Do you have trouble distinguishing between Qualitative research and Quantitative research? Take a look at the document below for help.
When searching for EVIDENCE in the literature, don't believe everything you see.
These next 2 articles focus on the autism / vaccine debate. The Wakefield article is the orignal article that ignited the debate. The second article is a scientific rebuttal based on epidemiological methodology. The Wakefield article was retracted in February 2010, but the debate continues.
Original research article:
Ileal-lymphoid-nodular hyperplasia, non-specific colitis, and pervasive developmental disorder in children.
Wakefield, A. J., Murch, S. H., Anthony, A., et al. (1998).
Lancet, 351(9103), 637.
Rebuttal:
Vaccine adverse events: causal or coincidental?
Chen, R.T. & DeStefano, F. (1998).
Lancet 351: 611-12.
When determining / measuring the accuracy of a tool, researchers must be aware of two gauges:
SENSITIVITY
Sensitivity represents the proportion of truly diseased persons in a screened population who are identified as being diseased by the test. It is a measure of the probability of correctly diagnosing a condition. (Dictionary of Epidemiology, 2d ed)
[Also know as 'Recall Rate' or correctly identified positives]
SPECIFITY
Specificity is the proportion of truly nondiseased persons who are so identified by the screening test. It is a measure of the probability of correctly identifying a nondiseased person. (Dictionary of Epidemiology, 2d ed)
[identified negatives]
Pravikoff, D.S. (2004) The Evidence-Based Practice Dilemma. CINAHLnews 23(1):6-7
"Teaching the Clinician to Fish" PowerPoint