Question

Research Assumptions- what are these? Bias in sampling Cohort studies Requirements for consent Coercion and vulnerable populations I What is a correlation coefficient & what do they tell you about a relationship between two variables? Inverse, positive, negative What is a cross sectional design? Know the basics about Descriptive research studies & Descriptive stats

Answer 1

1. Research assumptions:

The things that are accepted as true or at least plausible, by researchers and peers or the readers, are called Assumptions. . Assumptions are unproven beliefs. The researcher considers it as true, though he doesn’t have evidence to support it.

2. Bias in sampling:

When the samples of a study are selected incorrectly and they do not represent the true distribution because of non-random reasons, is called sampling bias.

3. Cohort studies:

The study design in which one or more samples (cohort) are followed prospectively and subsequent status evaluations with respect to a disease or outcome are done to determine which participant risk factors are associated with it, is called a Cohort study. The outcome from each cohort is measured to determine the relationship with specific characteristics.

4. Requirements for consent

The principal investigator has to obtain the legally effective informed consent of the participant. The information given to the participant must be in a language understandable to the participant. The prospective participant has to be given sufficient opportunity to consider whether or not to participate under conditions which minimize the possibility of coercion or undue influence. The consent requires:

1. The research statement of the study and an explanation of the purposes of the research;
2. the predicted duration of the participant's involvement;
3. an explanation of the procedures to be followed and identification of any procedures that are experimental;
4. a depiction of any reasonably foreseeable risks or discomforts to the participant;
5. a recount of any benefits to the participant or to others which may reasonably be expected from the research;
6. a report of appropriate alternative procedures or courses of treatment, if any, that might be advantageous to the participant;
7. explanation of the extent, if any, to which confidentiality of records identifying the participant will be maintained;
8. guidance on whom to contact in the event of a research-related injury to the participant;
9. a description as to whether any compensation and medical treatments are available if an injury occurs; specifically, what the compensations are and if/when further information may be obtained;
10. informations on whom to contact for answers to pertinent research questions and research participants' rights; and
11. testimony that participation is voluntary, refusal to participate will involve no penalty or loss of benefits to which the participant is otherwise entitled, and the participant may discontinue participation at any time without penalty or loss of benefits to which the participant is otherwise entitled.

5. Coercion and vulnerable populations:

When an overt or implicit threat of harm is intentionally presented by one person on another to get compliance is called Coercion. If the researcher threats the participant of making health services inaccessible, in case the participant rejects to participate in the study, is coercion.

The patients who are racial or ethnic minorities, children, elderly, socioeconomically disadvantaged, underinsured or those with certain medical conditions , are at high risk of getting diseases or health conditions. They are called vulnerable populations.

6. What is correlation coefficient? What do they tell about a relationship between two variables?

The measure of direction and strength of a linear relationship between variables is called correlation coefficient. It is represented by ‘r’.

The value of r ranges between -1 and +1. A value of -1 mentions perfect negative or inverse or indirect relationship. A value of +1 represents a perfect positive or direct relationship.

7. What is cross sectional design:

A cross sectional design is a type of observational study, in which the data is analysed from the population at a specific point in time. This data is called cross sectional data. Cross sectional design is also called cross sectional analysis, transverse study or prevalence study.