BHS Research Methods and Biostatistics 2

Question 1

What does a '95% confidence interval' represent in health research?

Accepted Answer

A range of values within which the true population parameter is expected to fall 95% of the time with repeated sampling

Answer

A 95% confidence interval means that if the study were repeated many times, 95% of the calculated intervals would contain the true population value.

Question 2

Which study design is most useful for studying rare diseases or conditions with long latency periods?

Accepted Answer

Case-control study

Answer

Case-control studies start with people who already have the disease (cases) and compare their past exposures to disease-free controls, making them efficient for rare conditions.

Question 3

What is 'statistical power' in research design?

Accepted Answer

The probability that a study will correctly detect a true effect when one exists

Answer

Statistical power (1-β) is the probability of correctly rejecting a false null hypothesis; conventionally, studies aim for 80% power to minimize type II errors.

Question 4

What is the Belmont Report's principle of 'justice' in human subjects research?

Accepted Answer

Fair distribution of the benefits and burdens of research across all population groups

Answer

Justice requires that the benefits and burdens of research are fairly distributed, ensuring vulnerable groups are neither exploited as subjects nor excluded from benefits.

Question 5

What is a 'confounder' in epidemiological research?

Accepted Answer

A variable associated with both the exposure and outcome that distorts the true relationship between them

Answer

A confounder is a third variable that is associated with both the exposure and the outcome, potentially creating a spurious or masked association between the two.

BHS - Bachelor of Health Science Practice Test

BHS - Bachelor of Health Science Practice Test

BHS Research Methods and Biostatistics 2