Y học - Chapter 12 : Additional research approaches

Chapter 12 Additional Research ApproachesAdditional Approaches in Research in HHPMethods not as prevalent as those previously presented, but may have application in some areas of HHPHistoricalEpidemiologicalSingle ParticipantCreative ActivitiesHistorical ApproachThe researcher attempts to record and understand events of the past in order to better explain present events and suggest possible future directions Nature of Historical ResearchInvolves collection of dataThrough the eyes of other people who witnessed an event or wrote about itWhy we do certain things today is based on what has happened to us in the pastNeed to understand the pastDiscovery of new data/information may lead to new interpretationsSources of Historical DataPrimary sourcesSecondary sourcesPrimary sourcesSource is directly connected to the event of interestOriginal documents or physical artifactsPeople that can provide eyewitness testimonyHighest credibility and preferred data sourceSecondary sourcesSecondhand accounts of historical happeningsHearsay evidence . . . person is not directly tied to eventTextbooks, newspapers, encyclopedias, etc.Considered less reliable source of dataEvaluating Historical DataHistorical data must be critically evaluated to determine authenticity and worthExternal criticismPhysical or chemical tests of documentsTests of signature, script, and handwritingConsistency of language usageInternal criticismAssesses the meaning of the contentAuthor’s motivesConsistency with other reports of same eventTwo or more independent sources are needed to verify a historical factOral HistoryOral history research is conducted through taped interviews with individuals in a position to recall various events or movementsOral history information can be very subjective and opinionatedStrict application of external and internal criticism should be observedBiographical ResearchStudy of the life, career, and contributions of persons of interests . . . often leading scholars, coaches, educators, etc.Often based on extensive personal interviews of the person of interest supplemented with interviews of others Epidemiological ApproachDescriptive epidemiology – seeking to identify patterns or trends in disease, injury, or deathAnalytic epidemiology – seeking to determine causation of disease, injury, or deathCommon in public health fieldsResearch DesignsCohort studiesa.k.a as prospective studies – a study that begins with a group of people (a cohort) and follows them over timeCase-control studies AKA as retrospective studies – a study comparing a group who already have a condition of interest to a group that does notCase group – the group with the characteristic of interest (e.g., cancer)Control group – the group without the characteristic of interest Epidemiological Statistics Used to Measure Strength of an AssociationRelative risk (RR)Odds ratio (OR)Attributable risk (AR)Relative Risk (RR)The extent to which it is more (or less) likely that a health problem or condition will occur in an exposed group compared to an unexposed groupRR = 1 no relationship between exposure and conditionRR > 1 positive relationship; means that those exposed are x times more likely to contract the conditionRR < 1 negative relationship; means that those exposed are x times less likely to contract the conditionApplicable statistic for cohort studiesOdds Ratio (OR)The most common measure of association between exposure and health outcomeAn estimate of relative riskIt is the odds of a health problem or condition occurring in an exposed group (case group) compared to an unexposed group (control group)Interpretation is similar to that of RRApplicable statistic for case-control studiesAttributable Risk (AR)Index of the percent of cases in the total group (unexposed group) that occur in the group with a risk factor (exposed group)Difference between the incidence rate for the exposed group minus the incidence rate for the unexposed group divided by the incidence rate of the unexposed groupApplicable statistic for cohort studiesSingle Participant Approacha.k.a. “single subject research”Research conducted on the individual level with the performance of each research participant, rather than the group, being analyzedBehavior or performance of each participant is evaluated across time with each participant serving as their own controlCollection and AnalysisThe basic approach is to obtain a baseline measure on the participant, administer a treatment, then obtain another measure on the participantComparisons are made between the baseline score and the treatment scoreApplied behavior analysis (ABA)Research DesignsBaseline data are collected (A)To ensure a stable measure at baseline, data may be collected on multiple occasionsGraphing is useful technique to show data pathTreatment data are collected (B)A-B designA-B-A-B design (more common)OthersNonparametric statisticsCreative ActivitiesCreative research vs. creative activityInvolves the creation or development of some art form that is considered new or uniqueCommon in dance or fine artsArtist, painter, dancer, sculptor, musician, etc.Evaluation of Creative ActivityExhibitions or displaysPerformances or recitalsStandards for evaluationJudges or critics evaluateHonors and awards receivedAcknowledgmentsReceipt of grants