Identifying Epidemiological Studies in the Literature 

Identifying Epidemiological Studies in the Literature

 Full articles within the last year may not be available. Resources in the Lessons provide other databases and journals that can search must be able to access the full article. 

Choose an article that is peer-reviewed and a primary article (not secondary – see attached). Identify the study as descriptive (cross-sectional, ecological, case series); analytical (prospective cohort or retrospective cohort) or experimental: (prevention or treatment clinical trial). Define the study one of the specific types given in the parentheses. It must be one of these study types.  The article must be a primary study that uses one of the given study designs. Failure to choose an appropriate article will results in a zero for the assignment. Read the abstract, the entire article.

1. State the type of study that was conducted (see methods section of article, it must be one of the above study types).

2. What is the research question?

3. What was known or unknown before the study was conducted (see introduction of article)?

4. What was the purpose of the study (should be at end of introduction)?

5. What was the outcome and was it consistent with the researcher(s)’ original research question (see results and conclusions)?

6. What recommendation(s) did the researcher offer for future studies (see conclusions)?

7. Do you feel the findings and research design are real and valid? Why or why not? Please review the lesson for this week and your text book readings to understand what is meant by valid.