Research Methods & Evidence-Based Practice Flashcards
7 cards from real CDA practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Research Methods & Evidence-Based Practice flashcards as text
In evidence-based practice, which level of evidence is generally considered the highest quality for informing clinical or professional decisions?
Answer: Systematic reviews and meta-analyses of multiple RCTs
Systematic reviews and meta-analyses synthesize evidence from multiple rigorous studies, providing the strongest basis for evidence-based decisions.
What is 'publication bias' and why does it matter in evidence-based practice?
Answer: Positive or significant results are more likely to be published, distorting the evidence base
Publication bias means studies with positive results are overrepresented in literature, potentially making an intervention appear more effective than it truly is.
What does the acronym PICO represent in evidence-based practice frameworks?
Answer: Population, Intervention, Comparison, Outcome
PICO (Population, Intervention, Comparison, Outcome) is a structured framework for formulating focused, searchable clinical or practice questions.
Which term describes the tendency for a researcher to unconsciously seek or interpret information in a way that confirms their pre-existing beliefs?
Answer: Confirmation bias
Confirmation bias leads researchers to favor evidence that supports their hypotheses while discounting contradictory findings, threatening study objectivity.
What distinguishes a peer-reviewed article from other published sources?
Answer: It has been evaluated by experts in the field before publication
Peer-reviewed articles undergo critical evaluation by independent subject-matter experts who assess methodology, accuracy, and contribution to the field.
A researcher finds a 95% confidence interval of 10–20 for a measured outcome. What does this mean?
Answer: There is a 95% chance the true population parameter falls between 10 and 20
A 95% confidence interval means that if the study were repeated 100 times, approximately 95 of the resulting intervals would contain the true population value.
In a systematic review, what is the primary function of inclusion and exclusion criteria?
Answer: To define which studies are eligible for inclusion, reducing selection bias
Inclusion and exclusion criteria create transparent, pre-specified rules for which studies qualify, ensuring the review is reproducible and free from arbitrary selection.