INTRODUCTION TO HEALTH RESEARCH METHODS test bank
Health Research - ANSWER The process of systematically investigating a single well-defined aspect of
physical, mental, or social well-being. Health research examines a broad spectrum of biological,
socioeconomic, environmental, and other factors that contribute to the presence or absence of physical,
mental, and social health and well-being.
Research - ANSWER The process of systematically and carefully investigating a subject in order to
discover new insights about the world.
The Research Process - ANSWER Identify study question -> Select study approach -> Design study and
collect data -> Analyze data -> Report findings.
Population Health Research - ANSWER Involves humans as the unit of investigation, rather than focusing
on molecules, genes, cells, or other smaller biological components.
Demography - ANSWER The study of populations and population dynamics, such as birth and death
rates.
Morbidity - ANSWER illness
Mortality - ANSWER Death
Testability - ANSWER Present when the research question includes components that can be measured
and examined.
Brainstorming - ANSWER Creating a long list of possible research topics
Concept Mapping - ANSWER Begin by listing several ideas that might be interesting to study. Identify the
related ideas that show up several times on the list and appear to be a central theme. Use circles and
,arrows to visibly group related topics to clarify the connections. Consider which of those broad areas
might be worth exploring.
Keywords - ANSWER A list of words that may help focus the research question.
MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) - ANSWER A database developed by the U.S. National Library of
Medicine, can be helpful for identifying the full extent of a research area and also for narrowing the
scope of a research area.
Exposure - ANSWER An intervention, environmental encounter, behavior, or personal characteristic that
might change the likelihood of developing a health condition.
Ex: income, tobacco use, nutritional status, and pollution.
Disease - ANSWER Illness in general, or the particular adverse health outcome that is the focus of a
health science study.
Ex: Escherichia coli, asthma, autism, and bone fractures.
Outcome - ANSWER The measured endpoint in an experimental study or an observed event such as the
onset of incident disease in a cohort study.
EDPs - ANSWER Acronym for exposures, diseases/outcomes, and populations, which can be combined to
form study questions using a standard format of "Is [exposure] related to [disease/outcome] in
[population]?"
Ex: Are exercise habits (exposure) related to the risk of bone fractures (disease) in adults with diabetes
(population)?
Examples of Types of Populations - ANSWER Australian children younger than 5 years old, women living
in rural Ontario, and adults with diabetes.
,PICOT - ANSWER An acronym for Patient/Population, Intervention, Comparison, Outcome, Timeframe, a
framework that is helpful for developing clinical research questions and designing intervention studies.
What is the Patient/Population group that will be studied?
What is the Intervention that will be tested?
What will the Intervention be compared to?
What is the outcome of interest?
What is the Timeframe for follow-up?
Who is the instructor for the course? - ANSWER Anita C. Benoit, PhD
What is the duration of the weekly lectures? - ANSWER 2 hours
When are the tutorials scheduled? - ANSWER Thursdays and Fridays
What is the weight of the participation assessment? - ANSWER 15%
What is the due date for the study design proposal assignment? - ANSWER Friday, March 13, 2026, at
11:59pm
What is the weight of the final exam? - ANSWER 35%
What is the importance of health research? - ANSWER To guide and improve human health, provide
information about disease trends, and lead to evidence-based medical practices.
What is health research? - ANSWER Scientific investigation of a well-defined aspect of individuals'
physical, mental, or social well-being.
, What are some examples of health research interests? - ANSWER Symptoms of COVID-19, genetic
susceptibility to cancers, effectiveness of physiotherapy for stroke patients.
What does the One Health approach emphasize? - ANSWER The interconnectedness of human health,
animal health, and the environment.
What is the Development Origins of Health and Disease Hypothesis (DOHaD)? - ANSWER A framework
that connects early life conditions to health outcomes later in life.
What is the difference between conceptual and theoretical frameworks? - ANSWER Conceptual
frameworks are based on one overarching theory, while theoretical frameworks are based on various
theories and practitioner knowledge.
What is the role of concepts in theories? - ANSWER Concepts are the building blocks of theory and are
measurable, while theories explain and predict phenomena.
What is the difference between methodology and methods? - ANSWER Methodology refers to the
overarching strategy and rationale of the research, while methods are the specific techniques used to
collect and analyze data.
What is the deadline to add the course? - ANSWER January 18, 2026
What is the deadline to drop the course? - ANSWER March 23, 2026
What is the significance of rigorous health research? - ANSWER It provides insights that can improve
population health and economic development.
What is the purpose of the worksheets in the course? - ANSWER To reinforce learning and facilitate
discussion during tutorial sessions.
Health Research - ANSWER The process of systematically investigating a single well-defined aspect of
physical, mental, or social well-being. Health research examines a broad spectrum of biological,
socioeconomic, environmental, and other factors that contribute to the presence or absence of physical,
mental, and social health and well-being.
Research - ANSWER The process of systematically and carefully investigating a subject in order to
discover new insights about the world.
The Research Process - ANSWER Identify study question -> Select study approach -> Design study and
collect data -> Analyze data -> Report findings.
Population Health Research - ANSWER Involves humans as the unit of investigation, rather than focusing
on molecules, genes, cells, or other smaller biological components.
Demography - ANSWER The study of populations and population dynamics, such as birth and death
rates.
Morbidity - ANSWER illness
Mortality - ANSWER Death
Testability - ANSWER Present when the research question includes components that can be measured
and examined.
Brainstorming - ANSWER Creating a long list of possible research topics
Concept Mapping - ANSWER Begin by listing several ideas that might be interesting to study. Identify the
related ideas that show up several times on the list and appear to be a central theme. Use circles and
,arrows to visibly group related topics to clarify the connections. Consider which of those broad areas
might be worth exploring.
Keywords - ANSWER A list of words that may help focus the research question.
MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) - ANSWER A database developed by the U.S. National Library of
Medicine, can be helpful for identifying the full extent of a research area and also for narrowing the
scope of a research area.
Exposure - ANSWER An intervention, environmental encounter, behavior, or personal characteristic that
might change the likelihood of developing a health condition.
Ex: income, tobacco use, nutritional status, and pollution.
Disease - ANSWER Illness in general, or the particular adverse health outcome that is the focus of a
health science study.
Ex: Escherichia coli, asthma, autism, and bone fractures.
Outcome - ANSWER The measured endpoint in an experimental study or an observed event such as the
onset of incident disease in a cohort study.
EDPs - ANSWER Acronym for exposures, diseases/outcomes, and populations, which can be combined to
form study questions using a standard format of "Is [exposure] related to [disease/outcome] in
[population]?"
Ex: Are exercise habits (exposure) related to the risk of bone fractures (disease) in adults with diabetes
(population)?
Examples of Types of Populations - ANSWER Australian children younger than 5 years old, women living
in rural Ontario, and adults with diabetes.
,PICOT - ANSWER An acronym for Patient/Population, Intervention, Comparison, Outcome, Timeframe, a
framework that is helpful for developing clinical research questions and designing intervention studies.
What is the Patient/Population group that will be studied?
What is the Intervention that will be tested?
What will the Intervention be compared to?
What is the outcome of interest?
What is the Timeframe for follow-up?
Who is the instructor for the course? - ANSWER Anita C. Benoit, PhD
What is the duration of the weekly lectures? - ANSWER 2 hours
When are the tutorials scheduled? - ANSWER Thursdays and Fridays
What is the weight of the participation assessment? - ANSWER 15%
What is the due date for the study design proposal assignment? - ANSWER Friday, March 13, 2026, at
11:59pm
What is the weight of the final exam? - ANSWER 35%
What is the importance of health research? - ANSWER To guide and improve human health, provide
information about disease trends, and lead to evidence-based medical practices.
What is health research? - ANSWER Scientific investigation of a well-defined aspect of individuals'
physical, mental, or social well-being.
, What are some examples of health research interests? - ANSWER Symptoms of COVID-19, genetic
susceptibility to cancers, effectiveness of physiotherapy for stroke patients.
What does the One Health approach emphasize? - ANSWER The interconnectedness of human health,
animal health, and the environment.
What is the Development Origins of Health and Disease Hypothesis (DOHaD)? - ANSWER A framework
that connects early life conditions to health outcomes later in life.
What is the difference between conceptual and theoretical frameworks? - ANSWER Conceptual
frameworks are based on one overarching theory, while theoretical frameworks are based on various
theories and practitioner knowledge.
What is the role of concepts in theories? - ANSWER Concepts are the building blocks of theory and are
measurable, while theories explain and predict phenomena.
What is the difference between methodology and methods? - ANSWER Methodology refers to the
overarching strategy and rationale of the research, while methods are the specific techniques used to
collect and analyze data.
What is the deadline to add the course? - ANSWER January 18, 2026
What is the deadline to drop the course? - ANSWER March 23, 2026
What is the significance of rigorous health research? - ANSWER It provides insights that can improve
population health and economic development.
What is the purpose of the worksheets in the course? - ANSWER To reinforce learning and facilitate
discussion during tutorial sessions.
