Question 1

The ________ section of a research paper is where the authors interpret their findings and describe their significance.
A) summary
B) results
C) methods
D) discussion

Accepted Answer

The discussion section of a research paper is where the authors interpret their findings and describe their significance. The summary section provides a brief overview of the entire paper, the results section presents the findings, and the methods section outlines the procedures used to conduct the research.

Question 2

The first thing to appear after the title and names of the authors of a research paper is the:
A) introduction.
B) summary.
C) abstract.
D) results.

Accepted Answer

The abstract is typically the first section of a research paper and provides a brief summary of the entire paper, highlighting the key points and findings. It is usually no longer than 250 words and is written after the research has been completed.

Question 3

Where are the results of a scientific study published, regardless of the outcome of the study?
A) In a medical director paper
B) In an EMS trade magazine
C) In a university-based magazine
D) In a peer-reviewed journal

Accepted Answer

Scientific studies are typically published in peer-reviewed journals to ensure that the research is of high quality and has been rigorously reviewed by other experts in the field. This allows others to review, critique, and build upon the research in future studies. Medical director papers, EMS trade magazines, and university-based magazines may also publish scientific studies, but they may not necessarily be peer-reviewed or have the same level of academic rigor.

Question 4

Which of these is not necessarily a step EMS providers should take when conducting a research study?
A) Implement a cohort study model.
B) Determine how to obtain informed consent from study subjects.
C) Prepare a null hypothesis and research hypothesis.
D) Define the population to be studied.

Accepted Answer

Implementing a cohort study model is a specific research design and may not always be appropriate or necessary depending on the research question. The other options are all important steps in conducting a study.

Question 5

What type of confidence interval would be appropriate for a research study that is potentially going to change EMS practice?
A) 80 percent
B) 85 percent
C) 90 percent
D) 95 percent

Accepted Answer

A 95% confidence interval is commonly used in medical research to establish a high level of certainty in the findings. Changing EMS practice could have significant implications, so it is important to have a high level of confidence in the results.

Question 6

When comparing and contrasting between a retrospective and prospective study, which of the following is a TRUE statement?
A) Prospective studies are generally less expensive than retrospective methodologies.
B) There is more chance for the introduction of bias in the data gathering for prospective studies.
C) Prospective studies have greater validity than retrospective studies.
D) Retrospective studies use a research form or instrument specifically designed for the study.

Accepted Answer

Prospective studies have greater validity than retrospective studies because data is collected in real-time rather than relying on patient recall or medical records which may be incomplete or inaccurate. Option A is incorrect because prospective studies generally require a longer follow-up period and more resources which can make them more expensive. Option B is incorrect because retrospective studies are more prone to recall bias and selective reporting bias. Option D is incorrect because both retrospective and prospective studies can use research forms or instruments specifically designed for the study.

Question 7

________ are very important in interpreting the value of the research results.
A) Measures of central tendency
B) Standard deviations
C) Qualitative statistics
D) Confidence intervals

Accepted Answer

Confidence intervals provide a range of values that are likely to include the true population parameter with a certain degree of confidence. This helps in interpreting the value of research results and understanding the precision of the estimates. Measures of central tendency, standard deviations, and qualitative statistics are also important, but do not provide the same level of information on the precision of the estimates.

Question 8

Which of these conclusions did the 2001 National EMS Research Agenda NOT reach?
A) Develop a cadre of EMS researchers and support them early in their careers.
B) Publicize research that supports the consensus of EMS medical directors.
C) Establish an alternate funding source for EMS research outside of government.
D) View research as necessary for the improvement of patient care.

Accepted Answer

The 2001 National EMS Research Agenda emphasized the development of EMS researchers, the establishment of alternative funding sources, and viewing research as essential for improving patient care. It did not specifically focus on publicizing research that supports the consensus of EMS medical directors.

Question 9

The most valid of all the specific study types is:
A) cross-sectional study.
B) meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.
C) expert opinions, editorials, rational conjecture.
D) In vivo research.

Accepted Answer

Meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials is the most valid study type because it is a systematic review and statistical analysis of multiple randomized controlled trials. This approach provides a comprehensive and objective synthesis of the available evidence, and the use of randomized controlled trials allows for high-quality data with minimized bias. Other study types, such as cross-sectional studies or expert opinions, may provide useful insights but are subject to limitations such as confounding variables or subjective biases. In vivo research is also valuable but may not always be feasible or ethical in human studies.

Question 10

The mean is especially useful when the data are what statisticians call "normally distributed." This means :
A) if you graphed the data, it would form a shape similar to a bell curve.
B) values are placed into numerical order, and the middle value is determined.
C) the data falls within the "fiftieth percentile."
D) the distribution of a group is how spread out it is, or how dispersed the data are.

Accepted Answer

The mean is especially useful when the data are normally distributed, which means the graph of the data would form a shape similar to a bell curve.

Question 11

Telling participants the inclusion and exclusion criteria for enrolling patients in the study, the effect of the study on patient care in general, and the risks and potential benefits to patients in the study helps to:
A) gain informed consent.
B) get EMS concessions.
C) identify the PI.
D) determine how to publish.

Accepted Answer

Telling participants the inclusion and exclusion criteria, the study's effect on patient care, and the risks and benefits helps to ensure that participants have received sufficient information to make an informed decision about whether to participate in the study, thereby facilitating informed consent. EMS concessions, identifying the PI, and determining how to publish are not related to obtaining informed consent.

Question 12

A ________ is undertaken first to find unforeseen obstacles to data gathering during participation in a research study.
A) null hypothesis
B) pilot trial
C) principal investigation
D) data analysis

Accepted Answer

A pilot trial is a small-scale preliminary study conducted before a full-scale research project. It is done to identify potential problems with the research design or methods, and to test the feasibility of the study. This allows researchers to make any necessary adjustments before the full-scale study begins. Therefore, B, pilot trial, is the best choice for the given question.

Question 13

Which of these is an EMS technique that has been proven through research to be less effective than once thought?
A) tiered response
B) modified Valsalva maneuver
C) endotracheal intubation
D) evidence-based practice

Accepted Answer

Endotracheal intubation, particularly in the pre-hospital setting by EMS personnel, has been found to be less effective than once thought for certain patient populations. Research has shown that improper technique, lack of practice, and the challenging conditions of pre-hospital care can lead to complications and do not always improve patient outcomes as once believed.

Question 14

This type of study has less validity than an RCT, but it has utility in some circumstances. The problem in this study design is that there is an increased chance that the study groups will be different.
A) Cohort study
B) Nonrandomized controlled trial
C) Cross-sectional study
D) Case series

Accepted Answer

Nonrandomized controlled trials have less validity than randomized controlled trials (RCTs) because of the increased chance that the study groups will be different. However, nonrandomized controlled trials can still provide useful information in some circumstances. Cohort studies and cross-sectional studies are also observational study designs and have similar limitations in terms of validity. Case series are not a comparison study design and therefore cannot be compared in terms of group differences.

Question 15

What is the difference between qualitative and quantitative research?
A) Quantitative research uses a control group; qualitative research does not use a control group.
B) Quantitative research is designed to determine the relationship between one thing and another and describe it with numbers; qualitative research primarily relies on collection of nonnumeric data.
C) Quantitative research does not use a control group; qualitative research does use a control group.
D) Qualitative research is designed to determine the relationship between one thing and another and describe it with numbers; quantitative research primarily relies on collection of nonnumeric data.

Accepted Answer

Quantitative research is focused on collecting data that can be measured and analyzed numerically, such as through statistical analysis. It is primarily used to determine the relationship between one thing and another and describe it with numbers. Qualitative research, on the other hand, relies on the collection of nonnumeric data, such as observational or interview data, to gain an understanding of underlying reasons, opinions, and motivations behind a particular phenomenon or behavior. Qualitative research does not use a control group because it is more exploratory and focused on gaining rich and detailed insights into a subject.

Question 16

All of the following are questions to ask when reviewing a study, EXCEPT:
A) Was the study type appropriate?
B) Was the research peer reviewed?
C) Were the results reported properly?
D) What control group were the researchers studying?

Accepted Answer

All of the options listed are important questions to ask when reviewing a study.

Question 17

Which section of a research paper describes exactly how the authors conducted the study, including what population they wished to study, how subjects were selected (and excluded), and what intervention was performed?
A) Introduction
B) Discussion
C) Methods
D) Results

Accepted Answer

The methods section of a research paper provides a detailed description of how the study was conducted, including information on the population studied, subject selection criteria and exclusion criteria, and the intervention or procedures carried out during the study.

Question 18

The science and practice of protecting and improving the health of a community through the use of preventive medicine is known as:
A) public health.
B) epidemiology.
C) primary prevention.
D) injury risk.

Accepted Answer

Public health focuses on promoting and improving the health of entire populations or communities, rather than just individuals. This is achieved through the use of preventive medicine, such as vaccination campaigns, health education and promotion, and policy development. Epidemiology is a key component of public health, as it involves studying the patterns and causes of diseases in populations, in order to inform prevention and control strategies. Primary prevention refers to interventions that aim to prevent a disease or health condition from occurring in the first place, rather than treating it after it develops. Injury risk is a related concept, but is not specific to public health, as it can apply to any field that deals with injury prevention.

Question 19

In a(n) ________ study, subjects are randomized into either the treatment group or the control group; this type is considered among the most valid of studies.
A) experimental
B) quasi-experimental
C) observational
D) retrospective

Accepted Answer

The description of randomization into treatment and control groups identifies an experimental study design. Option A is correct. Option B (quasi-experimental) refers to a study design that lacks full randomization or control over the variables, so it is not as strong as a fully experimental design. Option C (observational) refers to studies where researchers observe behavior or outcomes without manipulating any variables, and option D (retrospective) refers to studies where researchers look back in time to analyze existing data, rather than collecting new data prospectively.

Question 20

In many situations it is unethical to withhold treatment from a group simply for the purposes of experimentation. As a result, a(n) ________ study must be done.
A) observational
B) quasi-experimental
C) retrospective
D) prospective

Accepted Answer

With an observational study, researchers can observe natural differences and behaviors within a group without directly manipulating the variables. This allows for data collection without withholding treatment or potentially causing harm to participants.

Quiz 1: Introduction to Paramedicine

The ________ section of a research paper is where the authors interpret their findings and describe their significance.

The first thing to appear after the title and names of the authors of a research paper is the:

Where are the results of a scientific study published, regardless of the outcome of the study?

Which of these is not necessarily a step EMS providers should take when conducting a research study?

What type of confidence interval would be appropriate for a research study that is potentially going to change EMS practice?

When comparing and contrasting between a retrospective and prospective study, which of the following is a TRUE statement?

________ are very important in interpreting the value of the research results.

Which of these conclusions did the 2001 National EMS Research Agenda NOT reach?

The most valid of all the specific study types is:

The mean is especially useful when the data are what statisticians call "normally distributed." This means :

Telling participants the inclusion and exclusion criteria for enrolling patients in the study, the effect of the study on patient care in general, and the risks and potential benefits to patients in the study helps to:

A ________ is undertaken first to find unforeseen obstacles to data gathering during participation in a research study.

Which of these is an EMS technique that has been proven through research to be less effective than once thought?

This type of study has less validity than an RCT, but it has utility in some circumstances. The problem in this study design is that there is an increased chance that the study groups will be different.

What is the difference between qualitative and quantitative research?

All of the following are questions to ask when reviewing a study, EXCEPT:

Which section of a research paper describes exactly how the authors conducted the study, including what population they wished to study, how subjects were selected (and excluded) , and what intervention was performed?

The science and practice of protecting and improving the health of a community through the use of preventive medicine is known as:

In a(n) ________ study, subjects are randomized into either the treatment group or the control group; this type is considered among the most valid of studies.

In many situations it is unethical to withhold treatment from a group simply for the purposes of experimentation. As a result, a(n) ________ study must be done.