Research Methods & Evidence-Based Practice Flashcards

What does 'publication bias' mean in the context of avalanche research?

Answer: Studies with positive or significant findings are more likely to be published than null results

Publication bias skews the overall body of literature toward positive findings, potentially overstating the effectiveness of safety interventions.

A 'p-value' below 0.05 in an avalanche study most commonly indicates:

Answer: There is less than a 5% probability the observed result occurred by chance alone

A p-value < 0.05 is the conventional threshold indicating the result is statistically unlikely to be due to random chance.

Which snow science research technique uses buried sensors to continuously monitor temperature gradients within the snowpack?

Answer: Thermistor strings or temperature logger arrays

Thermistor strings or data logger arrays record continuous temperature at multiple snowpack depths, revealing gradient changes that drive faceting and weak layer formation.

When applying evidence-based decision-making in the field, the '3 × 3 filter' is used to:

Answer: Systematically evaluate terrain, snowpack, and weather factors across three scales of consideration

The 3×3 filter examines conditions at regional, local, and slope scales across terrain, snowpack, and weather, providing a structured framework for risk assessment.

In accident causation research, 'human factors' are implicated in what approximate proportion of avalanche accidents?

Answer: More than 90%

Research consistently shows human factors — such as poor route selection, group dynamics, and heuristic traps — are implicated in more than 90% of avalanche accidents.

The 'Reduction Method' (Munter method) for avalanche risk assessment is an example of evidence-based practice because it:

Answer: Translates statistical fatality data into simple multiplication factors practitioners can apply in the field

The Reduction Method converts empirical fatality statistics into practical risk multipliers, grounding field decisions in real accident data.

What is a 'case study' limitation that makes it unsuitable as the sole basis for avalanche safety guidelines?

Answer: A single case cannot be generalized to all terrain types, snowpack conditions, and user groups

Because case studies examine one incident or location, their findings cannot be reliably generalized across the diverse conditions encountered in avalanche terrain.