Chapter 1:

Objectives

After completing this chapter, you should be able to:

• Describe the purpose of clinical research.

• Explain the purpose of outcomes research, with examples of health outcome measures.
• Discuss the components of evidence-based practice and the elements of a good clinical
question.
• Illustrate deductive and inductive logic.
• Clarify the scope of clinical research in terms of the variety of approaches.
• Describe the purpose of experimental, quasi-experimental, exploratory, and descriptive
research.
• Describe the steps of the research process.
• Discuss the role of evidence in clinical decision making.

© FA Davis Company 2015

Chapter Outline
• DEFINING CLINICAL RESEARCH
• MEASUREMENT OF OUTCOMES
o Outcome Measures
• MODELS OF HEALTH AND DISABILITY
o The International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health
• EVIDENCE-BASED PRACTICE
• SOURCES OF KNOWLEDGE
o Tradition
o Authority
o Trial and Error
o Logical Reasoning
 Deductive Reasoning
 Inductive Reasoning
o The Scientific Method
 Limitations of the Scientific Method
• TYPES OF RESEARCH
o Quantitative and Qualitative Research
o Basic and Applied Research
 Translational Research
o Experimental and Nonexperimental Research
o A Continuum of Research
 Experimental Research
 Exploratory Research
 Descriptive Research
o Sources of Data
o Synthesis of Literature
• THE RESEARCH PROCESS
o Step 1: Identify the Research Question
o Step 2: Design the Study
o Step 3: Methods
o Step 4: Data Analysis
o Step 5: Communication
• UNDERSTANDING METHOD, CONTENT, AND PHILOSOPHY

COMMENTARY: Research and Evidence-based Practice: Investigation vs. Clinical Decision

Making

© FA Davis Company 2015

Key Terms
• Applied research
• Authority
• Basic research
• Biomedical model
• Case study (case series)
• Case-control studies
• Clinical research
• Cohort studies
• Correlational methods
• Deductive reasoning
• Descriptive research
• Developmental research
• Disablement model
• Epidemiology
• Evidence-based practice
• Experimental research
• Exploratory research
• Historical research
• Inductive reasoning
• International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF)
• Meta-analysis
• Methodological research
• Non-experimental research
• Normative studies
• Observational research
• Outcomes research
• Predictive models
• Qualitative research
• Quantitative research
• Quasi-experimental studies
• Questionnaires
• Randomized controlled trial (RCT)
• Scientific method
• Scientific paradigm
• Secondary analysis
• Single-subject designs
• Surveys
• Systematic reviews
• Tradition
• Translational research
• Trial and error

© FA Davis Company 2015