Research Methods & Evidence-Based Practice Flashcards

A fleet researcher wants to understand technicians' perceptions of a new diagnostic tool. Which data collection method is MOST appropriate for capturing rich, nuanced responses?

Answer: In-depth qualitative interviews

In-depth qualitative interviews allow technicians to express nuanced perceptions and experiences that structured surveys may not capture.

In fleet research, 'reliability' of a measurement tool means:

Answer: The tool produces consistent results under the same conditions

Reliability refers to the consistency of a measurement instrument—producing the same results when applied repeatedly under the same conditions.

Which of the following best represents a 'leading indicator' in fleet safety research?

Answer: Driver safety training completion rates

Leading indicators like training completion rates predict future safety performance, whereas lagging indicators like accident counts reflect past events.

A fleet manager finds a strong positive correlation (r = 0.87) between vehicle age and maintenance costs. This correlation means:

Answer: As vehicle age increases, maintenance costs tend to increase together, but causation is not proven

Correlation indicates that two variables move together, but it does not establish that one causes the other.

When writing an evidence-based fleet recommendation report, which element is MOST critical to include to support the recommendations?

Answer: References to data sources, studies, or benchmarks that support each recommendation

Citing data sources and research ensures recommendations are transparent, verifiable, and grounded in evidence rather than opinion.

A fleet department conducts a pilot program with 5 vehicles to test a new synthetic lubricant before fleet-wide adoption. This approach exemplifies:

Answer: Small-scale controlled testing to gather evidence before full implementation

Running a small-scale pilot generates real-world evidence with minimal risk before committing resources to a fleet-wide change.

In fleet data analysis, 'outliers' should be:

Answer: Investigated to determine whether they represent data errors or genuine unusual events

Outliers should be investigated rather than automatically removed, as they may reveal genuine anomalies, equipment failures, or data entry errors.