EBP Chapter 8

When using Consolidated Standards for Reporting Trials (CONSORT) guidelines to critically appraise a randomized controlled trial (RCT), the nurse will make sure that the study A. is designed to definitively test a hypothesis. B. is conducted in a laboratory to minimize setting bias. C. uses subjects selected by the researcher for participation. D. uses a descriptive or correlational design.

A

A nurse conducts a study to see whether there are differences in the number of books Latino parents and the number of books African-American parents read to their toddlers each week. Which type of study will this researcher utilize? A. Comparative descriptive B. Correlational C. Cross-sectional D. Longitudinal

A

A nurse researcher wishes to identify rates of pertussis infection in children less than 1 year of age and then again at 6 years of age to examine the relationship of immunization status on infection rates in this population. This is an example of which type of study design? A.Correlational, longitudinal B. Correlational, cross-sectional C. Descriptive, longitudinal D. Descriptive, cross-sectional

A

A researcher conducts a quasi-experimental study to determine whether there is improved weight gain among premature infants who are fed according to cue-based protocols. The researcher trained neonatal intensive care nurses to apply cue-based feeding to orally fed infants and notes a statistical difference in weight gain between infants fed according to cue-based protocols and those fed according to standard protocols. The reviewer notes that components of cue-based feedings are not clearly identified. This is a threat to A. construct validity. B. external validity. C. internal validity. D. statistical conclusion validity.

A

A researcher studying the strategies for breastfeeding mothers to use to reduce, prevent, and manage nipple pain is best described by which of the following types of design? A. Descriptive B. Ex post facto C. Experimental D. Quasi-experimental

A

A study in which subjects are assigned by the researcher into experimental and control groups increases A. bias. B. control. C. manipulation D. validity.

A

Identify the response that indicates the type of limitations, if any, on manipulation of the independent variable that might influence the researcher to select a nonexperimental research design based on the following research question: Does the use of certain tampons cause toxic shock syndrome? A. Ethical constraints limit manipulation. B. Independent variable cannot be manipulated. C. Manipulation is possible. D. Practical constraints limit manipulation.

A

In a quasi-experimental study design, the group that receives standard care is usually referred to as the A. comparison group. B. control group. C. experimental group. D. treatment group.

A

The purpose of a predictive correlation design is to predict the level of A. the dependent variable versus the independent variables. B. the independent variable versus the dependent variables. C. no causal relationships among variables. D. None of the above

A

The research study has a threat to internal validity when which of the following occurs? A. A valid rival hypothesis exists. B. Findings are generalized beyond the target population. C. The results of statistical analysis are incorrectly interpreted. D. There is a mismatch between the conceptual and operational definitions.

A

To increase participation among potential subjects of a larger population, the researcher will A. limit the time and effort required to participate in the study. B. provide demographic information about those who refuse to participate. C. provide instruments that are detailed to increase the amount of data collected. D. offer potential subjects a financial incentive to participate in the study.

A

Which statement is true about a cross-sectional design? A. This design includes a time element that involves data collection on variables at one point in time. B. This design includes a time element that involves data collection on variables at different points in time. C. This design involves collecting data from the same study participants at multiple points in time and might also be referred to as repeated measures. D. This design looks at predictive relationships between variables.

A

Which of the following are requirements for an experimental study? Select all that apply. A. Random sampling B. Control group C. Repeated measures D. Control of the intervention

A, B, D

When evaluating a correlational design, which of the following would be included? Select all that apply. A. Large sample B. Low response rate of subjects C. Sample representing all elements of the population D. A wide range of values on each measure

A, C, D

A researcher develops a 7-point Likert scale to evaluate feelings of well-being in patients who are undergoing chemotherapy. The researcher administers this measure to other similar patients in other medical centers. This is done to A. decrease mono-operation bias. B. improve the test-retest reliability. C. increase interrater reliability. D. strengthen the operational definition of constructs.

B

A nurse researcher monitors women with breast cancer for depression before and throughout their chemotherapy treatment. This is an example of which type of study design? A. Cross-sectional B. Longitudinal C. Comparative description D. Correlational

B

A nurse researcher understands there are numerous concepts relevant to quantitative research designs. What concept best describes the following example, "Patient diagnosis, age, pre-surgical condition, and complications after surgery are interrelated causes of the length of patients' hospital stays"? A. Probability B. Multicausality C. Causality D. Bias

B

A researcher conducts a quasi-experimental study to determine whether there is improved weight gain among premature infants who are fed according to cue-based protocols. The researcher trained neonatal intensive care nurses to apply cue-based feeding to orally fed infants and notes a statistical difference in weight gain between infants fed according to cue-based protocols and those fed according to standard protocols. The reviewer notes that parents who gave consent to participate in the study were from a higher socioeconomic class than the population. This is a threat to A. construct validity. B. external validity. C. internal validity. D. statistical conclusion validity.

B

A researcher wishes to conduct a correlational study to determine whether there is a relationship between stress levels and relapse rates among patients who have chronic conditions. To determine the existence of a relationship between these two variables, the researcher will attempt to A. manipulate the level of stress in study subjects. B. obtain a large range of possible scores. C. provide lengthy descriptions of subjects' behaviors. D. randomly assign subjects to study groups.

B

Identify the response that indicates the type of limitations, if any, on manipulation of the independent variable that might influence the researcher to select a nonexperimental research design based on the following research question: Does a nurse's gender affect salary and rate of promotion? A. Ethical constraints limit manipulation. B. Independent variable cannot be manipulated. C. Manipulation is possible. D. Practical constraints limit manipulation.

B

In a quasi-experimental study examining the effects of nonpharmacologic treatments on postoperative pain management, the researcher trains nursing staff so that all experimental group subjects receive the same types of treatments. This is an example of A. bias. B. manipulation. C. reliability. D. validity.

B

Multiple replications of an initial study conducted in different populations produce findings that do not match those in the initial study. The initial study may lack which type of validity? A. Construct validity B. External validity C. Internal validity D. Statistical conclusion validity

B

The research study has a type I error that may occur when which of the following occurs? A. Researcher concludes that there is no difference between groups when there is a difference. B. Researcher concludes that there are differences between groups when there is no difference. C. Sample size is large, thus increasing the applicability of the study. D. Study contains multiple extraneous variables increasing the likelihood of error.

B

What type of design validity is concerned with the fit between the conceptual and operational definitions of variables and that the instrument measures what it is supposed to in the study? A. External validity B. Construct validity C. Internal validity D. Statistical conclusion validity

B

When the nurse is critiquing a study, it is important to identify which of the following possible sources of bias? A. Establishing a control group B. Purposive sampling C. Random assignment D. Timed intervention

B

Which action will the researcher take to improve construct validity? A. Allow data collectors to know which subjects are assigned to which groups. B. Ensure that operational definitions reflect theoretical constructs. C. Make sure that the researcher is involved in data collection. D. Utilize only one measurement method to measure study variables.

B

Which intervention should be included in research designs that test causality? A. An experimental test of the treatment as it is commonly provided B. Carefully developed to provide the most effective treatment possible C. Designed to minimize the differences between groups D. Unknown to increase knowledge of its usefulness

B

Which of the following elements would a researcher expect to find in an experimental study? A. Absence of a control group B. Manipulation of the independent variable C. Broadly defined independent variable D. Random selection of subjects for the study

B

Which of the following statements about cause is incorrect? A. The effect cannot occur unless the cause first occurs. B. Most phenomena in nursing can be clearly pinned down to a single cause and a single effect. C. The greater the proportion of causal factors that can be identified and explored, the clearer the understanding of the phenomenon. D. The greater the understanding of cause, the greater the ability to predict and control the effect or outcome.

B

A nurse researcher understands that to critically appraise the RCTs reported in nursing journals, specific guidelines are followed. To assess the quality of RCTs reports, which of the following are accurate statements? Select all that apply. A. The study has low internal validity. B. Outcomes are measured consistently with quality measurement methods. C. Study participants are drawn from a reference population through clearly defined criteria. D. The study is conducted in a laboratory setting. E. The intervention is clearly described and consistently implemented. F. The design meets the criteria of a nonexploratory study.

B, C, E

Which of the following are true statements about external validity? Select all that apply. A. External validity is concerned with the fit between the conceptual and operational definitions of variables and that the instrument measures what it is supposed to in the study. B. External validity is concerned with the extent to which study findings can be generalized beyond the sample used in the study. C. External validity is focused on determining if the study findings are accurate or are the result of extraneous variables. D. Threats to external validity include mono-operation bias and inadequate definitions of constructs E. Threats to external validity include interaction of selection and intervention, setting and intervention, and/or history and intervention. F. Threats to external validity include participation selection, participant attrition, history, and maturation.

B, E

Which of the following are true statements about randomized controlled trials (RCTs)? Select all that apply. A. The RCT design is noted to be the weakest methodology for testing the effectiveness of an intervention. B. In a RCT design, participants are randomized to the intervention and control groups to reduce selection bias. C. Blinding or withholding of study information from data collectors, participants, and their healthcare providers can enhance the potential for bias. D. RCTs may be carried out in a single setting or in multiple geographic locations to decrease sample size and obtain a more representative sample. E. RCTs, when appropriately conducted, are considered the gold standard for determining the effectiveness of healthcare interventions.

B, E

A researcher conducts a quasi-experimental study to determine whether there is improved weight gain among premature infants who are fed according to cue-based protocols. The researcher trained neonatal intensive care nurses to apply cue-based feeding to orally fed infants and notes a statistical difference in weight gain between infants fed according to cue-based protocols and those fed according to standard protocols. Which might be a threat to internal validity in this study? A. The concept of cue-based feeding is not well defined. B. The study sample is homogeneous. C. Some infants developed gastroenteritis. D. Not all nurses received cue-based protocol education.

C

A researcher conducts a study to examine possible contributors to glycemic control in a group of subjects who have type 2 diabetes mellitus in a local community. A convenience sample of patients includes patients from 28 to 65 years old who range in weight from normal to obese, with time since diagnosis ranging from several months to several years. To determine causality in this study, the researcher will A. discuss outcomes in terms of the probability that education will improve glycemic control. B. increase the manipulation of the independent variable to allow greater control by the researcher. C. identify multicausal variables that may influence the outcome of glycemic control measures. D. limit the study to younger persons only to minimize the effects of extraneous variables.

C

A researcher reviews demographic characteristicsOof potential study subjects, such as age and gender, to determine whether these characteristics may influence the outcome of the study. This is done to help ensure A. construct validity. B. external validity. C. internal validity. D. statistical conclusion validity.

C

A researcher theorizes a set of relationships among concepts used to describe why patients with chronic illness are often depressed. To test the accuracy of these hypothesized relationships, which type of study will be used? A. Descriptive correlational B. Grounded theory C. Model testing D. Predictive correlational

C

A researcher wishes to study the effects of effective sleep hygiene on sleep quality and behavior among children diagnosed with attention deficit disorder. To minimize mono-operation bias, the researcher will A. accurately describe conceptual and operational definitions. B. adequately discuss construct validity in the introduction. C. evaluate multiple sleep hygiene techniques. D. utilize a double-blind data collection methodology.

C

Identify the response that indicates the type of limitations, if any, on manipulation of the independent variable that might influence the researcher to select a nonexperimental research design based on the following research question: Does assertiveness training affect psychiatric nurses' job performance? A. Ethical constraints limit manipulation. B. An independent variable cannot be manipulated. C. Manipulation is possible. D. Practical constraints limit manipulation.

C

If a researcher wishes to describe variables and to examine many relationships in a study, which type of study design will the researcher employ? A. Correlational B. Descriptive C. Descriptive correlational D. Descriptive cross-sectional

C

In a quasi-experimental study using a convenience sample of subjects from a local high school, the researcher asks potential subjects to volunteer for placement in either a "low sugar" diet program or a "regular sugar" diet program. This technique for assigning participation may compromise A. construct validity. B. external validity. C. internal validity. D. statistical conclusion validity.

C

In a research study, ambulatory clinic nurses teach children with asthma how to monitor peak expiratory flow volumes and how to use metered-dose inhalers to determine whether asthma control scores improve. The researcher discovers inconsistencies in how these measures were taught and how well the children understood the concepts. This represents a lack of A. control of extraneous variables. B. internal validity. C. intervention fidelity. D. precision of measurement.

C

The nurse researcher is explaining the purpose of control in a study design. This would include which of the following? A. Establish the credibility of the researcher. B. Highlight design flaws. C. Increase the probability that the results are true to reality. D. Interfere with the validity of the findings.

C

The nurse researcher understands that bias is a serious problem in a study because of its effect is to which of the following? A. Change the setting of the study B. Control the study findings C. Distort the study findings D. Reduce change of error

C

The statement that heart disease is caused by stress, high cholesterol, gene expression, and dietary patterns reflects which perspective? A. Causality B. Effect C. Multicausality D. Probability

C

To attribute causality of a posttest measure in an experimental study, the independent variable will be A. administered to control group subjects only B. administered to subjects selected by the researcher. C. administered to treatment group subjects. D. defined loosely to avoid bias.

C

Which of the following is considered the most powerful design a researcher can use to examine causality? A. Correlational B. Descriptive C. Experimental D. Quasi-experimental

C

Which statement is true about a descriptive study design? A. It is not possible to operationally define variables in this type of study. B. Sample selection and size cannot be controlled in descriptive studies. C. This type of design is used to identify problems occurring in practice. D. Variables may be manipulated to avoid bias in this type of study.

C

Which statement is true about a quantitative research design? A. A research design is a blueprint for conducting a quantitative study that minimizes control over factors that could interfere with the validity of the findings. B. A research design is a blueprint for conducting a quantitative study that minimizes control over factors that could interfere with the reliability of the findings. C. A research design is a blueprint for conducting a quantitative study that maximizes control over factors that could interfere with the validity of the findings. D. A research design is a blueprint for conducting a quantitative study that maximizes control over factors that could interfere with the reliability of the findings.

C

Which type of research design focuses on implementation of a treatment by the researcher? A. Correlational B. Descriptive C. Experimental D. Longitudinal

C

Identify the response that indicates the type of limitations, if any, on manipulation of the independent variable that might influence the researcher to select a nonexperimental research design based on the following research question: Does the use of procedural touch by nursing staff affect patient morale? Select all that apply. A. Ethical constraints limit manipulation. B. An independent variable cannot be manipulated. C. Manipulation is possible. D. Practical constraints limit manipulation.

C, D

A nurse researcher conducts a study to determine whether women who breastfeed their infants experience better sleep in the first two postpartum months. This study will employ which type of research design? A. Correlational B. Descriptive C. Descriptive correlational D. Predictive correlational

D

A researcher administers a written test to evaluate knowledge of insulin administration and glucose monitoring to a group of subjects at annual intervals over the next decade. This is an example of which type of study design? A. Correlational B. Cross-sectional C. Descriptive D. Longitudinal

D

A researcher conducts a quasi-experimental study to determine whether there is appropriate weight gain among premature infants who are fed according to cue-based protocols. The researcher trained neonatal intensive care nurses to apply cue-based feeding to orally fed infants and notes a statistical difference in weight gain between infants fed according to cue-based protocols and those fed according to standard protocols. The reviewer critiquing the study notes that not all nurses completed the cue-based feeding module. This would affect which type of validity? A. Construct validity B. External validity C. Internal validity D. Statistical conclusion validity

D

A researcher wishes to conduct a study of a small number of subjects on a large hospital intensive care unit. To minimize problems associated with extraneous variables in the study setting, the researcher will A. ensure double-blind data collection methods. B. randomly assign subjects to treatment and control groups. C. test the reliability of study measures. D. train a small number of nurses to administer the intervention.

D

An important measure to decrease threats to internal validity in an experimental study is to A. apply the intervention consistently. B. improve the precision of measurement methods. C. increase the sample size. D. randomly assign subjects to study groups.

D

Control techniques are used in studies by researchers to increase which of the following? A. Applicability B. Generalizability C. Reliability D. Validity

D

In a comparison group intervention in a study focused on pain management of migraine headache sufferers, which of the following should be included? A. A treatment designed to vary considerably from one subject to another B. Complementary or alternative therapies C. No treatment for any of the subjects D. The standard treatment or protocol for migraine headaches

D

In a study to examine the effects of a newly modified anxiety-reducing nursing action on a group of subjects who have cancer, the control group will receive A. an alternative intervention. B. no intervention. C. the newly modified intervention. D. the standard intervention.

D

The nurse researcher is attempting to identify the characteristics of a factorial design. Which of the following would be included in this design? A. Data from multiple studies B. One dependent variable C. Probability hypotheses D. Two or more levels of a treatment

D

The nurse researcher understands that a type II error may occur because of which of the following? A. A small sample B. Recently developed scales C. Minimal controls D. All the above

D

What is the purpose of replication studies? A. To decrease the acceptance of erroneous results B. To establish the credibility of findings C. To extend the generalizability of findings D. All the above

D

Which of the following can be inferred from design validity? A. Presence of threats with serious biases B. Study integrity C. Whether the study design tests the framework propositions D. All the above

D

Which type of study is considered strongest for testing the effectiveness of an intervention? A. Experimental B. Pretest/posttest C. Quasi-experimental D. Randomized controlled trial

D