Assignment Task:
Respond with a minimum of one paragraph of 4-5 sentences, on two (2) different days of the week. Your reply post should be specific to this week's topic of epidemiological research methods and should integrate in-text citation(s).
Your reply post/s should integrate course content (such as course terminology) related to the study method as well as an integration of in-text citations along with a scholarly voice and APA formatting. The textbook may be utilized as a resource.
Hello class,
1. What is the fundamental difference between the method you have chosen (either the case-control or cohort method) and the randomized controlled trial?
My chosen method is the Case-control method. One significant difference is the participant selection. In case control studies, the cases are selected based on if they have a disease and/or outcome of interest. The control group is then selected from the same population but without the disease or outcome, so they can be compared to the case (Cupp, 2020). Controls should resemble the case as close as possible. However, since the selection is not random, there may be associations as a result of unknow variables .
Whereas randomized studies are selected from a sample and randomly assigned to groups which minimizes bias. The people are divided into groups to compare different treatments or other interventions (Cupp, 2020).
2. What are the advantages and disadvantages of the study method you chose (case-control or cohort study)?
Case control studies are quick and inexpensive. It also enables the researcher to investigate rare diseases with large groups of individuals. However, there are several weaknesses. The case control study looks at past diseases, exposures and outcome (Cupp, 2020). This can pose a problem with inaccurate or bias information-based participants memories. Additionally, the case control study looks at sometimes rare and sensitive topic which may hinder them from being forthcoming with all information.
3. What are the characteristics of a correlational study?
Correlational studies are used to conduct studies of aggregate or population characteristics. There are three main characteristics that exist in correlation research, non-experimental, backward-looking, and dynamic (Dingus, n.d.).
Non-experimental -means the research does not need a hypothesis, controls or conditions
Backward-looking - means the researcher is only using history or something that has already happened to determine if there is or is not a correlation
Dynamic - means that whatever is determined is always subject to change (Dingus, n.d.).
4. Where does the method you chose (case-control or cohort study) fall on the research pyramid? What does where it is on the research pyramid mean?
A case-control study is typically in the bottom section which represents an observational study where researchers compare individuals with a specific disease (cases) to individuals without the disease (controls) to identify potential risk factors. It is positioned below the cohort and randomized studies because it requires a lower level of evidence (Wallace et al., 2022).
References:
Cupp, A.L. (2020). Population-based nursing: Concepts and competencies for advanced practice. (3rd ed.). Springer Publishing Company.
Dingus, P. (n.d.). Correlational research. Overview & Process.
Wallace, S. S., Barak, G., Truong, G., & Parker, M. W. (2022). Hierarchy of Evidence Within the Medical Literature. Hospital Pediatrics, 12(8), 745-750.