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At the EIRG, we’re committed not only to training the next generation of clinician scientists, but also to helping all providers understand research and implement evidence-based practices. Our Research Methods section includes guides to core research concepts, including reliability/validity and experimental design, as well as research methods papers that we’ve published.
Use the Categories and Tags lists on this page to find posts of interest. Copies of EIRG papers can be downloaded from their posts. You can subscribe using your email at the bottom of the page to be notified whenever a new post is added to the Resources section, which includes our most recent Research Methods content.
Author Roberts, M.Y., Sone, B.J., Zanzinger, K.E., Bloem, M.E., Kulba, K., Schaff, A., Davis, K.C., Reisfeld, N., & Goldstein, H. (2020). Trends in Clinical Practice Research in ASHA Journals: 2008–2018. American Journal of Speech-Language Pathology, 29(3),...
Correlations Correlation: the degree with which one variable is associated with another variable; interpreted in terms of (a) direction (positive or negative), (b) strength (weak, moderate, strong), and (c) significance (significant or not significant – as indicated...
Reliability Reliability: consistency or dependability of the data Internal consistency: Measures reliability across items. Tests whether all items are measuring the same thing. Measured using Cronbach’s alpha Test-retest reliability: Measures reliability over time....
Statistical Tests t-test: This statistical test determines whether there is a statistically significant difference between the means of 2 groups and uses numerical DV. Chi-Square: This statistical test determines whether there is a statistically significant...
Types of Variables Independent Variable: The variable that is manipulated by the researcher, such as treatment, and/or the variable(s) that that is/are thought to affect the outcome. Dependent Variable: The variable that is measured as a study outcome; the variable...
Measures of Diagnostic Accuracy Sensitivity: the ability of a test to correctly classify an individual as having a disorder True Positive True Positive + False Negative Specificity: the ability of a test to correctly identify a person as not having a disorder True...
Variables Independent Variable (IV): Intervention/Treatment Dependent Variable (DV): The outcome of the intervention or what we want the intervention/treatment to change. Experimental Control: Confidence that change in the DV is due to change in the IV. Intervention...
Types of Data Numerical: Quantitative data that have a median, mean, and variability or spread (e.g., age in years, height in inches, # of words spoken) Categorical: Data that groups participants into distinct categories based on certain qualities (e.g.,...