Chapter 10

27. An instrument that detects the presence of streptococcal antibodies is negative. Before reporting the absence of disease, the researcher must determine whether this result might be a: a. false negative. b. false positive. c. gold standard. d. true positive.

ANS: A A false negative may indicate that a disease is not present when it actually is. If a test report is negative, the researcher must ensure that the test does not have a high likelihood of false negative results.

33. A researcher uses a checklist of questions to ask participants while collecting data for a study. This represents which type of data collection? a. Structured interview b. Structured questionnaire c. Unstructured interview d. Unstructured questionnaire

ANS: A A structured interview occurs when the data collector uses a checklist or list of specific questions while interviewing the subject.

29. Which is true about a test that is highly specific? a. It is good at identifying patients who do not have a disease. b. It is good at identifying patients who have a disease. c. It results in an increased number of false negatives. d. It results in an increased number of false positives.

ANS: A A test that is highly sensitive is very good at identifying patients who do not have a disease.

18. A researcher evaluates whether a tool addresses the major elements of the construct being studied. This helps to ensure: a. content validity. b. equivalence. c. internal consistency. d. readability level.

ANS: A Content validity measures the extent to which the measurement method includes all the major elements relevant to the construct being measured.

1. A researcher conducts a study to examine the effects of breastfeeding on infant weight at age 6 months. Which type of measurement is used to measure the infants weight? a. Direct b. Indirect c. Nominal d. Ordinal

ANS: A Direct measurement allows for measures of concrete factors, such as a persons height or weight.

19. A researcher tests a measurement tools validity by administering it to a group of subjects who dont have health insurance and a group who have health insurance to examine attitudes about access to health care. The researcher is looking for evidence of validity from: a. contrasting groups. b. convergence. c. divergence. d. readability.

ANS: A Evidence of validity from contrasting groups can be tested by identifying groups that are expected or known to have contrasting scores on an instrument.

39. Which data represent the lowest form of measurement? a. Levels of anxiety on a scale from mild to severe b. Race and ethnicity classification c. Temperature of subjects after an intervention d. Weight, height, and body mass index

ANS: B Race and ethnicity represent nominal data, which are considered the lowest form of measurement.

21. A researcher administers two instruments known to measure opposite concepts and performs correlational analyses on the results. The original measure has a negative correlation of ?7?0.6 with the new measure. This indicates: a. both measures are valid. b. neither measure is valid. c. only the first measure is valid. d. only the second measure is valid.

ANS: A If a divergent measure is negatively correlated with an opposite scale, the validity for each of the instruments is strengthened.

5. A researcher studying the effects of an intervention on symptoms measures the time from intervention to absence of symptoms and reports this in the number of days. This measure represents which level of measurement? a. Interval b. Nominal c. Ordinal d. Ratio

ANS: A Interval level measurement uses interval scales, which have equal numerical distances between intervals.

7. A researcher may use which strategy to reduce the potential for measurement error when evaluating obesity in study subjects? a. Measure weight, abdominal girth, and BMI on all subjects b. Train multiple data collectors to take measurements c. Use scales in several different clinical settings to obtain data d. Utilize a single measure, such as BMI, applied to all subjects

ANS: A Obesity is less precise than some concepts, so multiple methods to measure obesity should be used to minimize measurement error.

34. Which statement is true about using a questionnaire to collect data? a. Questions are presented consistently with less chance for bias than with an interview. b. Questionnaires are generally more expensive than interviewing techniques. c. Subjects usually give more in-depth answers when responding to questionnaires. d. The response rate is generally higher than when using interviews to collect data.

ANS: A Questionnaires contain the same questions, so there is increased consistency and less interviewer bias than with interviews, in which the questions may vary and there may be interviewer bias.

36. A researcher wishes to evaluate the reliability of a visual analog pain scale in a group of postoperative patients. The best way to do this is to compare results: a. to results of the test when given to another set of subjects. b. to results from the same subjects using the FACES rating scale. c. to results from a previous measure with a different visual analog scale. d. to results from a group of subjects who have minimal or no pain.

ANS: A Reliability of a visual analog scale is best determined by the test-retest method, so the researcher should administer the test to two sets of subjects and compare the results.

30. A researcher reports that a measure is highly sensitive when diagnosing patients. The reviewer understands that this test: a. has a low percentage of false negatives. b. has a low percentage of false positives. c. has a high percentage of false negatives. d. has a high percentage of false positives.

ANS: A Tests that are highly sensitive have a low percentage of false negatives.

35. Which type of scale is most commonly used in a survey of patient satisfaction? a. Likert scale b. Numeric rating scale c. Rating scale d. Visual analog scale

ANS: A The Likert scale is designed to determine the opinions or attitudes of study subjects and is the most commonly used of the various scales.

40. Which is true about using data from an existing database? a. It allows larger sampling and complex analyses. b. The burden on participants is higher than when primary data collection is used. c. The researcher is able to draw upon data that are specific to a particular study. d. Research reports do not have to describe data collection procedures.

ANS: A Using data from existing databases allows for larger sampling at less cost. Researchers can review data from across situations and time periods, allowing for more complex analyses of data.

17. Which statement is true about validity? a. Validity evaluates an instrument for a specific group or purpose. b. Validity occurs when an instrument is valid across situations. c. Validity measures are absolute. d. Validity measures are independent of reliability.

ANS: A Validity will vary from one sample to another and one situation to another, so validity testing evaluates the use of an instrument for a specific group or purpose.

15. A researcher notes a reliability score of 0.75 between two observers in a clinical drug trial evaluating whether the drug decreases anxiety. This score means that: a. there is 25% random error. b. there is 75% random error. c. this is an acceptable measure of reliability. d. this measurement tool is not reliable

ANS: B The interrater reliability value represents reliability. A 0.75 measure indicates 75% reliability and 25% random error.

38. What type of information is typically found in an administrative database? a. Data collected for a specific research study b. Demographic information about a population c. Journal accounts of subjects responses to surveys d. Statistical results of experimental studies

ANS: B Administrative data are collected within clinical agencies and government entities and include demographic, organizational, clinical, and geographical information.

2. Which can be measured using direct measurement? a. Anxiety level b. Blood pressure c. Diagnosis d. Feelings

ANS: B Direct measurement allows for measures of concrete factors, such as a persons height, weight, or blood pressure.

20. A researcher develops a new instrument to measure coping skills and conducts a pilot study to compare the new tool with an existing tool that measures this concept. This is an example of evidence of validity from: a. contrasting groups. b. convergence. c. divergence. d. readability.

ANS: B Evidence of validity from convergence is determined when a relatively new instrument is compared with an existing instrument that measures the same construct.

16. A researcher evaluates scores of a paper and pencil instrument with dichotomous variables using the Kuder-Richardson formula. This is a test of: a. alternate forms reliability. b. internal consistency reliability. c. interrater reliability. d. test-retest reliability.

ANS: B Internal consistency reliability addresses the correlation of each question to other questions within the scale.

3. A researcher conducts a study to identify the relationship of lifestyle choices to the development of chronic diseases. The researcher surveys subjects and identifies diabetes mellitus, coronary artery disease, and renal disease in study subjects. These measures represent which level of measurement? a. Interval b. Nominal c. Ordinal d. Ratio

ANS: B Nominal level measurement is used when data can be organized into categories of a defined property, such as a disease diagnosis, but when categories cannot be rank ordered.

37. Which generally is an advantage of using primary data in a research study? a. It allows researchers to conduct more longitudinal studies. b. It has greater specificity to the study purpose. c. It puts less burden on study participants. d. It reduces the cost of data collection.

ANS: B Primary data are collected for a particular study and are specific to that study.

41. In a study involving multiple data collectors, the researcher helps to ensure consistency in data collection by: a. describing the study participant recruitment process in the research summary. b. detailing the training process of the data collectors in the research report. c. discarding data that includes even minor deviations in data collection methods. d. minimizing the influence of intervening forces on the study findings.

ANS: B To address consistency, the researcher must detail how data collectors are trained and how interrater reliability is achieved in the study report.

28. Which is true about a test that is highly sensitive for detecting a disease? a. There is a high probability of having a false negative result. b. There is a high probability of having a false-positive result. c. There is a low probability of having a false negative result. d. There is a low probability of having a false-positive result.

ANS: C A test that is highly sensitive is very good at identifying the presence of disease and has a low percentage of false negatives.

31. A screening test has a specificity of 92%. This means that there is a(n): a. 92% chance of a true positive. b. 92% chance of a false positive. c. 8% chance of a false positive. d. 8% chance of a true positive.

ANS: C A test with a specificity rating of 92% is very good at identifying patients who do not have a disease. If the test is very specific, there is a low chance of false positives. In this case the chance of a false positive is 8%.

13. A nursing professor administers three versions of a final exam to a class of students and compares the exams for reliability. This is a measure of: a. homogeneity. b. interrater reliability c. equivalence. d. test-retest reliability.

ANS: C Alternate forms reliability, or stability, seeks to determine whether two forms of an instrument measure the same attributes.

22. A researcher administers a scale measuring self-confidence and one measuring self-doubt to a group of subjects and performs a correlational analysis of the results. This is a test of validity from: a. contrasting groups. b. convergence. c. divergence. d. readability.

ANS: C Evidence of validity from divergence is determined by asking subjects to complete tools that measure opposite concepts.

11. A researcher studying children identifies the following age groups: Birth to age 12 months 12 months to 3 years 3 years to 5 years 5 years to 12 years 12 years to 18 years These categories are not: a. empirical. b. equal. c. exclusive. d. exhaustive.

ANS: C Exclusive means a datum must fit into only one of the categories. In this example, someone age 5 can fit into two categories.

26. In a study measuring oxygen saturation levels in infants, the researcher notes that data collectors record low saturation levels that occur when the heart rate is erratic and the infants are irritable and actively moving around. This will likely result in which type of measurement error? a. Environmental b. Equipment c. Interpretation d. User

ANS: C Interpretation error occurs when signals transmitted from the equipment can result in misinterpretation, such as low saturation levels that occur when the equipment is not getting an accurate reading.

14. In a pilot study to help train a group of data collectors who will evaluate childrens pain using a FACES rating scale, the researcher examines the reliability of the scores of each data collector. This is an example of which type of reliability measure? a. Alternate forms reliability b. Internal consistency reliability c. Interrater reliability d. Test-retest reliability

ANS: C Interrater reliability measures whether two or more observers measure the same attributes.

4. Among subjects with coronary artery disease, a researcher identifies three levels of symptoms which can be categorized by severity. This represents which level of measurement? a. Interval b. Nominal c. Ordinal d. Ratio

ANS: C Ordinal level measurement is used when data collected can be rank ordered.

23. A researcher evaluating the weight of subjects who are obese ensures that the scales used are maintained and calibrated according to the manufacturers recommendations. This is to ensure: a. accuracy. b. convergence. c. precision. d. validity.

ANS: C Precision is the degree of consistency or reproducibility of measurements made with physiologic instruments and is comparable to reliability in psychosocial measures.

10. A researcher performs a series of pilot studies to evaluate whether a measurement tool produces consistent results. This is an evaluation of: a. accuracy. b. precision. c. reliability. d. validity.

ANS: C Reliability is concerned with the consistency of a measurement method.

32. Which is important when using observational measurement in order to produce reliable data? a. Data collectors will record observations in their own words. b. Each subject should have different observers to record responses. c. Observations will be spontaneously recorded as they occur. d. Researchers will develop checklists of notable behaviors for observers to use.

ANS: D Checklists of behaviors help to indicate whether or not specific behaviors occur and help to structure observations.

9. A researcher wishes to study the effects of preoperative teaching on anxiety levels among toddlers and preschoolers undergoing surgery. To reduce the potential for measurement error, the researcher will: a. ask study subjects to describe feelings of anxiety. b. develop a new tool to measure anxiety levels in children. c. rely on multiple observers to collect data for this study. d. use a standardized checklist of anxiety behaviors.

ANS: D Measurement will be more precise if researchers use a well-developed, reliable scale. Using a checklist of anxiety behaviors reduces the likelihood of observer error.

6. A study measuring the effects of a new diuretic medication records hourly urine output of subjects. This measure represents which level of measurement? a. Interval b. Nominal c. Ordinal d. Ratio

ANS: D Ratio level measurement uses all aspects of other types of measurement: mutually exclusive categories, exhaustive categories, ordered ranks, equally spaced intervals, and a continuum of values.

8. A researcher reviews study data about head circumference in newborns and notes that study personnel are measuring from the end of the measuring tape and not from the zero point, which is 1 cm from the end. This is an example of which type of measurement error? a. Indirect b. Random c. Reliability d. Systematic

ANS: D Systematic error is the variation in measurement values from the calculated average that occurs systematically either because the instrument is also measuring something else, or because the instrument is set to a scale that is off the true measure. In this case, the personnel are inadvertently adding a centimeter to the measurements.

12. A researcher evaluates a measurement tool by administering the tool to a group of subjects every 2 weeks for 8 weeks. This is a measure of the tools: a. alternate forms reliability. b. internal consistency reliability. c. interrater reliability. d. test-retest reliability.

ANS: D Test-retest reliability measures whether the same attribute is consistent from one testing time to another.

25. In a study evaluating pulse oximetry measures in infants, a researcher notes that the pulse oximeter probes are attached to infants feet in different ways. This represents which type of measurement error? a. Environmental b. Equipment c. Subject d. User

ANS: D User errors are caused by the person using the equipment and can include variations by the same user, different users, or changes in supplies used to operate the equipment.

24. When documenting reports that previous research has demonstrated the accuracy of a physiologic measure, the researcher is addressing the measures: a. equivalence. b. homogeneity. c. reliability. d. validity.

ANS: D Validity refers to the fact that the instrument measures what it says it will measure. Accuracy is comparable to validity, addressing the extent to which the instrument measures what it is supposed to measure.