in clinical practice?
To detect signals about the benefits and risks of using practices in the general population
Why would a randomized experiment investigating the link between a certain medication and a very rare group of symptoms be impractical?
There may not be a subject pool large enough to observe the rare symptoms in at least one treated subject
Which bias occurs when researchers may themselves be biased in their observational skills, allowing them to seek out the information they're looking for while conducting their research?
Confirmation bias
What is the main purpose of using propensity score matching in healthcare and social sciences research?
To reduce confounding
What is the potential drawback of using propensity score matching in research?
Exacerbation of confounding
What is multiple comparison bias?
Bias introduced when several hypotheses are tested at the same time
Study Notes
Types of Studies
- A cross-sectional study involves data collection from a population at one specific point in time.
- A longitudinal study involves repeated observations of the same variables over long periods of time.
Characteristics of Observational Studies
- Observational studies in epidemiology and social sciences involve observing and recording variables without interfering with the phenomenon being studied.
- The main difference between an observational study and an experiment is that observational studies do not involve manipulating variables.
Challenges and Limitations
- A major challenge in conducting observational studies is the potential for bias.
- Multiple comparison bias occurs when several hypotheses are tested at the same time, increasing the likelihood of false correlations.
- Confounding bias occurs when recorded factors may not be directly causing the differences in the output, and other important factors may be absent.
- Observer bias occurs when researchers may be biased in their observational skills, seeking out specific information.
- According to a 2014 Cochrane review, observational studies can produce results similar to those of randomized controlled trials, despite design limitations.
Purpose of Observational Studies
- In clinical practice, the purpose of an observational study is to identify potential associations between variables or risk factors.
- In epidemiology and social sciences, the purpose of an observational study is to identify patterns and correlations in a population.
Randomized Experiments
- Randomized experiments may be considered unethical if they involve harmful or risky interventions, such as investigating the abortion – breast cancer hypothesis.
- Randomized experiments may be impractical if they involve studying rare events or outcomes, such as the link between a certain medication and a rare group of symptoms.
Propensity Score Matching
- The main purpose of using propensity score matching in healthcare and social sciences research is to control for confounding variables.
- The potential drawback of using propensity score matching is that it may not fully account for all biases and confounding variables.
Test your knowledge of observational studies and their role in drawing inferences in various fields such as epidemiology, social sciences, psychology, and statistics. Explore the complexities of assigning subjects and determining the effects of treatments in this informative quiz.
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