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GH Data Analysis
Intro to quantitative research (T Pierce)
14
Health Care
Graduate
01/10/2011

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Cards

Term
purpose of quantitative research
Definition

seeks to find meaningful relationships between variables

Term
How do you determine relationships with quantitative research
Definition
  • statistical analysis via
    • retrospective or prospective studies
    • controlled studies
    • observational studies
  • descriptive statistics
    • presentation, organization, and summarization of data
  • inferential statistics
    • ID relationships that can be generalized from our study population to the larger population it represents
Term
observational data
Definition
  • collect observations about subject/topic of interest
    • ex: case control studies, survey studies, HMIS data
Term
controlled experiments
Definition
  • data is collected, change is made, data is collected again following change
  • must have control group
Term
correlations vs. causation
Definition
  • correlation- two events (A,B) observed to happen together
  • causation- A is the cause of B
  • statistical analysis tells you that A occurs in correlation with B (therefore A causes B is FALSE)
  • statistical correlation alone never proves causation
  • gold standard for determining causation is carefully designed, controlled experiments
Term
establishing causation in observational data
Definition
  • strength- numerical strength of correlation
  • consistency- observed in many places at many times by many different observers in different circumstances
  • specificity- effect limited to certain observations in certain specific situations
  • temporality- A must occur before B
  • biological gradient (dose response relation)
  • plausability- scientific credibility of relationship
  • coherence- possibility of causal relationship should not conflict with what is known about natural history and biology of situation
  • experimental evidence- if you take away intevention, does "B" does happen
  • analogy- reason from similar phenomena
Term
statistical significance vs. economic significance
Definition
  • statistical- we are 95% sure...
  • economic significance
    • explanatory variable has meaningful and plausible influence on dependent variable (will it make a significance public health difference?)

statistical evidence is necessary but not sufficient for economic significance

Term
importance of good data collection
Definition
  • before you can analyze data, first need to collect with an understanding of what you are collecting
  • not understanding the data you have collected, or using the wron data, can lead to incorrect conclusions and drive misguided changes in policy
  • big part of what determines whether data is good is survey design and sampling
Term
scientific method
Definition
  • systematic observation- or measurement of various features of behaviors in the world
  • logical explanation- in the form of a theory or model that makes sense according to basic rules of logic and accepted facts
  • prediction- in the form of hypothesis, based on theory, of what we will observe if the theory is true
  • openness- meaning of methods used to produce evidence are clearly documented and made available for review (this allows for replication- repeatin study to see if results hold)
  • skepticism- researchers scrutinize and critique each other's work, a process reviewed to as peer review, in search of possible shortcomings or alternative explanations
Term
designing questions that would be good measures
Definition
  • you are interested to answers in the survey, not intrinsically but because of their relationship to something they are suppose to measure (ex: failure to use a condom = risky sexual behavior)
  • questions are only good if they are:
    • reliable- providing consistent measures in comparable situations
    • valid- answers correspond what they are intended to measure
  • measurement refers to the process of systematically observing some feature of characteristic of the world and then recording it
Term
model of measurement
Definition
  • start with a construct
  • find a way to measure it
  • error is a part of that measurement
    • ALWAYS have some measurement error in studies
Term
conceptualization and operationalize
Definition
  • first step is figure out what you want to measure
  • must be defined carefully and precisely
    • some concepts are not easily defined such as poverty
    • require value judgements
    • manifest vs. latent constructs
    • dimensions
  • once you have the concept, it is time to operationalize
    • ex: what did the US do with poverty?
Term
increasing reliability of answers
Definition
  • providing consistent measures in comparable situations
    • when two respondants are in the same situation they should answer the same question in the same way
    • any difference in answers stem from actual differences
  • good questions
    • researcher's side of the question and answer process is entirely scripted so that the questions as written fully prepare a respondent to answer questions
    • questions mean the same thing to every respondent
    • kinds of answers that constitute an appropriate response to the question are communicated consistently to all respondents
    • avoid inadequate wording
    • ensure consistent meaning of all respondents (can do this via pre-testing)
      • need common frame of reference
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