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Research Methods and Evidence-Based Practice Flashcards

7 cards from real MPT practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.

Read the first 7 Research Methods and Evidence-Based Practice flashcards as text

  1. The PICO framework used in evidence-based practice stands for:

    Answer: Patient, Intervention, Comparison, Outcome

    PICO (Patient/Population, Intervention, Comparison, Outcome) provides a structured format for formulating answerable clinical questions to guide efficient literature searches.

  2. Publication bias in research most commonly refers to:

    Answer: Journals preferentially publishing studies with positive or statistically significant results

    Publication bias occurs when studies with positive or significant findings are more likely to be submitted and accepted, causing the literature to overrepresent favorable outcomes.

  3. Which study design is most appropriate for determining the prevalence of low back pain in a population at a single point in time?

    Answer: Cross-sectional study

    Cross-sectional studies measure exposure and outcome simultaneously at one time point, making them ideal for estimating disease prevalence in a population.

  4. External validity in a research study refers to:

    Answer: Whether the study results can be generalized to other populations and clinical settings

    External validity (generalizability or applicability) concerns whether findings from a study sample can be applied meaningfully to broader populations and real-world clinical contexts.

  5. In a forest plot from a meta-analysis, a diamond that crosses the vertical line of no effect indicates:

    Answer: The pooled treatment effect is not statistically significant

    The diamond in a forest plot represents the pooled estimate; if it crosses the line of no effect (RR=1 or mean difference=0), the result is not statistically significant.

  6. Which psychometric property refers to a test measuring the construct it is actually intended to measure?

    Answer: Validity

    Validity is the degree to which an instrument accurately measures the intended construct, encompassing content, criterion, and construct validity subtypes.

  7. In the evidence-based practice process, which step is performed FIRST?

    Answer: Formulate a well-structured clinical question using PICO

    EBP begins with formulating a focused, answerable clinical question (PICO), which then directs an efficient and targeted literature search.