First, let’s start with a question based on what we have learned so far in past modules:
Consider the viewpoint of the investigator. How might she conduct this study or not conduct this study differently from someone who did not have a close relative die of brain cancer?
Consider the selection of cases and controls for the study. Does the approach seem reasonable? Why or why not?
Now applying what you’ve learned from the readings , let’s go through the rest of the discussion together, one question at a time.
One of the tenets of scientific research is that it should remain open to inquiry. We may as a scientific community think we understand some exposure-disease relationship, but that theoretically remains true only until proven otherwise. You have learned that observational research is always potentially limited by many biases and other sources of error. You should read biomedical research articles with a healthy skepticism, using these newly developed skills which allow you to evaluate whether a particular study design is appropriate, whether adequate information was collected and assessed, and if the study findings are subject to potential bias. Recognizing the limits of research is as important as understanding its contributions in the context of existing knowledge.
