Research and Development Flashcards

A researcher wants to determine whether a new chiropractic technique reduces neck pain more than standard care. Which study design is most appropriate?

Answer: Randomized controlled trial

A randomized controlled trial is the gold standard for comparing treatment efficacy between two interventions.

In a clinical study, the Hawthorne effect refers to:

Answer: Subjects changing behavior because they know they are being observed

The Hawthorne effect occurs when participants alter their behavior simply due to awareness of being studied.

Which statistical measure describes the probability that a diagnostic test will correctly identify a patient without the condition as negative?

Answer: Specificity

Specificity is the proportion of true negatives correctly identified by a test (TN / TN + FP).

A Type II error in hypothesis testing occurs when a researcher:

Answer: Fails to reject a false null hypothesis

A Type II (beta) error is a false negative — failing to detect a real effect that truly exists.

Which level of evidence is HIGHEST in the evidence hierarchy for evaluating chiropractic interventions?

Answer: Systematic review with meta-analysis of RCTs

Systematic reviews and meta-analyses of multiple RCTs represent the highest level of clinical evidence.

In research ethics, the principle of beneficence requires that investigators:

Answer: Maximize benefits and minimize harms to research subjects

Beneficence obligates researchers to promote the well-being of participants and minimize risks.

An odds ratio of 1.0 in a case-control study indicates:

Answer: No association between the exposure and the outcome

An odds ratio of 1.0 means the odds of the outcome are equal in both exposed and unexposed groups, indicating no association.