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EXSC 3000: Research Design

Resources and information relevant to the topics discussed in EXSC 3000.

Evidence Based Practice (EBP) Research Process Step 1: Ask a Question

Step 1: Ask A Question

1. The first step in defining your research topic is to review your assignment. Ask yourself:

  • Are there any guidelines I need to follow (as outlined by the instructor)?
  • What are some of the current trends or issues in this area?
  • Then, ask yourself some background questions to narrow your topic.
    • WHY did you choose the topic? What interests you about it?  Do you have an opinion about the issues involved?
    • WHO are the information providers on this topic?  Who might publish information about it?  Who is affected by the topic? Do you know of organizations or institutions affiliated with the topic?
    • WHAT are the major questions for this topic?  Is there a debate about the topic?  Are there a range of issues and viewpoints to consider?
    • WHERE is your topic important: at the local, national or international level?  Are there specific places affected by the topic?
    • WHEN is/was your topic important? Is it a current event or an historical issue?  Do you want to compare your topic by time periods?

*(Content reproduced from MIT.edu under a Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial License)*

2. State your topic as a question. 

     What effect does genetically engineered food have on the health of consumers?

Try PICO question develop method.

P: Problem or population  --  Consider whether there is value in limiting the population (eg. street youth, problem drinkers).

I: Intervention -- for example, peer‐led strategies for changing behavior. Or by focusing on the effectiveness of a particular type of theory‐based intervention (eg. Trans theoretical model) for achieving certain health outcomes (eg. smoking cessation).

C: Comparison treatment (or placebo) -- alternate type of preventive intervention?  what's being used up to now. Comparison interventions maybe no intervention, another intervention or standard care/practice.

O: Outcome -- What are you trying to accomplish, measure, improve or affect?

3. Identify the main concepts.

     genetically engineered foods AND health AND consumers

4. Select alternative keywords for main concepts.

MAIN CONCEPTS
ALTERNATIVE TERMS
genetically altered foods GMO (genetically modified organisms)
biotechnology and food
genetically engineered
health and safety food safety
hazard(ous)
well being
consumers public
people

Step 2: Acquire Evidence

Step 2: Acquire Evidence

  • Where will you search?
  • What keywords or subject headings will you use to find information on your topic?
  • What types of studies or data will be most helpful in answering your question?  RCT - Randomized Controlled Trial (and quasi‐RCT);  Controlled before and after studies; Time series designs
  • Brainstorm answers to these questions, then search Health Research Databases to find the best evidence on your topic

​EBM Pyramid

EBM Pyramid and EBM Page Generator, copyright 2006 Trustees of Dartmouth College and Yale University. All Rights Reserved. Produced by Jan Glover, David Izzo, Karen Odato and Lei Wang.

Different types of clinical questions are best answered by different types of research studies. 

You might not always find the highest level of evidence (i.e., RCT, systematic review/meta-analysis) to answer your question. When this happens, work your way down to the next highest level of evidence.

This table suggests study designs best suited to answer different types of clinical question.

Clinical Question Suggested Research Design(s)
All Clinical Questions Systematic review, meta-analysis
Therapy Randomized controlled trial (RCT), meta-analysis
Also: cohort study, case-control study, case series
Etiology Randomized controlled trial (RCT), meta-analysis, cohort study
Also: case-control study, case series
Diagnosis Randomized controlled trial (RCT)
Also: cohort study
Prevention Randomized controlled trial (RCT), meta-analysis
Also: prospective study, cohort study, case-control study, case series
Prognosis

Cohort study Also: case-control study, case series
Meaning Qualitative study
Quality Improvement Randomized controlled trial (RCT) Also: qualitative study 
Cost Economic evaluation

Consult BMJ’s Clinical Evidence Glossary for definitions of study types

Step 3: Appraise the Evidence

Step 3: Appraise the Evidence

Critically appraise the evidence/research you found: what methodologies were used?  How was the data analyzed and reported?  Are the conclusions supported by the data?

Johns Hopkins Nursing EBP: Levels of Evidence 

Level I
Experimental study, randomized controlled trial (RCT)
Systematice review of RCTs, with or without meta-analysis

Level II
Quasi-experimental Study
Systematic review of a combination of RCTs and quasi-experimental, or quasi-experimental studies only, with or without meta-analysis.

Level III
Non-experimental study
Systematic review of a combination of RCTs, quasi-experimental and non-experimental, or non-experimental studies only, with or without meta-analysis.
Qualitative study or systematice review, with or without meta-analysis

Level IV
Opinion of respected authorities and/or nationally recognized expert committees/consensus panels based on scientific evidence.
    Includes:
         - Clinical practice guidelines
         - Consensus panels

Level V
Based on experiential and non-research evidence.
    Includes:
      - Literature reviews
      - Quality improvement, program or financial evaluation
      - Case reports
      - Opinion of nationally recognized expert(s) based on experiential evidence

Dearholt, S., Dang, Deborah, & Sigma Theta Tau International. (2012). Johns Hopkins Nursing Evidence-based Practice : Models and Guidelines.

Step 4: Implement

Step 4: Implement

Consider what the evidence means in your situation, related to your stakeholders and their needs, and how it may be best implemented

EBP Model

Step 5: Evaluate/Assess

Step 5: Evaluate/Assess

How did it work?  Did you see results that created the outcomes you were trying to achieve?  Do you need to adjust the implementation?  Do you need a different solution?

Topic Ideas