Research Methods & Evidence-Based Practice Flashcards

What is a systematic review?

Answer: A comprehensive synthesis of all available research on a specific question using explicit methods

A systematic review uses rigorous, explicit methods to identify, appraise, and synthesize all relevant studies on a focused clinical question.

In research, what is 'informed consent'?

Answer: A participant's voluntary agreement to take part in research after being informed of risks and benefits

Informed consent requires that research participants voluntarily agree to participate after receiving full disclosure of risks, benefits, and alternatives.

Which statistical measure describes the average of a data set?

Answer: Mean

The mean is calculated by summing all values and dividing by the number of values, representing the arithmetic average.

What is the function of an Institutional Review Board (IRB)?

Answer: To review and approve research studies to protect human subjects

An IRB is a committee that reviews research protocols to ensure they meet ethical standards and protect the rights and welfare of human participants.

A researcher examines past medical records to compare patients who developed a disease with those who did not. This is an example of:

Answer: Retrospective case-control study

A retrospective case-control study looks backward in time, comparing cases (with disease) to controls (without disease) using existing records.

Which term describes a measure of the consistency of a research instrument across repeated measurements?

Answer: Reliability

Reliability refers to the degree to which a measurement tool produces consistent, repeatable results under the same conditions.

What does 'statistical significance' mean in research?

Answer: The probability of the result occurring by chance is below a predetermined threshold (e.g., p < 0.05)

Statistical significance means the probability that the result occurred by chance is less than the preset alpha level, commonly 0.05.