Research Methods and Evidence Flashcards

A CBIS specialist is critically appraising a cohort study on return-to-work outcomes after TBI. The MOST important threat to internal validity to assess is:

Answer: Whether confounding variables were adequately controlled

In cohort studies, uncontrolled confounding variables are the primary threat to internal validity because they can produce spurious associations.

Which qualitative research methodology would be MOST appropriate for developing a theory about how TBI survivors rebuild identity post-injury?

Answer: Grounded theory

Grounded theory is specifically designed to generate theoretical frameworks from qualitative data, making it ideal for theory development about social processes.

In evidence-based practice for TBI, which factor should be weighed ALONGSIDE research evidence when making clinical decisions?

Answer: Patient values and clinical expertise

Evidence-based practice integrates best research evidence with clinical expertise and patient values/preferences to guide individualized decision-making.

When researchers use 'triangulation' in a mixed-methods TBI study, they are:

Answer: Combining multiple data sources or methods to enhance credibility of conclusions

Triangulation involves using multiple methods, data sources, or investigators to converge on findings, strengthening confidence in research conclusions.

A CBIS researcher reports that their TBI cognitive screening tool has a sensitivity of 90% and specificity of 75%. For clinical screening purposes, this means:

Answer: 90% of those with cognitive impairment will screen positive

Sensitivity of 90% means the test correctly identifies 90% of individuals who truly have cognitive impairment (true positive rate).

In a multi-site TBI rehabilitation RCT, 'stratified randomization' is used to ensure:

Answer: Balance of key prognostic variables (e.g., injury severity) across treatment groups

Stratified randomization pre-specifies important variables and randomizes within strata to ensure balanced distribution of prognostic factors across groups.

A systematic review of TBI behavioral interventions reports high statistical heterogeneity (I² = 85%). The BEST interpretation is:

Answer: There is substantial variability in true effects across studies, making a pooled estimate questionable

An I² of 85% indicates high heterogeneity, meaning true effect sizes vary substantially across studies, which limits the validity of a single pooled estimate.