Day 2 Developing study questions 1

✔ What are you curious about? ✔ From curiosity to a hypothesis From a hypothesis to questions 2 What you just did

3 EPI Challenge Master Proposal Form Name of Team Member ________________

Sections of Proposal Form 4 0. Team information 1. Health-related behavior and hypothesis 2. Exposure variable and question for survey 3. Outcome variable and questions for survey 4. Cross-sectional study design 5.Informed consent script 6.Data analysis plan 7.Considerations forinterpretation 8.Plans for study conduct 9.Survey instrument 10.Letter to Principal

Sections of Proposal Form 5 0. Team information 1. Health-related behavior and hypothesis 2. Exposure variable and question for survey 3. Outcome variable and questions for survey 4. Cross-sectional study design 5.Informed consent script 6.Data analysis plan 7.Considerations forinterpretation 8.Plans for study conduct 9.Survey instrument 10.Letter to Principal

6 A hypothesis is an educated guess about how things work. Most of the time a hypothesis in epidemiology is written like this: "If [Exposure] ___, then [Outcome]____ will happen.“ Your hypothesis should be something that you can actually test, what's called a testable hypothesis. In other words, you need to be able to measure both “Exposure" and “Outcome." Hypothesis

Criteria for a Good Question 1. It should be clear and unambiguous, written so that its intended audience understands it. Do you usually get a good night’s sleep?

Criteria for a Good Question 2. It should mean the same thing to everyone who reads it. In other words, if 100 students all behave the same way they must all select the same answer. Typically, do you watch television five or more days a week?

Criteria for a Good Question 3. The answer options categorize and cover the entire range of possible behavior (from complete absence of the behavior to a maximum amount of the behavior). How often do you usually bring your lunch to school? a.Never b.1-2 times per week c.2-4 times per week d.Every day

Criteria for a Good Question In the past two years, have you typically eaten five or more servings of fruits and vegetables per day? 4. The time period to consider when answering a particular question must be appropriate (long or short enough) to capture the frequency of behavior desired.

It should be written so that its intended audience understands it. It should mean the same thing to everyone who reads it. The answer options must categorize and cover the entire range of possible behavior (from complete absence of the behavior to a maximum amount of the behavior). The time period to consider when answering a particular question must be appropriate (long or short enough) to capture the frequency of behavior desired (depending on the information desired and the type of behavior). 11 Characteristics of a Good Question

12 On an average school day, how many hours do you play video or computer games or use a computer for something that is not school work? (Count time spent on things such as Xbox, PlayStation, an iPod, an iPad or other tablet, a smartphone, YouTube, Facebook or other social networking tools, and the Internet.) A.I do not play video or computer games or use a computer for something that is not school work B.Less than 1 hour per day C.1 hour per day D.2 hours per day E.3 hours per day F.4 hours per day G.5 or more hours per day Characteristics of a Good Question

13 On an average school day, how many hours do you play video or computer games or use a computer for something that is not school work? (Count time spent on things such as Xbox, PlayStation, an iPod, an iPad or other tablet, a smartphone, YouTube, Facebook or other social networking tools, and the Internet.) A.I do not play video or computer games or use a computer for something that is not school work B.Less than 1 hour per day C.1 hour per day D.2 hours per day E.3 hours per day F.4 hours per day G.5 or more hours per day Characteristics of a Good Question It should mean the same thing to everyone who reads it.

14 On an average school day, how many hours do you play video or computer games or use a computer for something that is not school work? (Count time spent on things such as Xbox, PlayStation, an iPod, an iPad or other tablet, a smartphone, YouTube, Facebook or other social networking tools, and the Internet.) A.I do not play video or computer games or use a computer for something that is not school work B.Less than 1 hour per day C.1 hour per day D.2 hours per day E.3 hours per day F.4 hours per day G.5 or more hours per day Characteristics of a Good Question It should be written so that its intended audience understands it.

15 On an average school day, how many hours do you play video or computer games or use a computer for something that is not school work? (Count time spent on things such as Xbox, PlayStation, an iPod, an iPad or other tablet, a smartphone, YouTube, Facebook or other social networking tools, and the Internet.) A.I do not play video or computer games or use a computer for something that is not school work B.Less than 1 hour per day C.1 hour per day D.2 hours per day E.3 hours per day F.4 hours per day G.5 or more hours per day Characteristics of a Good Question The answer options must categorize and cover the entire range of possible behavior (from complete absence of the behavior to a maximum amount of the behavior).

16 On an average school day, how many hours do you play video or computer games or use a computer for something that is not school work? (Count time spent on things such as Xbox, PlayStation, an iPod, an iPad or other tablet, a smartphone, YouTube, Facebook or other social networking tools, and the Internet.) A.I do not play video or computer games or use a computer for something that is not school work B.Less than 1 hour per day C.1 hour per day D.2 hours per day E.3 hours per day F.4 hours per day G.5 or more hours per day Characteristics of a Good Question The time period to consider when answering a particular question must be appropriate (long or short enough) to capture the frequency of behavior desired (depending on the information desired and the type of behavior).

Preparation for Second Morning Breakout Teams: Write your exposure question and your outcome question 17

18 How do I write a good question? It should be written so that its intended audience understands it. It should mean the same thing to everyone who reads it. The answer options must categorize and cover the entire range of possible behavior (from complete absence of the behavior to a maximum amount of the behavior). The time period to consider when answering a particular question must be appropriate (long or short enough) to capture the frequency of behavior desired (depending on the information desired and the type of behavior). You will have self-assessment sheets to be sure you are meeting these criteria

19 Study Proposal: Section 2 2. Exposure Variable 2a. Name your exposure variable. 2b. Define your exposure variable. 2c. State the question will you ask to measure your exposure variable. 2d. Identify the challenges you may have getting accurate answers to your exposure question. 2e. Describe how your team will address these challenges.

20 Study Proposal: Section 3 3. Outcome Variable 3a. Name your outcome variable. 3b. Define your outcome variable. 3c. State the question will you ask to measure your outcome variable. 3d. Identify the challenges you may have getting accurate answers to your outcome question. 3e. Describe how your team will address these challenges

Breakout Deliverables 21 Fill out sections 2 and 3 in the green proposal form Prepare for the Gallery Walk after Breakout.

22 Can I answer the question? Benefits of Gallery Walk Allows Opportunities to Rehearse, Practice, Consult Resources, Get Feedback, and Refine Hypothesis X xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Expoure question X xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Outcome question X xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

23 Gallery Walk –After Breakout Session Place your post-it on wall location as instructed by your Coaches Follow the flow established for the walk Using small post-its, try to thoughtfully comment on as many hypotheses within the timeframe Hypothesis X xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Expoure question X xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Outcome question X xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Cross-Sectional Studies In a cross-sectional study, factors of exposure and outcome are measured simultaneously. Information on exposure and outcome must fit into a 2x2 table. The main outcome measure obtained from a cross-sectional study is prevalence o A “yes/no” question will fit o If using a multiple choice question, you will need a predetermined “cut point” so there is a “higher/lower” range to fit into the 2x2 table. o In this case, prevalence calculations require that the variable is divided into those values that fall below or above a particular pre-determined level. From Epi Textbooks 24