Applied Methods and Techniques Flashcards

Which sampling approach is most useful for reaching a hidden population, such as people who use a rare service, by asking participants to refer others?

Answer: Snowball sampling

Snowball sampling uses participant referrals to recruit hard-to-reach populations.

An instrument appears, on the surface, to measure what it claims to measure according to participants. This is:

Answer: Face validity

Face validity is the subjective judgment that an instrument looks like it measures the intended construct.

When translating a questionnaire into Spanish for a U.S. study, which technique best ensures equivalence of meaning?

Answer: Forward translation followed by independent back-translation and reconciliation

Forward and back-translation with reconciliation helps detect meaning shifts between language versions.

A research assistant measures every 10th patient on a clinic list after a random start. This is:

Answer: Systematic sampling

Systematic sampling selects every kth unit after a random starting point.

Which practice best supports reproducibility of a lab or data-processing procedure?

Answer: Following and documenting a written standard operating procedure (SOP)

Written SOPs standardize procedures so they can be repeated consistently by different staff.

In an intention-to-treat analysis, participants are analyzed:

Answer: According to the group to which they were originally randomized

Intention-to-treat analyzes participants in their randomized groups regardless of adherence or dropout, preserving randomization.

A study finds that most participants score at the maximum on a test, so differences cannot be detected. This problem is called a:

Answer: Ceiling effect

A ceiling effect occurs when scores cluster at the upper limit, limiting variability.