Nursing Research: Exam 1 (Practice Questions)

2

An experimental study in which subjects were randomly selected is an example of what level of study?

14 years (in California, if emancipated; 16 if emancipated in other states)

At what age can children give sole consent to research?

C. Eighth grade **Cannot use terms they won't understand, and has to be in the participant's primary language

At what grade level should informed consent be written? A. Third grade B. Sixth grade C. Eighth grade D. Twelfth grade

-Population: Pregnant women -IV: Type of birth (c section vs. vaginal) -DV: Postpartum depression and feelings of inadequacy -Complex

"More postpartum depression and feelings of inadequacy are reported by women who give birth by cesarean section than those who deliver vaginally" -Population? -IV? -DV? -Simple or complex?

Null

"There is no difference in the preoperative anxiety levels between patients who practice relaxation techniques before surgery and patients who do not practice relaxation techniques." What type of study is this?

-Independent variable: Levels of exercise postpartum -Dependent variable: Weight retention

"Women who have lower levels of exercise postpartum will be associated with greater weight retention." -What is the independent variable? -What is the dependent variable?

Yes

Can research questions have more than one hypothesis?

D. Mortality

A college health center identifies a lack of testicular self-examination among students and implements an intense summer wellness program focusing on the benefits of testicular self-examination. Afterward, a count indicates a decreased number of students who are in the program. A. History B. Maturation C. Testing D. Mortality

D. Hawthorne effect

A group of nurses are isolated from their work colleagues, for a research study, where they are being observed for their patient care on a medical-surgical unit. The researcher is concerned that the individual attention and the normal human instinct to feel 'chosen,' may skew the results. What threat to external validity is this? A. Experimenter effect B. Rosenthal effect C. Selection effect D. Hawthorne effect

B. At the end of the literature review section

A nurse researcher is searching for the purpose of a study in a research report. Where is the most likely place to find the purpose in the report? A. At the end of the research design section B. At the end of the literature review section C. At the end of the sampling section D. At the end of the conclusion section

Respect for persons

A patient newly diagnosed with breast cancer is asked to participate in a clinical trial for a new chemotherapy ager. The patient's freedom to participate or not participate in the study exercises which ethical principle?

D. Random assignment of subjects to group

A quasi-experimental study most often differs from a true experimental study by the absence of: A. A large sample B. Random sampling from the population C. A control group D. Random assignment of subjects to group

Methodological study

A recent study was conducted on the instrument, Assessment of Cultural Competence in Nurses. This is an example of a(n) _____ study.

B. Selection bias

A researcher believes that therapy is more effective if patients exercise. He tells his patients that he has arranged for them to use the hospital gym, if they so desire—and that if they are interested, they will then be in the experimental group. This represents which threat to internal validity? A. Maturation B. Selection bias C. History D. Testing

A. Convenience sampling

A researcher desires to conduct a study of patients with type 2 diabetes presenting for treatment at an emergency department. Because the researcher cannot predict which diabetes patients will use the emergency department over the course of the study, he elects to use a sample that includes all patients with type 2 diabetes who seek care at the emergency department. This is an example of what type of sampling strategy? A. Convenience sampling B. Quota sampling C. Purposive sampling D. Probability sampling

C. Simple random sampling

A researcher has 25 nursing students as an accessible population for a study and needs 10 students for the sample. The name of each student is placed in a container. The first name is drawn and recorded as a potential participant. The name is returned to the container and this process continues until 10 student names have been selected. Should one of the selected students decline to participate in the study, another name would be selected in the same manner. This is an example of what type of sampling strategy? A. Stratified random sampling B. Cluster sampling C. Simple random sampling D. Nonprobability sampling

C. Purposive sampling

A researcher is investigating the lived experience of women younger than the age of 25 years who have survived a liver transplant. The researcher selects women who meet the inclusion criteria for the study. What type of sampling strategy is this? A. Convenience sampling B. Quota sampling C. Purposive sampling D. Probability sampling

A. Stratified random sampling

A researcher wants to study 150 nursing students' attitudes toward treatment of pain. 10% of the accessible nursing student population are male (15) and 90% are female (135). The researcher places the nursing students into two groups that have 15 males and 135 females. Participants are then randomly selected from each group. This is an example of what type of sampling strategy? A. Stratified random sampling B. Cluster sampling C. Simple random sampling D. Nonprobability sampling

B. Cluster sampling

A researcher wants to study baccalaureate nursing education in the US. The researcher first randomly selects 10 states that will be included in the study. Then all baccalaureate nursing programs in each of the 10 states are identified. The researcher then randomly selects three schools from each state and obtains the names of baccalaureate students enrolled in each of the programs selected. Sampling is concluded by randomly selecting 30% of the names on the list. This is an example of what kind of sampling strategy? A. Stratified random sampling B. Cluster sampling C. Simple random sampling D. Nonprobability sampling

B. Exclusion criteria

A researcher wants to study coping in adolescents with type 1 diabetes. Individuals having another chronic disease such as asthma are going to be excluded from the study. The researcher may believe that having another chronic disease could affect the participants' coping. This is an example of... A. Inclusion criteria B. Exclusion criteria C. Target population D. Sampling error

Abstract

A short, comprehensive synopsis or summary of a study at the beginning of the article is called the _____

Ex post facto study

A study of education factors contributing to whether patients made life- style change behaviors utilized patients' cardiac rehabilitation records to record what education presentations they attended. This is an example of a(n) _____ study.

B. Confidentiality

A study was conducted to evaluate staff nurses' perceptions of a good nurse manager. The researcher shared the actual response with the managers. This best describes a violation of: A. Anonymity B. Confidentiality C. Coercion D. HIPPA

Correlational study

A study was done to examine the degree of relationship between the amount of time spent in online activities during the weeks students are not meeting in class and their final grades. This is an example of a(n) _____ study.

Survey study

A study was done where nurses were asked to complete a questionnaire that asked questions related to fear and returning to school. This is an example of a(n) _____ study.

B. Quasi-experimental

A wellness center wishes to determine whether a stress-reduction series of classes increases perceived efficacy of participants. A pre/post questionnaire was administered to all participants. A. Experimental B. Quasi-experimental C. Qualitative D. Time-series design

Internal -Maturity

Declare which of the following are threats to internal validity (I) or external validity (E) in a study and state what it is called. "Changes occur in the subject (aging, gaining more knowledge, etc.) which may affect the results"

Internal -History

Declare which of the following are threats to internal validity (I) or external validity (E) in a study and state what it is called. "Event (news release, illness of participant) occurs during the course of the study which may affect the results"

External -Hawthorne

Declare which of the following are threats to internal validity (I) or external validity (E) in a study and state what it is called. "Participants are aware they are being observed and change their behavior because of this"

Internal -Selection bias

Declare which of the following are threats to internal validity (I) or external validity (E) in a study and state what it is called. "People who volunteer have factors (for example, motivation) that predispose them to affecting the results"

External -Experimenter

Declare which of the following are threats to internal validity (I) or external validity (E) in a study and state what it is called. "Researcher influences the participants through facial expressions, clothing, age, gender, etc.)"

No, nothing is ever PROVEN- always at least a small doubt that the findings could be caused by something else. No true perfect study!

Do positive results prove anything? Support with why or why not.

B. Rosenthal effect

During an interview in a research study, the researcher asks the patient, "You don't have anything disgusting like TB or Hepatitis B do you?" The patient answers, "No" even though he does have Hepatitis B. What threat to external validity is this? A. Experimenter effect B. Rosenthal effect C. Selection effect D. Hawthorne effect

Experimental

Experimental or quasi-experimental? A study was conducted to compare the effectiveness of a music relaxation program with silent relaxation on lowering blood pressure ratings. Subjects were randomly assigned into groups and blood pressures were measured before, during, and immediately after the relaxation exercises.

Quasi-experimental

Experimental or quasi-experimental? Patients on two separate units are given a patient satisfaction with care questionnaire to complete at the end of their first hospital day and on the day of discharge. The patients on one unit receive care directed by a nurse case manager and the patients on the other unit receive care from the usual rotation of nurses. Patient satisfaction scores are compared.

Quasi-experimental

Experimental or quasi-experimental? Reading and language development skills were compared between a group of children with chronic otitis media and a group of children without a history of ear problems.

Experimental

Experimental or quasi-experimental? Students are randomly assigned to two groups. One group receives an experimental independent study program and the other receives the usual classroom instruction. Both groups receive the same post-test to evaluate learning.

Read and study the entire report, seeking assistance for unclear content

How can a nurse achieve a comprehensive understanding of any research report?

The selection is done based on the research question and how much research has been done

How does a researcher choose which type of research method to use?

Self esteem

Identify the dependent variable in the following hypotheses: There is a difference in self esteem levels between teenagers who exercise regularly and those who do not exercise regularly.

Independent: Individuals with birth defects, individuals without birth defects Dependent: The incidence of independent-dependence conflicts

Identify the independent variable and the dependent variable: Individuals with birth defects have a higher incidence of independence-dependence conflicts than individuals with birth defects.

Independent: The use of cathode ray terminals (CRTs) Dependent: The incidence of birth defects

Identify the independent variable and the dependent variable: The use of cathode ray terminals (CRTs) increases the incidence of birth defects.

Independent: Sterile catheterization, clean catch method Dependent: The number of bacteria found in patients' urine

Identify the independent variable and the dependent variable: There is a difference in the number of bacteria found in patients' urine when the urine is collected by sterile catheterization compared to a clean catch method.

Primary nurses and team nurses

Identify the independent variable in the following hypothesis: There is a difference in patients' satisfaction with nursing care when the care is provided by a primary nurse compared to care provided by a team nursing approach

C. History

Immediately after the intervention in an experimental study of the negative effects of smoking tobacco, the state tax on cigarettes increases the cost from $4 to $8 per pack. Which threat to internal validity does this pose? A. Testing B. Selection C. History D. Mortality

B. Quota sampling

In a study about how age is related to success in nursing programs, a researcher stratifies according to age by creating three age groups: 18-22, 23-30, and >30. 80% of nursing students are 18-22, 15% are 23-30, and 5% >30 which represents the nursing student population. The researcher needs a sample size of 100, so the sampling is done until 80 students in 18-22 age range, 15 students in 23-30 age range, and 5 students >30 have been recruited. Convenience sampling is then used to select the participants from each age range. This is an example of what type of sampling strategy? A. Convenience sampling B. Quota sampling C. Purposive sampling D. Probability sampling

C. Simple random sampling

In a study to determine student interest in creating a smoke-free campus, the accessible population is 5,500 undergraduate and graduate students. The researcher secures a list of all students enrolled in the university and assigns each name on the list a number. A sample of 200 students is necessary. After selecting the start point on a table of random numbers, the researcher selects additional participants by proceeding vertically through the columns until 200 participants are selected. This is an example of what type of sampling strategy? A. Stratified random sampling B. Cluster sampling C. Simple random sampling D. Nonprobability sampling

A. Observation

In studying motor development of children, the nurse researcher would most likely use which measurement method? A. Observation B. Interview C. Self-report D. Psychological test

Research question

Is this a research question or a hypothesis? " What is the effect of perceived job stress on job performance among nurses who work in medical centers?"

Hypothesis **It is predictive and attempts to answer the research question

Is this a research question or a hypothesis? "Nurses who work at medical centers with high perceived job stress have low job performance."

The institution itself doesn't need an IRB board, burin order to do research they must reach out to an IRB board in order to receive approval

Must an institution have an IRB board?

Assent -7 and older

Research: With children, there is required parental consent and child's _____ (understanding of the purpose and the research being done) -Children ___ and older can participate in this

A. Biased

Selection of 300 subjects yields a sample, but demographic analysis of that sample reveals that there are 99 teachers in the sample, despite the fact that there are far fewer than 33% teachers in the total sample. The sample can be said to be A. Biased B. Controlled C. Unbiased D. Based on probability

C. Maturation

Subjects in a multiple group experimental study are tested for how much time it takes them to navigate a maze and find the chocolate. The maze is reconstructed after each run, and three different floor plans are used. Each group is tested eight times in eight hours at a different time of day. The runs later in the day have faster times than the earlier ones. Which threat to internal validity might account for this difference? A. Instrumentation B. Selection bias C. Maturation D. Mortality

-Independent -Dependent

The (independent/ dependent) variable is manipulated or controlled and the (independent/ dependent) variable is measured to determine the effect.

C. Simple and nondirectional.

The hypothesis, "Postoperative pediatric patients who use TENS (transcutaneous electric nerve stimulation) will have a different level of pain than pediatric postoperative patients who do not use TENS" is A. Complex and directional. B. Complex and nondirectional. C. Simple and nondirectional. D. Simple and directional.

B. The test cannot be valid.

The internal consistency reliability of the Smith Anxiety Test has been estimated to be .20. Based on this information, which of the following statements is true about the validity of this test? A. The validity of the test cannot be estimated based on this information. B. The test cannot be valid. C. The reliability of the test does not influence the validity of the test. D. The test can still be valid.

B. Physiological measure (blood pressure, pulse).

The most objective and accurate method of measuring a patient's cardiac status is by A. Interview. B. Physiological measure (blood pressure, pulse). C. Observation. D. Questionnaire.

Meta-Analysis

The nurse intends to use specific quantitative statistical methods that will allow conclusions to be drawn. What is the best systematic review to choose?

Protect the rights of research participants

The purpose of an institutional review board is to...

C. Selection effect

The volunteers that a researcher gets for a study are all college students, most of them are white, and most of them are from privileged backgrounds. The researcher worries that the study's results might not be applicable to people who are not in their late teens or early 20s, white, and rich. What threat to external validity is this? A. Experimenter effect B. Rosenthal effect C. Selection effect D. Hawthorne effect

Complex, nondirectional

There is a difference in the frequency of practicing breast self exams between nurses and women who are not nurses. This is an example of what type of hypothesis?

Procedure section

To locate legal ethical issues of a qualitative research study, where would you look?

True

True or false? "Overall, validity is more important than reliability when evaluating an instrument"

False

True/False: If participants willingly and knowingly agree to participate in a study involving undue harm or risk to themselves, the researcher does not need to refrain from conducting such research

False

True/False: All health care institutions are required to have an IRB

D. The 1990s

Unethical research studies have taken place in the United States as recently as: A. The 1890s B. The 1940s C. The 1970s D. The 1990s E. None of the above

Relevance of the study to nursing practice

What can the nurse determine by reading the abstract, introduction, major headings, and conclusions?

It is the process of critically evaluating a research report's content for scientific merit and application to practice

What does it mean to critique a research report/article?

E. None of the above

What factors are typically controlled for in an experimental design? A. Age B. Gender C. Culture D. All of the above E. None of the above

A. Likelihood of elderly to drop out B. Primary language of elderly person C. Cognitive capacity of elderly person D. Degree of risk to elderly person (All of the above)

What factors might influence whether it is ethical for an elderly adult to participate in a research study? Select all that apply. A. Likelihood of elderly to drop out B. Primary language of elderly person C. Cognitive capacity of elderly person D. Degree of risk to elderly person

No **Researcher must provide provisions (ways) that minimize the risk of harm; any potential harm must be reasonable

What if the participants agree to participate in a study that would provide undue (excessive, beyond the norm) harm or risk to them, can the researcher still conduct the study?

B. Evidence based practice

What is the most accurate term for making patient are decisions on the basis of research findings? A. Critical reflection B. Evidence based practice C. Applied research D. Research implications

?????

What is the most common test for internal consistency of an instrument? A. Cronbach's alpha B. Split-half reliability C. Kuder-Richardson (KR-20) coefficient D. Equivalence

B. Provides evidence to optimize patient outcomes

What is the most important reason the average consumer of health care (patient) should be concerned about nursing research? Nursing research... A. Supports that the government is putting all tax dollars to good use B. Provides evidence to optimize patient outcomes C. Supports hospitals that desire to become accredited D. Justifies the cost of services when patients are paying their medical bills

B. Homogeneity

What measure used to test an instrument's reliability refers to items that reflect or measure the same thing? A. Equivalence B. Homogeneity C. Construct D. Stability

D. Stability

What measure used to test an instrument's reliability refers to the same results being obtained every time the instrument is used? A. Equivalence B. Homogeneity C. Construct D. Stability

A. Content

What measure used to test an instrument's validity is where an expert panel of judges are asked to indicate their agreement with the items and whether they represent what is being measured? A. Content B. Criterion C. Construct D. Face

B. Criterion

What measure used to test an instrument's validity refers to the relationship between the participants' responses and their actual behavior? A. Content B. Criterion C. Construct D. Face

D. Could something else explain the results?

What question is most important when evaluating evidence of experimental studies? A. Was there a random group assignment? B. Was there a control group? C. Is it relevant to my problem? D. Could something else explain the results?

Contact the medical center's Institutional Review Board (IRB)

What should you do if, as a staff nurse, you overhear a researcher use coercion to make a patient agree to participate in a research study?

Anonymity

What terms refers to a participant's identity not being identifiable or linked to his or her individual response, even by the researcher

Null hypothesis

What type of hypothesis? "Hyperactivity in school-aged children is unrelated to eating desserts every day"

Directional hypothesis

What type of hypothesis? "People who smoke are more likely to develop lung cancer than those who do not"

Nondirectional hypothesis

What type of hypothesis? "There is a relationship between serotonin levels and Sudden Infant Death Syndrome"

When they use quantitative methodology, bias is evident in the research design, and each study uses small samples of subjects

When does scientific evidence influence a change in nursing practice?

Quality

When the nurse is critiquing a research report/article to support a change in nursing practice and looking for the extent to which the studies' designs, implementation, and analyses minimized bias, the nurse is critiquing what, related to the body of evidence?

Explanation of whom to contact regarding any area of the study

Which is considered a major essential element of the informed consent form for a research study?

C. Social Support, balanced diet, and regular exercise decrease the incidence of postpartum depression.

Which of the following hypotheses represent a complex hypothesis? A. Music therapy affects satisfaction during cesarean delivery. B. Spinal cord injured patients who have regular support from family members experience fewer symptoms of dysreflexia. C. Social Support, balanced diet, and regular exercise decrease the incidence of postpartum depression. D. Exposure to pet therapy increases appetite in elderly patients.

A. Researcher and credentials are identified B. Participant selection process is described

Which of the following is an element of informed consent? A. Researcher and credentials are identified B. Participant selection process is described C. Participants are given the choice of being in either experimental or control group D. Participants are informed of previous research in this area of study

C. Methodological research

Which process will the researcher use in the following scenario? "A nurse researcher wants to develop a tool to collect information on the experience of families with children in the intensive care unit." A. Meta-analysis B. Cohort study C. Methodological research D. Prospective study

A. There are more than two variables to be tested in the hypothesis.

Which statement describes a study that is designed to test a complex hypothesis? A. There are more than two variables to be tested in the hypothesis. B. There are two groups of participants in the study. C. There are complex definitions for the variables in the hypothesis. D. The hypothesis will be too difficult to test in a study.

Experience of mother child bonding in inner city populations

Which study title indicates use of qualitative methodology?

A. Concealment without intervention

Which type of observation is being used in the following scenario? A researcher uses a one-way mirror to observe interactions of caregivers and infants who have feeding problems. A. Concealment without intervention B. No concealment without intervention C. Concealment with intervention D. No Concealment with intervention

A. Person who has been diagnosed with AIDS D. 74 year old hospitalized patient with diabetes E. A hospitalized infant

Which would be considered a vulnerable population for research project? A. Person who has been diagnosed with AIDS B. 45 year old adult who has been diagnosed with cancer C. 25 year old trauma victim D. 74 year old hospitalized patient with diabetes E. A hospitalized infant

E. All of the above

Who is legally and ethically responsible to protect study participants from physical and mental harm or discomfort? A. The researcher B. The research team C. The nurse D. The caregiver E. All of the above

If the design is an incorrect one, the researcher will examine variables and their interactions in a way that does not answer the research question

Why is the selection of an appropriate design for a research study important?

A. Research provides the nurse with evidence-based knowledge needed to make sound clinical decisions

Why should the registered nurse at the bedside be concerned about research for the delivery of quality nursing care? A. Research provides the nurse with evidence-based knowledge needed to make sound clinical decisions B. It only takes once small study to change nursing practice dramatically C. Traditional nursing care is no longer appropriate for twenty-first century nursing D. It allows the nurse to stay in his/her comfort zone, using the same information that seems to have provided good care

A. Convenience

You are leaving a grocery store and are approached by an individual who identifies herself as a researcher. You were most likely selected by which method of sampling? A. Convenience B. Quota C. Simple random D. Systematic

-Population: Alcoholic mothers and nonalcoholic mothers -IV: Alcohol intake by mother -DV: Birth weight -Simple

"Birth weight is lower among infants of alcoholic mothers than among infants of nonalcoholic mothers" -Population? -IV? -DV? -Simple or complex?