CRES 710 Introduction to Clinical Research

This course will cover research conceptualization and question formation based on evidentiary support, study design, data analysis techniques, and critical review of the literature. An overview of non-experimental, quasi-experimental, and experimental study designs, including the options for sampling and formulating a rigorous methodology within those study designs, and their applicability to research questions will be covered. Introduction to basic statistical methods will be considered and publicly available sources of data through organizations such as AHRQ, CDC, NCBI, and CRISP will be introduced.

Credits

3

Student Learning Outcomes

1. 1. Define an empirical research question, the independent and dependent variables needed to answer that question, and appropriate experimental design to achieve valid results and conclusions.
2. 10. Identify the different types of manuscripts based on research design choices.
3. 11. Search the research for theoretical models that could be applied to their own research inquiry.
4. 12. Apply knowledge of the different types of evidence to their own study designs and research inquiry.
5. 13. Understand the different levels and rigor of evidence and the different tools available to appraise articles for quality.
6. 14. Critically examine the research design and analyses of various types of articles and determine the appropriateness of the chosen analysis and generalizability of the conclusions.
7. 2. Consider their research questions in the settings of different study designs.
8. 3. Consider not only the hierarchy of literature and study design, but also potential bias and sensitivity, specificity and reliability issues that can impact generalizability of study results.
9. 4. Review the different types of participant sampling that can be considered to recruit their target populations and how those methods of sampling can introduce bias into study findings.
10. 5. Identify several publicly available datasets that could be utilized to answer research inquiry.
11. 6. Perform basic STATA data analysis techniques that can be utilized to answer research questions.
12. 7. Create a problem statement based on each individual research question.
13. 8. Employ triangulation of data by considering a problem from multiple different angles.
14. 9. Perform a search that can be utilized to find different types of research sources, such as clinical practice guidelines, systematic reviews, meta-analyses, and randomized controlled trials.