WGU: Healthcare Research and Statistics - C431
clinical decision making that integrates the best available research with
evidence-based practice
clinical expertise and patient characteristics and preferences
1. Recognize the need for information
2. Establish the purpose
3. Formulate focused questions
4. Identify target resources
5. Perform the search
EBP steps
6. Organize findings
7. Appraise trustworthiness
8. Assess relevance
9. Select action
10. Implement and evaluate
Types of evidence assigned by level:
Top (best evidence) to bottom
1.) Meta-analyses & systematic reviews
Evidence-based Pyramid 2.) Evidence-Based reviews
3.)Randomized control trials
4.) Case-control studies, case series, case reports
5.) Textbooks, review articles, expert opinions & laboratory research
Empirical research where the data are not in the form of numbers.
Research is multimethod in focus, involving an interpretive, naturalistic
Qualitative Research
approach to its subject matter. Researchers study things in their natural
settings, attempting to make sense of/interpret phenomena in terms of the
meanings people bring them.
qualitative information Involves a descriptive judgement using concept words instead of numbers.
, Gathers data in a numerical form which can be put into categories, or in
rank order, or measured in units of measurement. This type of data can be
Quantitative Research used to construct graphs and tables of raw data. Researchers aim to
establish general laws of behavior/phenomenon across different
settings/contexts. Research is used to test theories and ultimately
support or reject it.
Involves a measurable quantity- numbers are used. For example: Mass,
quantitative information
temperature, time, length. Often called data, but can be things other than
numbers.
The study of a bounded system (a case or multiple cases) over time
case study
through detailed, in-depth data collection involving multiple sources of
information.
commonly used qualitative research strategy. Another name for case
case report
study. Serves two functions: sharing information and supporting learning in
an area of healthcare.
Quantitative research style: quantifies phenomena, but it does not involve
Observational research style
the use of an intervention.
Quantitative research style: involves dividing patients randomly, selecting
subjects from the entire population or randomly assigning participants
Experimental research style
into intervention and control groups, and measuring differences between
them or associations between predictor and response variables.
Quantitative research style: examines an outcome or exposure that has
Retrospective research style already occurred and utilizes numerical data to test for relationships
between variables or differences between groups that can be
associated with the phenomenon.
Quantitative research style: involves the formulation of a hypothesis,
Prospective research style followed by data collection and analysis. Data is collected over a defined
period of time that is sufficient enough in duration to draw reliable
inferences based on the sample.
Quantitative research style: includes studies that collect data at a single
Cross-sectional research style
fixed point in time.
Quantitative research style: involves studying a phenomenon in which
Quasi-experimental research style researchers cannot randomly select subjects or randomly assign subject to
treatment and control groups; researchers are able to control some
independent variables.
A study with at least one treatment group and one control group
controlled trial (comparison=no treatment)
Quantitative research style
An observational study design in which a specific group is followed over
cohort study
time. Quantitative research style
Study where the allocation of patients to treatment or control groups
is random & concealed. At least one control group must be utilized. It is
randomized control trial preferable that subjects as well as researchers are not informed of the
interventions that subjects are receiving (blinded).
Quantitative research style
A research procedure where all prior studies on a given topic are analyzed
systematic review(s) collectively. Typically deemed to be the at top of the evidence
pyramid. Quantitative research style
clinical decision making that integrates the best available research with
evidence-based practice
clinical expertise and patient characteristics and preferences
1. Recognize the need for information
2. Establish the purpose
3. Formulate focused questions
4. Identify target resources
5. Perform the search
EBP steps
6. Organize findings
7. Appraise trustworthiness
8. Assess relevance
9. Select action
10. Implement and evaluate
Types of evidence assigned by level:
Top (best evidence) to bottom
1.) Meta-analyses & systematic reviews
Evidence-based Pyramid 2.) Evidence-Based reviews
3.)Randomized control trials
4.) Case-control studies, case series, case reports
5.) Textbooks, review articles, expert opinions & laboratory research
Empirical research where the data are not in the form of numbers.
Research is multimethod in focus, involving an interpretive, naturalistic
Qualitative Research
approach to its subject matter. Researchers study things in their natural
settings, attempting to make sense of/interpret phenomena in terms of the
meanings people bring them.
qualitative information Involves a descriptive judgement using concept words instead of numbers.
, Gathers data in a numerical form which can be put into categories, or in
rank order, or measured in units of measurement. This type of data can be
Quantitative Research used to construct graphs and tables of raw data. Researchers aim to
establish general laws of behavior/phenomenon across different
settings/contexts. Research is used to test theories and ultimately
support or reject it.
Involves a measurable quantity- numbers are used. For example: Mass,
quantitative information
temperature, time, length. Often called data, but can be things other than
numbers.
The study of a bounded system (a case or multiple cases) over time
case study
through detailed, in-depth data collection involving multiple sources of
information.
commonly used qualitative research strategy. Another name for case
case report
study. Serves two functions: sharing information and supporting learning in
an area of healthcare.
Quantitative research style: quantifies phenomena, but it does not involve
Observational research style
the use of an intervention.
Quantitative research style: involves dividing patients randomly, selecting
subjects from the entire population or randomly assigning participants
Experimental research style
into intervention and control groups, and measuring differences between
them or associations between predictor and response variables.
Quantitative research style: examines an outcome or exposure that has
Retrospective research style already occurred and utilizes numerical data to test for relationships
between variables or differences between groups that can be
associated with the phenomenon.
Quantitative research style: involves the formulation of a hypothesis,
Prospective research style followed by data collection and analysis. Data is collected over a defined
period of time that is sufficient enough in duration to draw reliable
inferences based on the sample.
Quantitative research style: includes studies that collect data at a single
Cross-sectional research style
fixed point in time.
Quantitative research style: involves studying a phenomenon in which
Quasi-experimental research style researchers cannot randomly select subjects or randomly assign subject to
treatment and control groups; researchers are able to control some
independent variables.
A study with at least one treatment group and one control group
controlled trial (comparison=no treatment)
Quantitative research style
An observational study design in which a specific group is followed over
cohort study
time. Quantitative research style
Study where the allocation of patients to treatment or control groups
is random & concealed. At least one control group must be utilized. It is
randomized control trial preferable that subjects as well as researchers are not informed of the
interventions that subjects are receiving (blinded).
Quantitative research style
A research procedure where all prior studies on a given topic are analyzed
systematic review(s) collectively. Typically deemed to be the at top of the evidence
pyramid. Quantitative research style
