RESEARCH QUIZ #1 PRACTICE QUESTIONS (Ch 6)

Which one of the following is true? A. A research hypothesis predicts no relationship between two variables. B. A research hypothesis is always stated directionally. C. A null hypothesis is used in statistical hypothesis testing but is rarely stated in research reports. D. A null hypothesis can sometimes be proved.

Answer: A null hypothesis is used in statistical hypothesis testing but is rarely stated in research reports. Rationale: A null hypothesis is implied whenever there are statistical tests, but reports generally state hypotheses as research hypotheses.

In the hypothesis "Postmenopausal women who are employed full time are less likely to practice breast self-examination than those who are not employed full time," which is the outcome (dependent) variable? A. Breast self-examination practice B. Employment status C. Gender D. Menopausal status of the women

Answer: Breast self-examination practice Rationale: Breast self-examination is predicted to be affected by (i.e., to depend on) women's employment status.

Which of the following is NOT a source for the development of a research problem? A. Codes of ethics B. Theories C. Nursing literature D. Clinical experience

Answer: Codes of ethics Rationale: Ethical codes do not usually suggest research problems in need of a solution.

What does a hypothesis express when stated in the null form? A. The expected magnitude of a relationship between variables B. The expected existence of a relationship between variables C. The expected direction of a relationship between variables D. The expected absence of a relationship between variables

Answer: The expected absence of a relationship between variables Rationale: The null hypothesis expresses an anticipated lack of relationship between variables.

Which of the following would be BEST described as a statement of purpose for a quantitative study? A. The goal is to compare the prevalence of domestic violence among low-income women living in urban versus rural areas. B. The purpose is to describe the lived experience of confused older people living in a nursing home. C. The purpose is to develop a protocol to address the needs of alcoholic pregnant women. D. The goal is to explore the process of transitioning from nonparenthood to parenthood.

Answer: The goal is to compare the prevalence of domestic violence among low-income women living in urban versus rural areas. Rationale: The statement indicates the purpose is a study about a phenomenon (domestic violence prevalence) that could be quantified and also indicates that an explicit comparison will be made between rates in two types of setting.

In the hypothesis "There is a difference between elderly study participants with sedentary lifestyle and elderly study participants with active lifestyle in the elders' perceived level of self-efficacy," which is the independent variable? A. Age B. Elderly study participants C. Perceived self-efficacy D. Type of lifestyle

Answer: Type of lifestyle Rationale: Sedentary versus active lifestyle is the presumed influence on level of self-efficacy.

"Widows with a strong social support network during bereavement are healthier than widows lacking a strong social support network" is A. a nondirectional research hypothesis. B. a directional research hypothesis. C. not a hypothesis as stated. D. a null hypothesis.

Answer: a directional research hypothesis. Rationale: This hypothesis states an expected relationship between an independent variable (strength of a social support network) and a dependent variable (health status), and the direction (i.e., better health is predicted for widows with a strong social support network).

"Hypertensive patients who undergo a biofeedback self-management training program will have lower blood pressure readings 3 months later than patients who do not." This sentence could BEST be described as A. a research question. B. a problem statement. C. a hypothesis. D. a statement of purpose.

Answer: a hypothesis. Rationale: This statement states an explicit prediction about the relationship between participation in a self-training program and subsequent blood pressure readings.

"Psychiatric patients' adherence to social rules is related to their violent behavior" is A. a nondirectional research hypothesis. B. a null hypothesis. C. not a hypothesis as stated. D. a directional research hypothesis.

Answer: a nondirectional research hypothesis. Rationale: This hypothesis states an expected relationship between the independent variable (patient's adherence to social rules) and the dependent variable (violent behavior), but not the direction (i.e., it does not predict whether violence is greater or lower among those who adhere to social rules).

"Several factors have been found to be associated with pain intensity during labor and delivery, but previous studies have produced conflicting results." This sentence could BEST be described as A. a problem statement. B. a research question. C. a statement of purpose. D. a hypothesis.

Answer: a problem statement. Rationale: This indicates a problem to be solved (identifying factors related to pain intensity) and a rationale for a new study (prior research has been inconclusive).

"The goal of the present study is to fully describe the process of adapting to chronic nonmalignant pain." This sentence could BEST be described as A. a problem statement for a qualitative study. B. a statement of purpose for a qualitative study. C. a problem statement for a quantitative study. D. a statement of purpose for a quantitative study.

Answer: a statement of purpose for a qualitative study. Rationale: A problem statement explicates a problematic situation and provides a rationale for a study, which this sentence does not do.

"The goal of this study was to examine the influence of uncertainty on emotional distress and recovery following myocardial infarction (MI)." This sentence could BEST be described as A. a hypothesis. B. a problem statement. C. a statement of purpose. D. a research question.

Answer: a statement of purpose. Rationale: The purpose statement indicates the researcher's goal in conducting a study-here, examining the effect of uncertainty on distress and recovery in MI patients.

"Rape victims usually do not seek treatment" is A. a null hypothesis. B. not a testable hypothesis as stated. C. a nondirectional research hypothesis. D. a directional research hypothesis.

Answer: not a testable hypothesis as stated. Rationale: This statement does not predict a relationship between two variables.

Hypotheses to be tested are frequently articulated in A. both qualitative and quantitative studies. B. qualitative studies. C. quantitative studies. D. neither qualitative nor quantitative studies.

Answer: quantitative studies. Rationale: Qualitative studies do not involve formal tests of hypotheses, although qualitative studies sometimes lead to the formulation of hypotheses that are tested in subsequent studies.