1-) Compare independent variables, dependent variables, and extraneous variables. Describe two ways that researchers attempt to control extraneous variables. Support your answer with peer-reviewed articles.
2-) Describe the “levels of evidence” and provide an example of the type of practice change that could result from each.
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Introduction:
As a medical professor, it is crucial to equip students with the necessary knowledge and skills to conduct research and evaluate evidence-based practices. In this context, this assignment aims to assess the students’ understanding of research design and evidence hierarchy.
1-) Independent variables, dependent variables, and extraneous variables are crucial concepts in research design. Independent variables are those that can be manipulated in the study, while dependent variables are the outcomes that are measured. Extraneous variables, on the other hand, are those that may impact the study’s outcome but are not included in the study design.
There are two ways to control extraneous variables: randomization and statistical techniques. Randomization involves assigning participants randomly to the study groups, which can help to distribute extraneous variables equally among the groups. Statistically, researchers use regression and analysis of covariance to control the extraneous variables’ impact on the study outcomes.
For example, a study conducted by Gao et al. (2021) aimed to investigate the impact of mindfulness-based interventions on depression. The researchers used randomization to assign participants to the intervention and control groups, which helped to control for extraneous variables that may have impacted the study results.
2-) The levels of evidence refer to the hierarchy of study designs from the strongest to the weakest evidence. The levels of evidence include meta-analyses, systematic reviews, randomized controlled trials, cohort studies, case-control studies, and case series.
For instance, a systematic review conducted by You et al. (2021) aimed to examine the effect of probiotics on inflammatory bowel disease. The review identified several randomized controlled trials, which provided level 1 evidence and suggested that probiotics could be effective in managing inflammatory bowel disease.
In conclusion, understanding research design and evidence hierarchy is crucial for medical college students to conduct rigorous research and evaluate evidence-based practices. This assignment aims to assess the students’ understanding of independent variables, dependent variables, extraneous variables, and levels of evidence.
