RE2

Match the Principle of Quality Improvement with its Key Benefits. a. Customer focus/patient focus b. Leadership c. Involvement of people d. Process approach 1. People understand and are motivated toward the organization's goals and objectives. 2. Motivated, committed, and involved people within the organization 3. Increased revenue and market share obtained through flexible and fast responses to market opportunities 4. Miscommunication between organization levels are minimized. 6. Increased effectiveness in the organization's resources to enhance patient satisfaction 7. People are eager to participate in and contribute to continual improvement. 9. Improved patient loyalty leading to repeat business 12. Innovation and creativity further the organization's objectives 13. Activities are evaluated, aligned, and implemented in a unified way 15. People are accountable for own performance 17. Focused and prioritized improvement opportunities 20. Lower costs and shorter cycle times through effective use of resources 23. Improved, consistent, and predictable results

1. ANS: B 2. ANS: C 3. ANS: A 4. ANS: B 6. ANS: A 7. ANS: C 9. ANS: A 12. ANS: C 13. ANS: B 15. ANS: C 17. ANS: D 20. ANS: D 23. ANS: D

Match the Principle of Quality Improvement with its Key Benefits. e. System approach to management f. Continual improvement g. Factual approach to decision making h. Mutually beneficial supplier relationships 5. Increased ability to create value for both parties 8. Improved confidence among key stakeholders as to the organization's consistency, effectiveness, and efficiency 10. Increased ability to review, challenge, and change opinions and decisions 11. Alignment of improvement activities at all levels to an organization's strategic intent 14. Flexibility to react quickly to opportunities 16. Performance advantage through improved organizational capabilities 18. Increased ability to demonstrate past decisions' effectiveness through reference to factual records 19. Integration and alignment of processes that will best achieve desired results 21. Informed decisions 22. Flexibility and speed of joint responses to changing market or customer needs and expectations 24. Ability to focus effort on the key processes 25. Optimization of costs and resources

5. ANS: H 8. ANS: E 10. ANS: G 11. ANS: F 14. ANS: F 16. ANS: F 18. ANS: G 19. ANS: E 21. ANS: G 22. ANS: H 24. ANS: E 25. ANS: H

A characteristic of qualitative research data is that they are what? a. In text form b. Dichotomous c. Free of patterns d. Inappropriate for analysis

A A distinctive characteristic of qualitative research studies is that data consist of text (words), not numbers as in quantitative research.

Which type of validity is demonstrated when a nurse researcher submits items of an instrument to a panel of experts to evaluate item clarity? a. Content validity b. Construct validity c. Concurrent validity d. Criterion-related validity

A A panel of experts judges instrument validity through the content type of validity.

Computer management of qualitative data can assist a nurse researcher with which of these processes? a. Organization of data b. Interpretation of data c. Credibility of data d. Synthesis of data

A Computer management of qualitative data allows easier coding of data and assists with grouping or organizing data, as well as finding patterns in the interviews and field notes.

What property is established when the results of two separately administered tests that measure the same domain or concept are highly correlated? a. Validity b. Stability c. Equivalence d. Homogeneity

A Convergent validity example: two or more instruments that theoretically measure the same construct and are administered to the same subjects.

Which feature is characteristic of the grounded theory method of qualitative research? a. Data gathering and data analysis occur simultaneously. b. The researcher has also experienced the phenomenon being studied. c. A grounded theory study is based on only a single research question. d. Participants in a grounded theory study must experience the phenomenon currently, during the study.

A Data analysis and data gathering occur simultaneously. Emerging patterns are identified by the researcher.

When reading a report of a phenomenologic study, the nurse finds direct quotes from the participants threaded throughout the narrative. What is the significance of this observation? a. The researcher is supporting the study's findings. b. The researcher is attempting to make the report more personal. c. The technique violates the protection of human subjects. d. The technique ensures that the proper level of data saturation has been reached.

A Direct quotes allow the reader to evaluate what the participants said and how the researcher labeled what was said.

Which research question will indicate to the nurse researcher that an ethnographic approach was used in the research study? a. In what ways do Puerto Rican women learn about health information? b. What is the quality of life for persons living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)? c. What was Nightingale's involvement in sanitary reforms during the 1860s? d. How do individuals who have heart disease experience anger?

A Ethnographic studies address questions that concern how cultural knowledge, norms, values, and other contextual variables influence a person's health experience.

What type of study would be most appropriate if a nurse researcher wants to determine if historical exposure to a specific water source is associated with later development of inflammatory bowel disease? a. Ex post facto design b. Experimental design c. Qualitative design d. Therapeutic design

A Ex post facto design is used when the researcher wants to determine whether one thing is related to or causes another thing.

The nurse researcher is interested in estimating how reliably data can be used to generalize the findings of a study. In order for this to occur, the researcher should use what? a. Inferential statistics b. Descriptive statistics c. Nonparametric statistics d. Mathematical statistics

A Inferential statistics are used by researchers to make predictions and generalize findings on the basis of data.

The nurse researcher informs subjects that he or she would like to include them in a research study and that they can refuse to participate through what? a. Informed consent b. Concealment with intervention c. Unauthorized research d. Concealment without intervention

A Informed consent is the process of asking subjects to participate in a research study.

A nurse researcher determines an instrument's homogeneity using which type of reliability? a. Split-half reliability b. Test-retest reliability c. Interrater reliability d. Alternate form reliability

A Instrument homogeneity is established with split-half reliability.

A nurse researcher should be concerned about an instrument's degree of internal consistency because it means what? a. The instrument is appropriate to use to measure a single concept. b. The instrument has low measurement error and high error variance. c. More refinement of the instrument is needed before it can be applied. d. The instrument is valid, but the reliability has yet to be determined.

A Internal consistency or homogeneity reliability indicates that the items within the scale measure the same concept.

Testing of a new instrument demonstrates that it has a high degree of internal consistency. What does this indicate to the nurse researcher? a. The instrument is appropriate to use to measure a single concept. b. The instrument has low measurement error and high error variance. c. More refinement of the instrument is necessary before it can be applied. d. The instrument is valid, but the reliability has yet to be determined.

A Internal consistency or homogeneity reliability indicates that the items within the scale measure the same concept.

Two data collectors scored pressure ulcers similarly using the Braden Scale for pressure ulcer assessment. This finding indicates what? a. Interrater reliability between the two data collectors was high. b. Interrater reliability between the two data collectors was low. c. The data collection method was inappropriate for the investigation. d. Interrater reliability cannot be established without the two data collectors examining each pressure ulcer together at the same time.

A Interrater reliability is the consistency of observations between two or more observers.

What advantage is shared by both interview and questionnaire data collection methods? a. Both seek to understand the attitudes, beliefs, and feelings of participants. b. Both are analyzed by statistical methods selected by the researcher. c. Both require extensive training of the researcher coordinating the study. d. Both are paper-and-pencil tests implemented by the researcher.

A Interviews and questionnaires are both good for understanding the attitudes, beliefs, and feelings of participants.

A person gives consent to participate in a study, is assigned to an intervention group, and is expected to remain in the study for 1 year. What ethical principle is violated if after 6 months the subjects in the treatment group have more problems than the control subjects, and the nurse researcher does not allow the members of the treatment group to stop treatment? a. Justice b. Beneficence c. Confidentiality d. Respect for persons

A Justice is an ethical principle that preserves a participant's right to fair treatment. Participants should be able to withdraw without recrimination from the researcher. They can choose to withdraw from a study at any time.

Which type of research findings are considered the strongest available evidence? a. Meta-analysis b. Descriptive c. Case study d. Narrative

A Meta-analysis findings provide the strongest evidence available to clinicians.

Which research study characteristic would be inappropriate for qualitative methods? a. Testing a new hypothesis b. Using an intensive approach to data collection c. Employing inductive analysis of the data d. Examining individual responses to a nonmodifiable situation

A New hypotheses are tested by quantitative, not qualitative, studies.

How is PICO [Patient/population/problem; Intervention/treatment; Comparison/intervention/treatment; Outcome(s)] used in EBP? a. It is used to formulate the practice question. b. It is used in evidence retrieval. c. It is used to grade the evidence. d. It is used to critique practice guidelines.

A PICO is used to formulate the practice question in EBP.

Which research topic would most likely be studied through a qualitative research approach? a. The meaning of health and health promotion among low-income Southern rural women. b. Changes in hope and coping in older adults during rehabilitation after hip fracture. c. Exercise effects on fatigue and emotional distress during radiation therapy for breast cancer. d. Older adults and HIV/AIDS: The relationship of perceived risk and willingness to interact with individuals with HIV/AIDS.

A Qualitative research focuses on what experiences mean to people.

During a research project, the researcher notes that the subject completes each assigned task with a much higher level of performance than he normally exhibits. How should a nurse researcher most accurately describe this change in the subject's behavior? a. Reactivity b. Instability c. Therapeutic d. Interventionist

A Reactivity is behavior change that occurs as a result of being observed.

How is the number of subjects for participation determined for a qualitative study? a. Data are collected from new subjects until data saturation is reached. b. The number of subjects is the number available at a specific location. c. The number of subjects is the number available within the researcher's specified time frame. d. A power analysis of data collected in a pilot study is used to determine the number.

A Researchers generally continue to recruit participants until they have reached data saturation, which means that nothing new is emerging from the interviews.

Which title suggests an ethnographic study? a. The phenomenon of breast self-examination among African American women b. The lived experience of breast cancer in postmenopausal women c. The need for culturally sensitive cancer prevention patient education materials d. The challenge of retaining femininity after mastectomy

A Researchers use the ethnographic method to examine cultural variations in health. The other answers do not refer to issues of cultural behavior.

The nurse researcher is using a research study that involved categories of patient weights. The level of measurement that would be most appropriate in this study is what? a. Nominal b. Ordinal c. Interval d. Ratio

A The data are represented by nominal-level data, categories, or classifications.

A nurse researcher assesses the degree to which individual items on a scale cluster together around multiple dimensions using what? a. Factor analysis b. Split-half reliability c. Cronbach's alpha coefficient d. Kuder-Richardson coefficient

A The extent to which a set of items measures the same underlying construct or dimension of a construct and clusters together around one or more dimensions describes factor analytic construct validity.

When a researcher analyzes data from a phenomenologic study, what is the final synthesis of participants' reported experiences? a. Description of the lived experience b. Identification of thought sequences c. Generalization of the findings d. Classification of recurring themes

A The final synthesis of a phenomenologic study elaborates the lived experience of participants as a narrative.

An ear temperature probe that consistently reports body temperature at a degree lower than the patient's actual temperature has what type of reliability or validity problem? a. Reduced reliability, systematic error b. Reduced validity, random error c. Increased validity, systematic error d. Increased validity, random error

A The instrument is systematically measuring temperature inaccurately.

The nurse researcher's data contain extremes of high and low scores. The measure of central tendency that should be used in order to be least affected by extremes of high and low scores is what? a. Mean b. Mode c. Median d. Percentile

A The mean is affected by every score and the least affected by chance. The larger the sample size, the less affected the mean will be by a single score. The mean is the most stable, least affected by extremes, and most useful for other calculations.

Which research question is appropriate for a grounded theory approach? a. How do incarcerated prisoners interact with fellow prisoners who are known pedophiles? b. How do Native American teenage girls select a method of contraception? c. What percent of primary education teachers also have a degree in nursing? d. How is the total number of clinical hours in a nursing program related to National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX) pass rates?

A The research question is appropriate because it focuses on human interaction.

Which section of the report allows a nurse researcher to interpret the evidence provided? a. Results b. Discussion c. Literature review d. Methods

A The results section will allow the nurse researcher to interpret the evidence provided.

Which section of the report allows a nurse researcher to report unforeseen events that occurred during the course of the study? a. Results b. Discussion c. Literature review d. Methods

A The results section will allow the nurse researcher to report untoward events that occurred during the course of the study.

Which section of the report allows a nurse researcher to review all data, including data that are not significant? a. Results b. Discussion c. Literature review d. Methods

A The results section will allow the nurse researcher to review all data, even data that are not significant.

Which section of the report allows a nurse researcher to review critical summary numbers for each test? a. Results b. Discussion c. Literature review d. Methods

A The results section will allow the nurse researcher to review critical summary numbers for each test.

Which section of the report allows a nurse researcher to review reduction of data in the form of tables and figures? a. Results b. Discussion c. Literature review d. Methods

A The results section will allow the nurse researcher to review reduction of data in the form of tables and figures.

Which section of the report allows a nurse researcher to review the descriptive and inferential statistics for each hypothesis or research question? a. Results b. Discussion c. Literature review d. Methods

A The results section will allow the nurse researcher to review the descriptive and inferential statistics for each hypothesis or research question.

What basic human right exists when subjects have the right to withdraw from a study without penalty? a. Right to self-determination b. Right to anonymity and confidentiality c. Right to fair treatment d. Right to protection from discomfort and harm

A The right to self-determination exists when subjects have the right to withdraw from a study without penalty.

The vertical line in a graphic of a systematic review represents what? a. An odds ratio of 1 b. The 95% CI c. The findings from an individual study d. The amount of information in an individual study

A The vertical line is the line of no effect (odds ratio = 1)

To assess the efficacy of a specific intervention, which type of clinical category should the student investigate in appraising study results? a. Therapy b. Sensitivity and specificity c. Prognosis d. Harm

A Therapy category articles attempt to determine whether a difference exists between two or more treatments.

How should the nurse researcher most accurately interpret an odds ratio equal to 1.0? a. This means there is no difference in the odds of an event occurring between the experimental and control groups. b. The event is less likely in the treatment group than in the control group. c. The event is more likely to occur in the treatment group than in the control group. d. Percent increase in risk of the event that is added after considering the percent of risk that would occur anyway.

A This defines an odds ratio that is equal to 1.0.

How should the nurse researcher most accurately interpret a relative risk that is equal to 1.0? a. There is no difference between the experimental and control group outcomes. b. The risk of the event is reduced in EER compared with CER. c. The risk of an event is greater in EER compared with CER. d. Difference in risk of outcome between patients who have had the event and those who have not.

A This describes the state of a relative risk that is equal to 1.0.

A nurse researcher should view EBP as what? a. The integration of best research evidence with clinical expertise and patient values b. The promotion of the publication of research findings among practicing nurses c. The process of using research findings to improve patient care d. The collection of data from subjects using measurement devices

A This is a definition of EBP.

Which data collection method can be assessed by asking, "Are the majority of the items appropriately close-ended or open-ended?" a. Questionnaires b. Interviews c. Physiologic measurement d. Records and databases

A This question assesses questionnaires as a data collection method.

Which data collection method can be assessed by asking, "Is there evidence that subjects were able to answer the questions?" a. Questionnaires b. Interviews c. Physiologic measurement d. Records and databases

A This question assesses questionnaires as a data collection method.

The nurse researcher is using a nursing degree as a variable in a research study. The level of measurement most appropriate in this case is what? a. Nominal b. Ordinal c. Interval d. Ratio

A This variable (type of nursing degree) is scaled using categorical data, nominal level. The type fits only one characteristic.

A nurse researcher is critiquing a research report of a phenomenologic study that examined the lived experience of domestic violence. The nurse should recognize which elements as consistent with a phenomenologic research report? (Select all that apply.) a. Open-ended questions were used to ask participants to describe experiences with domestic violence. b. Data about domestic violence reported by participants are presented in the form of narrative text. c. The natural setting in which fieldwork was conducted is described in detail. d. The data analysis section discusses use of a statistical software package. e. The sampling section indicates the criteria for participation included a current unstable domestic relationship.

A, B

Which data measurement scales typically use nonparametric tests of significance? (Select all that apply.) a. Nominal b. Ordinal c. Interval d. Ratio

A, B

A nurse is investigating the literature on a clinical topic and is particularly interested in studies that are experimental. What other terms may the nurse encounter in a literature search? (Select all that apply.) a. Randomized controlled trials b. Intervention studies c. Individual studies d. Prognostic studies

A, B, C

Limitations of a study are often attributed to what? (Select all that apply.) a. Instruments b. Sampling methods c. Analysis d. Literature review

A, B, C

To effectively influence improvements in the work setting and ensure that all patients consistently receive excellent care, it is important to do what? (Select all that apply.) a. Align national, organizational, and unit level goals for QI b. Recognize external drivers of quality c. Develop skills to apply QI models and tools d. Review previous attainment of predetermined standards

A, B, C

When presenting results, it is essential that investigators avoid what? (Select all that apply.) a. Opinion b. Bias c. Reactionary statements d. Data

A, B, C

From top to bottom, what are the study designs associated with the strongest level of evidence base? (Select all that apply.) a. Randomized controlled trial b. Quasi-experimental c. Correlational d. Descriptive study e. Phenomenal

A, B, C, D

Types of EBP clinical categories include what? (Select all that apply.) a. Therapy b. Diagnosis c. Prognosis d. Harm e. Hazard

A, B, C, D

What are the steps involved in instrument development? (Select all that apply.) a. Clarify the target population b. Define concept to be measured c. Develop items d. Estimate reliability and validity e. Statistically analyze individual items f. Develop implications from the item analysis

A, B, C, D

When considering the decision to change practice, criteria to be considered include what? (Select all that apply.) a. A significant number of studies and EBP guidelines b. The risk-benefit ratio for the patient c. A thorough review of the literature d. Feasibility for a practice application e. Preference of stakeholders

A, B, C, D

External drivers of quality improvement include what? (Select all that apply.) a. Accreditation b. Financial incentives c. Performance measurement d. Public reporting

A, B, C, D (yes all is correct)

Which questions determine a researcher's selection of a relevant, credible article? (Select all that apply.) a. Who or what paid for the research? b. Is the setting of the study similar to my study? c. Is the sample of the study similar to mine? d. Was the article peer reviewed?

A, B, C, D (yes they are all correct)

A nurse researcher is designing a study examining the construct of anxiety. The researcher could operationalize anxiety through what? (Select all that apply.) a. Vital signs readouts b. Observation c. Sweat-level measurements d. Interview e. Paper and pencil scale

A, B, C, D, E (yes they were all correct)

Components of a receptive context for EBP include what? (Select all that apply.) a. Strong leadership b. Clear strategic vision c. Effective data-capture systems d. Organizational skills e. Good managerial relations f. Visionary staff in key positions g. Ability to prioritize h. Climate conducive to experimentation and risk taking

A, B, C, E, F, H

Which are steps in the qualitative research process? (Select all that apply.) a. Sample selection b. Data collection c. Review of the literature d. Evaluation e. Description of findings f. Implementation of findings g. Discussion of conclusions

A, B, C, E, G

What are ethical principles that are illustrated by obtaining IRB approval? (Select all that apply.) a. Respect b. Beneficence c. Trust d. Justice e. Anonymity f. Confidentiality

A, B, D

The characteristics of an opinion leader from the local peer group include what? (Select all that apply.) a. Considered by associates as technically competent b. Viewed as a respected source of influence c. Narrow but clearly defined sphere of influence d. Trusted to evaluate new information in the context of group norms e. Full and dedicated member of the local group

A, B, D, E

The five human rights that are outlined in ANA guidelines include which rights? (Select all that apply.) a. Right to self-determination b. Right to privacy and dignity c. Right to legal consultation d. Right to anonymity and confidentiality e. Right to fair treatment f. Right to protection from discomfort and harm g. Right to comprehensive medical care

A, B, D, E, F

What are some advantages of using physiologic data collection methods? (Select all that apply.) a. Objectivity b. Precision c. Flexibility d. Inexpensive e. Sensitivity

A, B, E

Tables and figures assist in presenting the findings of studies by doing what? (Select all that apply.) a. Supplementing the text b. Repeating the text c. Representing the results d. Reproducing the results

A, C

Which measures of central tendency allow for relative rankings? (Select all that apply.) a. Mode b. Range c. Median d. Mean e. Semiquartile range f. Percentile g. SD

A, C

Characteristics of a good table include what? (Select all that apply.) a. It supplements and economizes the text. b. It repeats text frequently for added emphasis. c. It has precise titles and headings. d. It does not repeat the text. e. There is creativity in the presentation of data.

A, C, D

Which measures of central tendency allow for rank ordering with equal intervals? (Select all that apply.) a. Mode b. Range c. Median d. Mean e. Semiquartile range f. Percentile g. SD

A, C, D

What similarities exist between grounded theory and ethnographic studies? (Select all that apply.) a. Participants are observed in natural settings. b. Researchers immerse themselves in the culture of study participants. c. Researchers bracket their personal opinions and biases during the study. d. Data gathering and data analysis occur simultaneously. e. Techniques for data collection can change as the study progresses.

A, C, D, E

Which statements are accurate regarding the assent process for pediatric research? (Select all that apply.) a. A parental signature is required for a child to participate in a study. b. The study protocol is reviewed with the parent and not the child. c. The child should be able to express a preference for participation. d. A child older than age 16 does not require a parent's signature for consent. e. The child should understand the purpose of the study.

A, C, E

A nurse researcher conducts a grounded theory study examining the process of social support that occurs within interactions between nursing students and clinical faculty in the hospital setting. Which research activities are consistent with a grounded theory study? (Select all that apply.) a. Using theoretical sampling b. Having one set of predetermined interview questions c. Visiting the archives at the school of nursing d. Changing approaches to data collection as data emerge e. Asking only one research question to avoid confusing participants

A, D

A nurse researcher is designing a study on objective analysis of vital sign monitoring before, during, and after trauma care in the emergency department. To analyze trends in this process, which types of measurements could the nurse consider incorporating? (Select all that apply.) a. Available data (records of vital signs) b. Paper and pencil scales c. Questionnaires d. Physiologic instruments readouts e. Interviews

A, D

How should the nurse researcher describe variability in test scores attributed to error rather than to actual differences in behavior? (Select all that apply.) a. Random error b. Variance error c. Persistent error d. Systematic error

A, D

Therapy-type articles are associated with outcome variables that are categorized as what? (Select all that apply.) a. Continuous b. Isolated c. Rich text d. Dichotomous

A, D

What factors might influence whether it is ethical to require an older adult to participate in a research study? (Select all that apply.) a. The relevance of the research to issues important to older adults b. The ethnic background of the potential participant c. The age of the potential participant d. The cognitive capacity of the potential participant e. The degree of risk associated with the study

A, D, E

A nurse researcher is working with students experiencing test anxiety. The nurse has the students take a test while she watches through a two-way mirror. What does this approach incorporate? (Select all that apply.) a. Observation b. Interviewing c. Reactivity d. Structured interviewing e. Concealment

A, E

What criterion of scientific rigor for qualitative research is met when the research report leads the reader from the research question and raw data through the steps of analysis and interpretation of the data? a. Confirmability b. Auditability c. Fittingness d. Credibility

B "Auditability" refers to the adequacy of information that leads a reader through the steps of data analysis to interpretation of the findings.

Which of these terms is synonymous with paradigm? a. Empiricism b. Worldview c. Holism d. Viewpoint

B A paradigm is a worldview, a philosophical or theoretical framework.

The nurse researcher notes that the initial test for reliability of an instrument has been conducted on a sample that has different characteristics from those of the current study sample. The researcher should do what? a. Conduct a pilot study on the current sample to determine whether reliability is maintained. b. Use the instrument with the current sample because reliability holds across samples. c. Use the Kuder-Richardson formula to recalculate the reliability coefficient. d. Discard or reject the instrument.

B A reliable instrument can be used on more than one occasion to measure a set of behaviors that ordinarily remains relatively constant.

The nurse researcher is attempting to answer specific questions about families' perceptions of caring for elderly parents with dementia. What would be the most appropriate method of data collection for this study? a. Field notes b. Structured interview c. Unstructured interview d. Physiologic instrumentation

B A structured interview would allow the researcher to ask specific questions about families' perceptions and attitudes.

What is the significance of a diagnostic test with a large positive likelihood ratio? a. It provides only limited predictive value for disease. b. It provides a high degree of certainty that the patient has the suspected disorder. c. It mandates other supportive diagnostic tests. d. It provides little assistance in clinical decision making.

B A test with a large positive likelihood ratio provides a high degree of certainty that the patient has the suspected disorder.

In which section of the report will the nurse researcher address applicability to practice and future research? a. Results b. Discussion c. Literature review d. Methods

B Applicability to practice and future research is addressed in the discussion section.

The nurse researcher is planning a research study that will use human subjects and their choice to participate in a specific treatment. The ethical principle guiding the research study that describes the nurse researcher's obligation to benefit others is what? a. Justice b. Beneficence c. Confidentiality d. Respect for persons

B Beneficence refers to benefitting others.

How should researchers and reviewers accept statistical significance? a. With the belief that statistically significant results are the final word b. With the cautious regard for how results might apply to practice c. With the view that careful appraisal is necessary to apply results to theory d. With the idea that additional testing is not necessary

B Caution or prudence is always warranted when reviewing the results of studies.

How can computer management of qualitative data assist a nurse researcher in the research process? a. Interpretation of data b. Organization of data c. Credibility of data d. Synthesis of data

B Computer management of qualitative data allows for easier coding of data and assists with the grouping or organizing of data. Some computer software can also assist in finding patterns in the interviews or field notes.

Which observational role would be most appropriate if the nurse researcher wants to identify maternal response behaviors to cries of infants with colic? a. Concealment with intervention b. Concealment without intervention c. No concealment with intervention d. No concealment without intervention

B Concealment without intervention would promote valid observations of maternal response behaviors to infants' cries.

All the following statements appear in a study's informed consent form. Which statement violates the Code of Federal Regulations? a. "I understand that I may feel discomfort during the study when blood is drawn." b. "I understand that the researcher is not responsible for negligence-caused injury." c. "I understand that I will not be compensated for participating in this study." d. "I understand that participating in the study will not immediately benefit me."

B Consent does not release researchers from negligence.

What is the nurse researcher's primary concern in data collection for research? a. Flexibility in data collection b. Consistency in data collection c. Accurate interpretation of data collected d. Averaging of numerical scores to reduce the effect of outliers

B Consistency is the most critical issue in the data collection phase.

Which type of validity is most difficult to establish? a. Content validity b. Construct validity c. Predictive validity d. Concurrent validity

B Construct validity includes many types of validity; it is complex and tends to take much more time to establish than other types of validity.

How does the nurse researcher know when data saturation has been reached? a. When the participants all agree on the themes derived from the study b. When the ideas or information coming from new participants have been expressed previously by other participants c. When the emerging themes are congruent with those developed as a result of previous studies of the same phenomenon d. When the participants are no longer interested or willing to discuss their experiences or feelings

B Data saturation occurs when the researcher recognizes that he or she has heard themes before in multiple prior interviews.

The nurse researcher is interested in describing and summarizing the characteristics of the sample used in the research study. In order for this to occur, the researcher should use what? a. Inferential statistics b. Descriptive statistics c. Nonparametric statistics d. Mathematical statistics

B Descriptive statistics are used to describe and summarize data by reducing data to manageable proportions by summarizing them.

A nurse researcher has chosen to use the phenomenologic method. What feature distinguishes the intensive dialogue the researcher will use in this method from a simple interview? a. Notes are made about the participant's responses during the interview. b. The researcher is fully engaged, becoming a thoughtful presence during the interview. c. The questions posed during the interview were developed before the actual interview occurred. d. The researcher completes the questionnaire for the participant to avoid misunderstanding or confusion.

B Dialogue extends beyond the simple interview because the interviewer is actively present and engaged in the dialogue.

3. The determining factor for a researcher in selecting a qualitative research approach should be what? a. The need to test a theory b. The nature of the research question c. The age and gender of the research participants d. The availability of valid instruments to measure the phenomenon

B Each research method originates in a philosophy of research and matches the nature of the research question.

A patient newly diagnosed with breast cancer is asked to participate in a clinical trial for a new chemotherapy agent. This patient's freedom to participate or not participate in the study exercises protection of which of her human rights? a. Right to fair treatment b. Right to self-determination c. Right to privacy and dignity d. Right to anonymity and confidentiality

B Freedom to participate or not participate is the right to self-determination.

Which section of the report allows the nurse researcher to address limitations or weaknesses of the study? a. Results b. Discussion c. Literature review d. Methods

B Limitations or weaknesses of the study are addressed in the discussion section.

What type of study would be most appropriate if a nurse researcher wants to answer a question about a patient's likely course in a disease trajectory? a. Experimental b. Longitudinal c. Cross-sectional d. Methodological e. Quasi-experimental

B Longitudinal design is recommended for studying outcomes in a particular disease.

The statistic a nurse researcher should choose to use in a meta-analysis is what? a. Survival curve b. Odds ratio c. Measure of central tendency d. Measure of dispersion

B Odds ratio is the statistic of choice for meta-analysis.

The nurse researcher is using the percentage of nurses holding various nursing degrees as a variable in a research study. Which type of statistics is most appropriate in this case? a. Inferential statistics b. Descriptive statistics c. Nonparametric statistics d. Mathematical statistics

B Percentage represents descriptive statistics.

Which qualitative approach would be most appropriate for a nurse researcher to use when studying the daily experience of women undergoing radiation treatment for breast cancer? a. Case study b. Phenomenology c. Grounded theory d. Ethnographic method

B Phenomenology is most appropriate because it focuses on the day-to-day lived experiences of persons dealing with a situation or phenomenon.

Which description is typical of a qualitative research study? a. Deductive reasoning is used. b. Truth is a subject's perception of reality. c. Sample size is determined before the study begins. d. One or more variables are measured in a context-free setting.

B Qualitative studies attempt to interpret phenomena in terms of the meaning people bring to them. Thus truth is the subject's perception/expression of reality.

The nurse researcher opts to use grounded theory as the research method. Which action or behavior should be avoided in such a study? a. Following hunches about emerging patterns before data collection is completed b. Expressing the researcher's opinions or values to the participants c. Changing the way experiences are collected or selected after the study has been initiated d. Expanding codes or data categories as the study progresses

B Researchers want to observe participants interacting in natural social settings. Interjection of the researcher's opinions and values disrupts the natural setting.

Which section of the report allows the nurse researcher to address support of the theoretical framework? a. Results b. Discussion c. Literature review d. Methods

B Support of the theoretical framework is addressed in the discussion section.

In which section of the report does the nurse researcher address supported and unsupported data? a. Results b. Discussion c. Literature review d. Methods

B Supported and unsupported data are addressed in the discussion section.

A nurse researcher would want to use a Kuder-Richardson (KR-20) coefficient to establish the internal consistency of an instrument in which case? a. When questions are open-ended b. When multiple choice tests are analyzed c. When the instrument uses a Likert-type response scale d. When the instrument is designed to measure more than one concept

B The KR-20 coefficient provides estimates of homogeneity used for instruments that have a dichotomous response format.

A nurse researcher determines the assignment of a number to an object for measurement by verifying what? a. The objects vary within a narrow range to meet category requirements. b. All objects assigned a specific measurement number are similar to all other objects assigned the same number. c. The objects assigned to one specific number are positively related to the dependent variable of the study. d. The objects assigned to one specific number are positively related to the independent variable of the study.

B The assignment of a number or a value to a category that represents the category must be consistently applied to similar objects assigned the same number-value label.

Which of Kearney's categories of qualitative findings describes a phenomenon portrayed vividly from a new perspective? a. Restricted by a priori frameworks b. Descriptive categories c. Shared pathway or meaning d. Depiction of experiential variation

B The category "descriptive categories" describes a phenomenon to be vividly portrayed from a new perspective.

Which term represents the most frequent score in a frequency distribution? a. Mean b. Mode c. Median d. Percentile

B The category with the highest frequency is the mode and is used often with nominal-level data.

Which section of the report allows the nurse researcher to determine if bias arose during the study? a. Results b. Discussion c. Literature review d. Methods

B The discussion section allows the nurse researcher to determine whether any bias arose during the conduct of the study.

Which section of the report allows the nurse researcher to determine if data collection was consistent? a. Results b. Discussion c. Literature review d. Methods

B The discussion section allows the nurse researcher to determine whether data collection was consistent and exhibited fidelity.

Which section of the report allows the nurse researcher to determine if instruments were reliable and valid? a. Results b. Discussion c. Literature review d. Methods

B The discussion section allows the nurse researcher to determine whether instruments were reliable and valid.

The nurse researcher can determine if the sampling size was adequate in which section of the report? a. Results b. Discussion c. Literature review d. Methods

B The discussion section allows the nurse researcher to determine whether sampling size was adequate.

The section of the report in which the nurse researcher determines if the theoretical thinking used was correct is called what? a. Results b. Discussion c. Literature review d. Methods

B The discussion section allows the nurse researcher to determine whether theoretical thinking was correct.

Which section of the report allows the nurse researcher to discuss the analysis choices? a. Results b. Discussion c. Literature review d. Methods

B The discussion section allows the nurse researcher to discuss the analysis choices.

The nurse planning to conduct a qualitative research study should have which understanding about ethical issues in naturalistic settings? a. It is not possible to obtain informed consent from study participants. b. The emerging nature of the research design may require ongoing negotiation of consent. c. The researcher-participant interaction is intentionally therapeutic in nature. d. Validation of data by cross-checking research findings with participants taints the study.

B The emerging nature of the design might require ongoing consent related to possible risks posed by the study.

What is the initial phase in application of quality improvement (QI) steps to a clinical performance problem? a. Analysis b. Assessment c. Test and implement the improvement plan d. Develop a plan for improvement

B The initial step in applying the quality improvement steps to a clinical performance problem is assessment.

A nurse researcher would select the interview method of data collection for which reason? a. It is of value only in qualitative studies. b. It allows subjects to provide more detailed answers c. Consistency, rather than objectivity, is of primary importance. d. Objectivity, rather than consistency, is of primary importance.

B The interview method allows subjects to provide more in-depth answers.

Which type of clinical application of qualitative research would help a nurse describe the trajectory of an illness? a. Insight or empathy b. Assessment of status or progress c. Anticipatory guidance d. Coaching

B The mode of clinical application "assessment of status or progress" enables a nurse to describe the trajectory of an illness.

The results section of a research report includes what? a. Instruments b. Data c. Design d. Theory

B The results section of a research report is considered the data-bound section of the report.

What is the basic human right that exists when the subject's identity cannot be linked, even by the researcher, with his or her individual responses? a. Right to self-determination b. Right to anonymity and confidentiality c. Right to fair treatment d. Right to protection from discomfort and harm

B The right to anonymity and confidentiality exists when the subject's identity cannot be linked, even by the researcher, with his or her individual responses.

If a study's results are not supported statistically or are only partially supported, research consumers should conclude that the study is what? a. Irrelevant b. Important to review c. Proven d. Unconfirmed

B The study is worth reviewing; information from unsupported studies can often be useful.

Which approach is useful to evaluate an EBP standard after providers have written it? a. Nursing staff meeting b. Focus group c. Patient safety committee d. Quality improvement committee

B This answer could include all stakeholders.

A nurse researcher describes an instrument that is administered repeatedly and obtains the same results as having what? a. Validity b. Reliability c. Consistency d. Predictability

B This answer indicates consistency and stability of an instrument.

How should the nurse researcher most accurately interpret an odds ratio less than 1.0? a. This means there is no difference in the odds of an event occurring between the experimental and control groups. b. The event is less likely in the treatment group than in the control group. c. The event is more likely to occur in the treatment group than in the control group. d. Percent increase in risk of the event that is added after considering the percent of risk that would occur anyway.

B This defines an odds ratio that is less than 1.0.

How should the nurse researcher most accurately interpret a relative risk that is less than 1.0? a. There is no difference between the experimental and control group outcomes. b. The risk of the event is reduced in EER compared with CER. c. The risk of an event is greater in EER compared with CER. d. Difference in risk of outcome between patients who have had the event and those who have not.

B This describes the state of a relative risk that is less than 1.0.

Which is an electronic database for clinical problems and evidence-based research? a. Health and Psychosocial Instruments File b. Cochrane c. National Clearinghouse d. Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Index

B This is a clinical database.

A nurse researcher would opt to use factor analysis in which case? a. To control statistically for a variable and measure differences among group means b. To take a large number of variables and group them into a smaller number of factors c. To test the relationship between two variables measured at interval or ratio level data d. To measure the relationship between one outcome or dependent variable and several dependent variables

B This is a definition of factor analysis.

An older adult's description of pain, including descriptors, attributed causes, and what constitutes good care during a painful episode, would be an example of which category of qualitative findings? a. Restricted by a priori frameworks b. Descriptive categories c. Shared pathway or meaning d. Depiction of experiential variation

B This is an example of "descriptive categories," which describes a phenomenon vividly portrayed from a new perspective.

The EBP team is attempting to formulate an EBP question. When defining the question, the team should focus on what? a. Objectives to be accomplished b. Interventions or exposures c. Implementations to be accomplished d. Evaluation of the problem

B This is an important part of the process of defining an EBP question.

The nurse researcher who is involved in conduct of research should plan to accomplish what? a. Active interchange with active care practitioners b. Dissemination of findings via research reports c. Determining applicability of findings for practice d. Use of randomized controlled trials

B This is part of the process of the conduct of research.

The nurse researcher opts to use interval-level data. The researcher's primary concern will be what? a. Categories must be mutually exclusive. b. Intervals between data categories must be equal. c. The rank of zero (0) represents the absence of the measured variable. d. Variance between assigned categories is qualitative rather than quantitative.

B This is the defining characteristic of interval measurement.

The nurse researcher is reading theoretical and clinical articles to have a broad view of the topic and related concepts before reviewing existing EBP guidelines. The nurse researcher begins the process of reading the articles by doing what? a. Reading evidence-based guidelines and evidence reports b. Reading clinical articles to understand the state of the practice c. Reading theory articles to understand theoretical perspectives in critiquing studies d. Reading systematic review articles to understand the state of the science

B This is the first step involved in reading the articles.

Relative risk reduction is most accurately calculated as what? a. EER + CER b. EER - CER/CER c. EER - CER d. EER/CER

B This is the method of calculating relative risk reduction.

Which data collection method can be assessed by asking, "Is there clear indication that the subjects understood the task and the questions?" a. Questionnaires b. Interviews c. Physiologic measurement d. Records and databases

B This question assesses interviews as a data collection method.

What is the significance of concurrent validity to a nurse researcher? a. The degree of correlation between the measure of the concept and some future measure of the same concept b. The degree of correlation of two measures of the same concept administered at the same time c. The extent to which a test measures a theoretical construct or trait d. The representativeness of the items to measure a specific concept

B This response fits the definition of concurrent validity.

A nurse researcher is selecting a topic for an EBP project. Which type of topic would be most appropriate if the researcher is interested in developing an idea from a problem-focused trigger? a. Treatment of heart failure b. Increased incidence of deep venous thrombosis in trauma patients c. Prevention of nosocomial pressure ulcers d. Community-acquired pneumonia

B This would be a problem-focused trigger.

A nurse researcher can use research findings to go beyond dissemination of evidence-based guidelines and promote adoption of evidence-based practice (EBP) guidelines through what? a. Through dissemination activities b. Through translating research into practice c. Through research utilization d. Through critiquing findings

B Through translating research into practice (TRIP) is a multifaceted, systemic process of promoting adoption of EBP in delivery of health care services that goes beyond dissemination of evidence-based guidelines.

The nurse researcher opts to group frequency data using large interval widths in a research study. Which problem may be encountered by using this type of interval widths? a. Overlap can occur. b. Patterns can be obscured. c. Means cannot be determined. d. Some data may not fit into any category.

B Very large interval widths lead to loss of data information and may obscure patterns in the data.

For an EBP project to succeed in improving practice, what type of team is warranted? (Select all that apply.) a. Physician b. Stakeholder c. Interdisciplinary team d. Psychologist

B, C

Sources of relevant research and related literature that are needed for evidence retrieval include what? (Select all that apply.) a. Hospital policies b. Meta-analyses c. Integrative literature review d. Anecdotal reports

B, C

The findings of a study include what? (Select all that apply.) a. Methods b. Conclusions c. Interpretations d. Theories

B, C, D

An adult participant receives an informed consent form to participate in a study on breast cancer in women younger than the age of 35. The study's informed consent process should include which elements? (Select all that apply.) a. The participant's meeting the IRB members who approved the study b. The participant's being informed of risks associated with the study c. The participant's being informed of the study protocol d. The participant's being given the right to decline participation at any time e. The participant's being assured that her confidentiality will be maintained

B, C, D, E

The role of an IRB includes which actions? (Select all that apply.) a. Assisting researchers in maintaining rigor during the data analysis phase of a study b. Ensuring that human subjects are protected from undue risks c. Providing approval for studies to be conducted at an institution d. Interviewing subjects for the informed consent process e. Ensuring that HIPAA privacy rules are maintained in a study

B, C, E

Which are ethical concerns that the nurse must consider when evaluating qualitative research? (Select all that apply.) a. Researchers can focus on the emic, rather than the etic, view of participants' experiences. b. Researchers and participants may develop relationships that blur boundaries of their interactions. c. Researchers may want to speak to participants on more than one occasion. d. Researchers serve as instruments for data interpretation. e. Researchers may change the research design as knowledge emerges, thus altering risks to participants.

B, D, E

Which measures used to test reliability are specific for homogeneity? (Select all that apply.) a. Test-retest reliability b. Item-to-total correlation c. Parallel or alternate form d. Split-half reliability e. Kuder-Richardson coefficient f. Cronbach's alpha g. Interrater reliability

B, D, E, F

Which criteria are used to judge a qualitative study's scientific rigor? (Select all that apply.) a. Reality based b. Credibility c. Confidentiality of participants d. Auditability e. Recordkeeping f. Fittingness

B, D, F

A problem with the study's validity would be classified as what? a. Unsupported data b. Poor interpretation of results c. Limitation d. Lack of objectivity

C A problem with the study's validity would be considered to be a limitation.

Nurse researchers critiquing research reports should be concerned with the assessment of the validity and reliability of study instruments to do what? a. To determine the utility of the instruments for triangulation b. To assess the relationships between the hypotheses and the research questions c. To determine whether the concepts and variables were measured adequately d. To assess whether the concept under study is being treated as a dependent or an independent variable

C An indicator of a study's excellence is the establishment of the reliability and validity of the instruments used to measure variables.

How should the nurse researcher most accurately interpret an odds ratio greater than 1.0? a. This means there is no difference in the odds of an event occurring between the experimental and control groups. b. The event is less likely in the treatment group than the control group. c. The event is more likely to occur in the treatment group than the control group. d. Percent increase in risk of the event that is added after considering the percent of risk that would occur anyway.

C An odds ratio greater than 1.0 means the event is more likely to occur in the treatment group than in the control group.

A nurse reads a qualitative study concerning the grief process. Later, the nurse explains to a grieving widow that grief is a process and that many others have successfully made their way through the process. The nurse is using which clinical application of research? a. Insight or empathy b. Assessment of status or progress c. Anticipatory guidance d. Coaching

C Anticipatory guidance means that the nurse can explain the various stages of grief to the patient and reassure her that others have successfully made their way through the grief process.

What is an example of a physiologic measurement? a. Definition of a type A behavior pattern b. Description of self-care behavior abilities in patients with dementia c. Ranges of values on two consecutive arterial blood gas analyses d. Adjusted scores on the State-Trait Anxiety Scale

C Arterial blood gas readings are examples of a physiologic measure.

In a study of nurses' willingness to care for patients with a contagious disease, it was found that the greater the nurses' spirituality, the greater the willingness to provide care. This finding represents what? a. No correlation b. Perfect correlation c. Positive correlation d. Negative correlation

C Both variables are correlated in the same (+, +) direction.

A staff nurse overhears a health care professional use coercion to make a patient agree to participate in a research study. What should the staff nurse do? a. Confront the researcher with concerns. b. Document suspicions in the patient's medical record. c. Contact the hospital's Institutional Review Board. d. Secretly tape-record the researcher's interaction with a potential subject.

C Concerns regarding unethical conduct by a researcher should be directed to the IRB.

Which is considered an essential element of the informed consent form for a research study? a. The witnessing signature of an authorized party b. The listing of members of the agency's IRB c. Explanation of whom to contact regarding any area of the study d. List of subject's assignment to intervention group or control group

C Consent forms must include identification of investigators.

A nurse researcher would want to use a Cronbach's alpha coefficient to establish the internal consistency of an instrument in which case? a. When questions are open-ended b. When questions/statements demand a yes or no response c. When the instrument uses a Likert-type response scale d. When the instrument is designed to measure more than one concept

C Cronbach's alpha coefficient provides estimates of homogeneity when instruments are scaled with ordinal responses.

A nurse researcher would choose physiologic data collection methods for which reason? a. Cost and subject acceptance b. Reduced researcher time c. Data collection of patient body weights d. No need for interrater reliability

C Data collected in this case are physiologic.

When reviewing the report of a phenomenologic study, the nurse finds there is no section that describes or reports the research question. What approach should be used to determine the research question? a. Examination of the themes that emerged from the study b. Examination of the data analysis methods used in the study c. Examination of the questions or statements posed to the study participants d. Examination and critical analysis of the articles reported in the literature review

C Examination of questions posed to participants tells the reader what human phenomenon is of interest to the researcher.

A researcher makes generalizations beyond the population being studied. This is known as what? a. Accurate b. Appropriate c. Inappropriate d. Supportable

C Generalizations that draw conclusions and make inferences within a particular situation at a particular time are appropriate but not beyond the population on which the study is based.

What is the purpose of grounded theory? a. To expand the scope of nursing practice into areas formerly reserved for other disciplines b. To provide an exhaustive description of how individuals or groups have experienced an event c. To examine patterns of action and interaction between and among various types of social units d. To identify precepts and mores common to all members of a distinct cultural or ethnic group

C Grounded theorists are interested in social process and human interaction.

Why is the literature review often limited in a study using grounded theory methods? a. Research using grounded theory methods is sparse. b. Grounded theory is more sensitive to cultural values than to the researcher's values. c. Theories are expected to emerge directly from the data and not from previous research. d. Limiting the literature review ensures that the researcher's personal biases are bracketed.

C Grounded theory emerges from the data and reflects the contextual values that are integral to the social processes being studied.

Which qualitative research approach is used by researchers for the purpose of theory building? a. Case study b. Phenomenology c. Grounded theory d. Ethnographic method

C Grounded theory is associated with building of theory about basic social processes. The theory evolves or emerges during data collection and analysis.

Skills needed to consult the literature and answer a clinical question are known as what? a. Informatics b. Database searching c. Information literacy d. Evidence-based practice (EBP)

C Information literacy refers to the skills needed to consult the literature and answer a clinical question.

Which statement regarding informed consent is most accurate? a. Informed consent needs to be sought only if the risks outweigh the benefits. b. Informed consent is required if there are physical risks but not if there are psychological risks. c. Researchers must obtain voluntary participation of subjects after informing them of possible risks and benefits. d. A researcher is not obligated to seek informed consent if the details of the study could upset the subject and potentially affect the study outcome.

C Informed consent is required to inform participants of risks and benefits.

When researchers write the Discussion section of a study, which section of the report is used to evaluate the findings? a. Method b. Introduction c. Theoretical framework d. Data analysis

C Investigators return to the theoretical framework to assess whether the findings support, extend, or counter it.

The nurse researcher is interested in using nominal level data. The object or event that could be used if nominal-level data are of primary interest is what? a. Test scores b. Education level c. Marital status d. Weight

C Marital status is most often represented by nominal-level data.

In an experiment, when a value is obtained that shows no difference between the treatment and control group, the value is considered to be what? a. Causal b. Sensitivity c. Null d. Positively predictive

C Null refers to a value indicating no difference between the treatment and control group.

A nurse researcher administered a test anxiety questionnaire to a group of nursing students before they attended a test anxiety workshop and then administered a different questionnaire to the same nurses immediately following the workshop. This is indicative of which type of reliability? a. Split-half b. Test-retest c. Parallel form d. Alternate form

C Parallel form means that the same individuals are tested within a specific interval but the subjects are given a different form of the test on the second testing.

Use of records or data-available methods of data collection would be most appropriate in which case? a. When research subjects are considered to be illiterate b. When participants are not known to be reliable historians c. When the goal of research is to analyze trends and change over time d. When the researcher suspects the subject may alter responses to please the researcher

C Records and other data-available methods of data collection are good for analyzing trends and change over time.

Which data collection method is most vulnerable to researcher bias? a. Questionnaires b. Available data c. Observation methods d. Physiologic measurement

C Researcher bias can most affect observational methods because the researcher is the observer.

When reporting results, investigators should demonstrate what? a. Subjectivity b. Appropriateness c. Objectivity d. Inference

C Researchers must present results with objectivity.

To determine the guiding steps involved in actualizing EBP, the researcher should expect to study the Iowa Model of Evidence-Based Practice to Promote Quality Care in conjunction with what? a. Evidence-Based Medicine Reviews b. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews c. Rogers' Diffusion of Innovation Model d. The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ)'s National Guideline Clearinghouse

C The Diffusion of Innovation Model is a dynamic, interactive, nonlinear process.

What is the name of the initiative of organizations that buy health care and are working to improve the safety, quality, and affordability of health care for Americans? a. Physician Quality Reporting Initiative b. Home Health Compare c. The Leapfrog Group d. Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems

C The Leapfrog Group is an initiative of organizations that buy health care who are working to improve the safety, quality, and affordability of health care for Americans.

Which of Kearney's categories of qualitative findings describes a synthesis of a shared experience or process or integration of concepts that provides a complex picture of a phenomenon? a. Restricted by a priori frameworks b. Descriptive categories c. Shared pathway or meaning d. Depiction of experiential variation

C The category "shared pathway or meaning" describes a synthesis of a shared experience or process or integration of concepts that provides a complex picture of a phenomenon.

The nurse researcher notes that test-retest correlations were r = 0.79 when given over 4-week intervals. This is interpreted to indicate what? a. Equivalence b. Discriminability c. Reliability d. Homogeneity

C The example of test-retest correlations fits reliability.

The nurse researcher opts to use a measure of variability. Which measure of variability does the researcher recognize as being most unstable? a. Mean b. Median c. Range d. Semiquartile range

C The range is very likely to be changed by a single extreme score.

Which section of the report allows the researcher to determine if evidence provided in the findings validates current practice or supports the need for change? a. Results b. Discussion c. Recommendations d. Methods

C The recommendations section allows the nurse researcher to answer the question "Does the evidence provided in the findings validate current practice or support the need for change in practice?"

Which section of the report will allow the nurse researcher to determine the strength, quality, and consistency of the evidence provided by the findings? a. Results b. Discussion c. Recommendations d. Methods

C The recommendations section allows the nurse researcher to answer the question "What are the strength, quality, and consistency of the evidence provided by the findings?"

Which section of the report will allow the nurse researcher to determine what contribution the study makes to nursing? a. Results b. Discussion c. Recommendations d. Methods

C The recommendations section allows the nurse researcher to answer the question "What contribution to nursing does this study make?"

What basic human right is considered to be equitable selection of subjects and their treatment during the research study? a. Right to self-determination b. Right to anonymity and confidentiality c. Right to fair treatment d. Right to protection from discomfort and harm

C The right to fair treatment is being honored when there is equitable selection of subjects and their treatment during the research study.

A nurse researcher describes an instrument that produces the same result when it is administered to the same subjects under similar conditions on two or more occasions as possessing what? a. Homogeneity b. Equivalence c. Stability d. Validity

C The same results are obtained on repeated administration of the instrument.

The nurse researcher finds that the data include a score reported to be in the 75th percentile. The researcher interprets this to mean what? a. The score is at the median. b. The score has exceeded the mode. c. The score is exceeded by only 25% of the cases. d. The score represents the average of all scores measured at this time.

C The score of 75% is exceeded by only 25% of the cases.

Which factor in a research report indicates that the study used a qualitative design? a. Hypotheses are stated. b. The sample is described as convenient. c. People who participated in the study are described as informants. d. Participants completed a questionnaire to measure their understanding of the topic.

C The term "informants" points to a qualitative study, specifically ethnographic design studies.

When discussing the results, what facilitates presentation of large amounts of data? a. Subjective presentation b. Inferential statistics c. Tables and figures d. Descriptive statistics

C The use of tables and figures facilitates the presentation of large amounts of data.

What type of validity is demonstrated by examining the extent to which a passing grade in a nursing course is correlated with passing the registered nurse licensure examination? a. Content validity b. Construct validity c. Predictive validity d. Concurrent validity

C This criterion-related validity example is predictive and connects past with future performance.

In which of these circumstances should a nurse researcher select a qualitative research design instead of a quantitative design? a. The time for data collection is limited. b. The research question is clinical in nature. c. The goal is to view the phenomenon in the same way as those who experience it. d. The researcher is a novice with minimal experience in scientific problem solving.

C This describes qualitative research designs. The interpretive, naturalistic approach values the lived experience from the perspectives of participants and informants.

How should the nurse researcher most accurately interpret a relative risk that is greater than 1.0? a. There is no difference between the experimental and control group outcomes. b. The risk of the event is reduced in experimental event rate (EER) compared with control event rate (CER). c. The risk of an event is greater in EER compared with CER. d. It is the difference in risk of outcome between patients who have had the event and those who have not.

C This describes the state of a relative risk that is greater than 1.0.

The nurse researcher opts to use ratio-level data. The researcher's primary concern will be what? a. Categories must be mutually exclusive. b. Intervals between data categories must be equal. c. The rank of zero (0) represents the absence of the measured variable. d. Variance between assigned categories is qualitative rather than quantitative.

C This is characteristic of ratio measurement.

The nurse researcher is synthesizing the findings from research critiques and is creating a summary table. Essential information to include consists of what? a. Stakeholders involved b. Objectives of the study c. Type of research design d. Evaluation of study findings' usefulness

C This is considered essential information to include in a summary table.

Absolute risk reduction is most accurately calculated as what? a. EER + CER b. EER - CER/CER c. EER - CER d. EER/CER

C This is the method of calculating absolute risk reduction.

Which data collection method can be assessed by asking, "Is there a provision for evaluating the accuracy of the instrument?" a. Questionnaires b. Interviews c. Physiologic measurement d. Records and databases

C This question assesses physiologic measurement as a data collection method.

The training of data collectors to adhere strictly to a standard protocol for a research project will affect the ultimate outcome of the study by doing what? a. Reducing risks to human subjects b. Reducing cost of data collection c. Increasing consistency in data collection d. Increasing risk of introducing researcher bias into the study

C Training of data collectors increases consistency in data collection.

A new instrument has been determined to be highly valid. The nurse researcher should interpret this finding to mean what? a. It is sensitive but not specific. b. Its use results in minimal random errors. c. It accurately measures level of mentation. d. Determination of interrater reliability is unnecessary.

C Validity of an instrument is associated with its accuracy.

The reliability coefficient of a new instrument is established at 0.86. The nurse researcher should interpret this finding to mean what? a. High error variance; high reliability b. High error variance; low reliability c. Low error variance; high reliability d. Low error variance; low reliability

C When the error variance is low, the reliability coefficient will be closer to 1; a reliability level of 0.70 or higher is considered acceptable.

A nurse researcher critiques a phenomenologic study for fittingness. The researcher will examine the study to see whether the study included which of these elements? (Select all that apply.) a. Queried participants to confirm identified themes b. Documented the bracketing process used to maintain proper perspective c. Described the experiences of participants in a way that "rings true" for the reader d. Presented narrative in a way that captures everyday reality of participants e. Discussed in detail the process through which identified themes emerged

C, D

A nurse researcher is seeking studies whose outcomes are described with a measure of precision about the studies' results. The statistical descriptions the researcher will seek include what? (Select all that apply.) a. The t test b. Correlation c. Standard deviation d. CI e. Mean

C, D

When validity of an instrument is determined, the nurse researcher assesses what? (Select all that apply.) a. Stability b. Variance c. Accuracy d. Precision

C, D

Which characteristic is an essential criterion for categorizing an object, event, or fact as nominal level data? (Select all that apply.) a. The degree of the characteristic must be positively related to the number assigned. b. Rank orders must be calculated for meaningful interpretation. c. Categories must be mutually exclusive. d. Category ranges cannot overlap.

C, D

Which information regarding a new algorithm for pressure support surface selection should be interpreted as favorable for adoption of the algorithm? (Select all that apply.) a. It is solely clinically focused. b. It was recently published. c. It is endorsed by two prominent wound care organizations. d. It is based on two systematic reviews from Cochrane Library.

C, D

Which statements regarding measures of central tendency are accurate? (Select all that apply.) a. This classification of levels of measurement is scientifically inaccurate. b. Having the mean, mode, and median exactly the same indicates the measures have been correctly applied. c. They have great flexibility with regard to the amount of mathematical manipulation possible. d. They vary from sample to sample, even when the same trait or characteristic is measured.

C, D

Which measures used to test reliability are specific for equivalence? (Select all that apply.) a. Test-retest reliability b. Item-to-total correlation c. Parallel or alternate form d. Split-half reliability e. Kuder-Richardson coefficient f. Cronbach's alpha g. Interrater reliability

C, G

A nurse's research question is, "What is the grief experience of women older than 30 years from rural Mexico who have a late-stage pregnancy loss?" Which aspect of the question represents the study's context? a. Late-stage pregnancy loss b. Women older than 30 years c. Grief experience d. Rural Mexico

D "Rural Mexico" is the location (context) where the experience occurred for the participants.

The nurse researcher's use of a focus group interview with audio recording of group interactions would be considered to be an observational role of what? a. Concealment with intervention b. Concealment without intervention c. No concealment with intervention d. No concealment without intervention

D A focus group approach uses no concealment, and no intervention is inherent in the method.

Which term is used to describe the reduction of risk because of an experimental treatment? a. Relative risk reduction b. Number needed to treat c. Control event rate d. Absolute risk reduction

D Absolute risk reduction is the description of risk in absolute terms because it is the difference between risk observed in those who did and did not experience the event.

A newly developed instrument is found to have a Cronbach's alpha of 0.82. The nurse researcher interprets this to mean what? a. The instrument has no internal consistency. b. The instrument has a low degree of internal consistency. c. The instrument has a moderate degree of internal consistency. d. The instrument has a relatively high degree of internal consistency.

D Alphas above 0.70 provide very good or relatively high evidence for supporting the internal consistency of the instrument.

What should a nurse researcher use to guide the analysis of data collected from subjects who meet study inclusion and exclusion criteria for the purpose of answering specific research questions that test specified hypotheses? a. Dissemination of research b. Metasynthesis of research c. Utilization of research d. Conduct of research

D Analyzing data collected from subjects who meet study inclusion and exclusion criteria for the purpose of answering specific research questions that test specified hypotheses describes research conduct.

A nurse researcher critiquing a research study notes that a confidence interval (CI) is too large for a new therapy to be clinically meaningful. What likely contributed to this statistical outcome? a. Strong power level b. Quantitative experimental design c. Statistical analysis d. Too small a sample

D As the number of subjects in a study increases, the CI narrows.

Applying study results to individual patients or to a specific patient population and communicating findings to patients in a meaningful way is the hallmark of what? a. Scientific perspectives b. Clinical practice c. Meta-analysis d. EBP

D EBP is characterized by these processes.

In testing an instrument consisting of 25 items for homogeneity using the "item-to-total" correlation, 8 items were found to have a low correlation to the total. The nurse researcher interprets this information to mean that the researcher should do what? a. Use the instrument without changes. b. Use the instrument only with a multitrait-multimethod approach. c. Retain the 8 items with low correlation and delete the other 17 items. d. Delete the 8 items with low correlation and retain the other 17 items.

D Eight items should be deleted and 17 items should be retained.

Which statement is consistent with an emic view of a factor or situation? a. Health care provider's statement that Native Americans are stoic in the experience of pain b. Kindergarten teacher's statement that there are fewer discipline problems among Asian children c. The National Cancer Institute's report that the incidence rate of prostate cancer is high among African American men d. White teenager's statement that being "skinny" is more socially acceptable than having a higher weight

D Emic refers to an "insider's" view. The teenager's statement provides a view on weight as it is experienced by the teenager.

A nurse researcher reviewing an experimental study notices that one group received the "gold standard" treatment. This should be most accurately interpreted as what? a. Experimental treatment b. No treatment c. Nonconventional treatment d. Current standard of treatment

D Gold standard refers to the current accepted standard of treatment.

The nurse researcher has opted to use grounded theory as the research method. Compared with phenomenologic research, which data-gathering technique is unique to grounded theory research? a. Face-to-face interviews b. Tape-recorded interviews c. Participant-written responses to written questions d. Skilled observation of individuals in a social setting

D Grounded theorists observe participants in their natural settings. This observation practice is referred to as "fieldwork." Phenomenologists do not use fieldwork.

What is the foundation for the grounded theory method of qualitative research? a. Philosophy b. Spirituality c. Cultural anthropology d. Social science

D Grounded theory was originally developed as a tool to study interactions in social settings.

What is a standardized survey and data collection method for measuring patients' perspectives on hospital care? a. Physician Quality Reporting Initiative b. Home Health Compare c. The Leapfrog Group d. Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems

D Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (HCAHPS) was developed by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality and is a standardized survey and data collection method for measuring patients' perspectives on hospital care.

A nurse researcher who is considering whether to use a qualitative research design should be aware that the focus of qualitative research is what? a. Measuring one or more human characteristics b. Controlling variables that interfere with the phenomenon being studied c. Viewing human beings as composites of many body systems d. Studying human experiences that occur within a person's natural setting

D Human experience occurring in a person's natural setting is the focus of qualitative studies, although investigators may not always go to the setting where the person experienced the phenomenon.

The nurse researcher should report the mean, mode, and median of a variable in a research study in which case? a. When the distribution is uneven. b. When the distribution is wide. c. When the distribution is narrow. d. When the distribution is symmetrical.

D If the distribution of a variable of a sample is symmetrical and unimodal, the mean, mode, and median should be reported.

In an ethnographic study titled, "How do rural Appalachian families with preschool children define and practice health?" the researcher gathered data from mothers who were identified as the primary directors of health care within the family unit. What role did the mothers have in this study? a. Community informants b. General informants c. Local informants d. Key informants

D Key informants are individuals who have special knowledge and, therefore, can teach the ethnographer about a phenomenon.

Which aim of research is characteristic of or appropriate for qualitative research methods? a. Control b. Prediction c. Explanation d. Understanding

D Meaning and understanding of human experience are characteristics of qualitative research.

A nurse researcher would opt to use measures of central tendency in which case? a. When there is a need to describe how reliably the findings can be generalized b. When there is a need to describe how much dispersion is in the sample c. When there is a need to describe the accuracy of predictions made d. When there is a need to describe the average member of the sample

D Measures of central tendency yield a single number that describes the middle of the group and summarizes the members of a sample.

What is the ethical principle that is violated if doctors inject aged and senile patients with their cancer cells to study their rejection responses? a. Justice b. Beneficence c. Confidentiality d. Respect for persons

D Participants have a right to decide whether they receive a treatment or not. Injecting senile patients with a medication without their expressed consent violates the ethical principle of respect for persons.

What type of study would be most appropriate if the nurse researcher is seeking to answer a question about the effectiveness of a particular treatment? a. Descriptive b. Correlational c. Exploratory d. Quasi-experimental e. Qualitative

D Quasi-experimental studies do allow testing of a treatment.

The nurse researcher is interested in having the greatest flexibility possible in choosing statistical procedures. The level of measurement used to achieve this is what? a. Nominal b. Ordinal c. Interval d. Ratio

D Ratio measurement is the highest level of measurement; all mathematical procedures can be performed on data from ratio scales.

What is the basic human right that is violated when a nurse researcher allows an unauthorized person access to study data containing information about subject identity and responses? a. Justice b. Beneficence c. Confidentiality d. Respect for persons

D Respect for persons refers to self-determination.

The nurse researcher is planning a research study that will use human subjects and their choice to participate in a specific treatment. The ethical principle that describes a prospective subject's freedom to choose whether or not to participate in the research study is what? a. Justice b. Beneficence c. Confidentiality d. Respect for persons

D Respect for persons refers to the right to self-determination.

The nurse researcher is using respiratory rate as a variable in a research study. The level of measurement most appropriate in this case is what? a. Nominal b. Ordinal c. Interval d. Ratio

D Respiratory rate can have an absolute zero—absence of respirations.

What term is used for the ability of a test or technique to detect a disease when present? a. Specificity b. Confidence interval c. Survival curve d. Sensitivity

D Sensitivity is the measure of how well a test or technique detects disease when it is present.

When the nurse researcher demonstrates that an instrument is highly reliable, which type of error is reduced? a. Random error b. Variance error c. Persistent error d. Systematic error

D Systematic error is connected with reliability.

Which database is most likely to yield the highest-level evidence for a nurse researcher? a. Psychological abstracts b. Google.com c. Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL) d. Cochrane Review

D The Cochrane Review database provides systematic reviews that are primarily meta-analyses of interventions for health-related disorders.

Which type of reliability exists when consistency of observation, measured by a correlation coefficient, is noted between two or more research assistants who record their observations of an event at the same time? a. Internal consistency b. Parallel forms c. Test-retest d. Interrater

D The consistency of observations between two raters making an observation illustrates interrater reliability.

The findings of a qualitative research study describe the main essence of an experience but also show how the experience varies, depending on the individual or context. These results fall into which of Kearney's categories of qualitative research findings? a. Restricted by a priori frameworks b. Descriptive categories c. Shared pathway or meaning d. Description of experiential variation

D The findings describe the category "description of experiential variation."

A group of researchers developing an instrument performed a test-retest on the instrument with an interval of 5 days. This testing resulted in a correlation coefficient of 0.38. The nurse researcher interprets this as being indicative of what? a. Instrument is stable; high reliability b. Instrument is stable; low reliability c. Instrument is unstable; high reliability d. Instrument is unstable; low reliability

D The low correlation coefficient reveals an unstable instrument and low reliability.

What should the nurse researcher expect to be the difference between data collection for patient care and data collection for the purposes of research? a. For patient care, data are obtained from the patient and medical record; for research, data are obtained only from the patient. b. Data collection for research may include direct patient quotations; in patient care, recording of direct quotations is avoided. c. During research data collection, there is no direct interaction between the nurse and the patient. d. Data collection for research purposes must be objective and systematic.

D The major difference between data collection for patient care and research purposes is that data collection for research purposes must be free from the researchers' personal biases, beliefs, values, or attitudes and collected in a uniform, consistent, or standard way from each subject by everyone who is involved in the data collection process.

In reviewing product materials, which reported precision confidence interval (CI) would make the nurse researcher interested in purchasing the product? a. CI of 2-100 mm b. CI of 15-75 mm c. CI of 25-75 mm d. CI of 2-5 mm

D The most precise CI is the smallest range.

A researcher who is developing a new instrument to measure pain has been informed that the instrument has face validity. The researcher's next step should be to do what? a. Use the instrument in a parent study. b. Use the instrument in a pilot study. c. Assess the reliability of the instrument. d. Assess the content validity of the instrument.

D The next step is content validity established through literature and expert judges.

How should a completed and signed informed consent form be handled? a. It is turned over to the agency's institutional review board (IRB) for safekeeping. b. It is sent to the National Institutes of Health Office of Research Integrity. c. It is filed in a locked filing cabinet, separate from data generated by the study. d. It is copied, with one given to the participant and the other held by the researcher.

D The participant and researcher should both receive a copy of the informed consent document.

The nurse researcher questions the strength, quality, and consistency of the evidence provided by the findings. This is described in which part of the discussion section? a. Inferences b. Summary c. Limitations d. Recommendations

D These questions help with the identification of the recommendations part of the discussion section.

The nurse researcher is interested in describing the assignment of numbers to objects or events. This is best achieved in which way? a. Through use of prediction b. Through use of dispersion c. Through use of variability d. Through use of measurement

D This answer fits the definition provided.

A description of how adolescent girls recovering from addiction to prescription narcotics might or might not move forward to create a new life is an example of which of Kearney's category of qualitative findings? a. Restricted by a priori frameworks b. Descriptive categories c. Shared pathway or meaning d. Depiction of experiential variation

D This is an example of the category "depiction of experiential variation," which describes the main essence of an experience but also shows how the experience varies, depending on the individual or context.

What should the nurse researcher plan to include in a research study that is focused on EBP? a. Interaction with direct care practitioners b. Dissemination of findings via professional journals c. Determining applicability of findings for practice d. Use of randomized controlled trials

D This is characteristic of EBP.

Which question should a nurse researcher consider in identifying key stakeholders? a. When will system changes be necessary? b. How will uncooperative stakeholders be handled? c. What is the step-by-step process of decision making in implementing EBP? d. Who can influence the decision to proceed with implementation of an EBP?

D This is one of the questions that will be considered in identifying key stakeholders.

What order would be most appropriate for these statements involving development of a focused clinical question, progressing from lowest level to highest level? A. What is the population of interest? B. To what will this intervention be compared? C. What is the intervention of interest? D. How will the intervention make things better or worse? a. A, B, C, D b. D, C, B, A c. D, B, C, A d. A, C, B, D

D This is the correct order for developing a focused clinical question.

The nurse researcher is reading theoretical and clinical articles to have a broad view of the topic and related concepts before reviewing existing EBP guidelines. The nurse researcher begins the process of reading the articles by doing what? a. Reading evidence-based guidelines and evidence reports b. Reading systematic review articles and synthesis reports c. Reading theory articles to understand theoretical perspectives in critiquing studies d. Reading research articles including meta-analyses

D This is the final step involved in reading the articles.

The alpha level that is interpreted by the nurse researcher as a highly statistically significant result is what? a. p = 0.20 b. p = 0.02 c. p = 0.002 d. p = 0.0002

D This is the most highly statistically significant result.

Which data collection method would be most appropriate in studying bullying behavior in elementary school-aged girls? a. An unstructured interview b. Asking parents about their children's experience with bullying c. Responses of the children on a paper-and-pencil bullying scale d. Concealment of the researcher without intervention in children's behavior

D This method is often used in developmental research and allows for observational studies.

Which data collection method can be assessed by asking, "Are the data examined in such a way as to provide new information?" a. Questionnaires b. Interviews c. Physiologic measurement d. Records and databases

D This question assesses records and databases as a data collection method.

Which type of validity is demonstrated by administering a test in which all items relate to wound care, and then evaluating student performance in caring for patients with wounds in the clinical setting? a. Face validity b. Content validity c. Construct validity d. Criterion-related validity

D This validity type connects the subject's performance with his or her actual behavior.

A nurse researcher is selecting a topic for an EBP project. Which type of topic would be most appropriate if the researcher is interested in developing an idea from a knowledge-focused trigger? a. One identified through the benchmarking of data b. One identified through risk surveillance c. One identified through financial data d. One identified through staff reading research

D This would be a knowledge-focused trigger.

During development of an instrument to measure self-esteem, the nurse researcher administered the instrument to individuals who were substance abusers and to individuals who were not substance abusers and anticipated a significant difference in scores. This method of establishing construct validity is categorized as what? a. Factor analysis b. Convergent validity c. Discriminant validity d. Contrasted-groups approach

D Two groups of subjects who are suspected to score extremely high or low in the characteristic being measured complete the instrument and differences in scores are examined; the groups should differ and construct validity will be supported.

The issue of personal privacy may be more difficult for nurse researchers to protect in qualitative studies than it is in quantitative studies for which reason? a. Participants may be related to each other. b. The researcher meets face to face with most participants. c. Participants are not asked to sign an informed consent statement. d. Verbatim quotations from participants may reveal personal information.

D Verbatim quotes regarding personal situations could inadvertently reveal a participant's identity. Qualitative researchers will not use a participant's real name in a study report in an attempt to maintain a participant's anonymity.

Number the steps of evaluation for evidence-based projects in the order that they occur. 1. ___ design data collection forms 2. ___ collect data at specified intervals 3. ___ train data collectors 4. ___ use data to assist staff in modifying or integrating the evidence-based practice change 5. ___ provide feedback of analyzed data to staff 6. ___ determine methods and frequency of data collection 7. ___ provide "on-site" feedback to staff regarding the progress in achieving the practice change 8. ___ assess interrater reliability of data collectors 9. ___ establish content validity of data collection forms 10. ___ identify process and outcome variables of interest 11. ___ determine baseline and follow-up sample sizes

Steps of Evaluation for Evidence-Based Projects 1. Identify process and outcome variables of interest. 2. Determine methods and frequency of data collection. 3. Determine baseline and follow-up sample sizes. 4. Design data collection forms. 5. Establish content validity of data collection forms. 6. Train data collectors. 7. Assess interrater reliability of data collectors. 8. Collect data at specified intervals. 9. Provide "on-site" feedback to staff regarding the progress in achieving the practice change. 10. Provide feedback of analyzed data to staff. 11. Use data to assist staff in modifying or integrating the evidence-based practice change.