Chapter 11 Review Questions

The researcher understands that which of the following is not a characteristic of ANOVA? A. Can be used only with two groups B. Often requires post hoc tests to identify locations of differences C. Tests for differences between means D. F statistic used to report results

A. Can be used only with two groups This is not a characteristic of ANOVA. ANOVA can be used with three or more groups.

A researcher wanted to conduct a study examining the relationship between gender and heart disease. The most appropriate statistical test to use would be: A. ANOVA. B. Chi-square. C. Pearson's r. D. regression analysis.

B. Chi-square. Chi-square is used to examine relationships between categorical data.

In any study in which the data are numerical, data analysis begins with: A. correlational statistics. B. descriptive statistics. C. hypothesis-testing statistics. D. predictive statistics.

B. descriptive statistics. All quantitative studies begin analysis with descriptive statistics.

During data cleaning, the researcher will perform which of the following? (Select all that apply.) A. Check the data for accuracy B. Correct all errors C. Identify missing data points and supply the data D. Organize according to responses E. Sort according to demographics

A. Check the data for accuracy B. Correct all errors C. Identify missing data points and supply the data Data cleaning involves checking for accuracy, errors, or missing data. Organizing and sorting are components of analysis.

The nurse researcher understands that which of the following is related to inference? A. Conclusion or judgment based on evidence B. Logical movement from a general truth to a specific instance C. Researcher's guess about the outcomes of the study D. Theoretical application of study findings

A. Conclusion or judgment based on evidence An inference is made from the study findings obtained from a specific sample and applied to a more general population using the results from statistical analyses.

Which of the following is not a descriptive statistic? A. Correlational analysis B. Frequency distribution C. Mean D. Standard deviation

A. Correlational analysis Correlational analysis is not a descriptive statistic, but it is an inferential statistic.

Types of results from inferential statistical analyses include all except which of the following? A. Findings B. Not significant C. Significant D. Unpredicted

A. Findings The researcher, not the statistical procedures, must reach findings.

The nurse researcher understands that the risk of a type II error increases with which of the following? (Select all that apply.) A. Low levels of power B. Small effect sizes C. Results indicate a significant difference when in reality there is no difference D. Small samples

A. Low levels of power B. Small effect sizes D. Small samples Options A, B, D are type II errors. Option C is a type 1 error.

A researcher wanted to study the elements or variables associated with fear. Which of the following would be an appropriate statistical measure? A. Chi-square B. Factor analysis C. Pearson's r D. T-test

B. Factor analysis Factor analysis is used to determine the relationships among large numbers of variables associated with a complex phenomenon.

The nurse researcher understands that a one-tailed test of significance: A. increases the risk of a type II error. B. indicates that extreme scores on only one tail are considered significant. C. is referred to as no directional. D. is weaker than two-tailed tests.

B. indicates that extreme scores on only one tail are considered significant. In a one-tailed test, the statistical procedure tests for differences in only one tail. Thus only extreme scores in that tail are considered significantly different.

The nurse researcher understands that which of the following is the purpose of exploratory data analysis? (Select all that apply.) A. Check the data for accuracy B. Correct all errors C. Determine the nature of variation in the data D. Identify outliers E. Obtain a better understanding of the data

C. Determine the nature of variation in the data D. Identify outliers E. Obtain a better understanding of the data Analysis involves interpreting variations, outliers, and gaining understanding of the data. Checking for errors and accuracy are data-cleaning activities.

To judge statistical suitability while critiquing a study, you need to know all except which of the following? A. Level of measurement B. Number of groups C. Reliability of the measures D. Whether the groups are dependent or independent

C. Reliability of the measures This information is not necessary to judge statistical suitability.

The researcher understands that the t-test is used to? A. Describe relationships between two variables. B. Examine differences among three or more groups. C. Test for a significant difference between the means of two samples. D. Test the power of a statistical procedure.

C. Test for a significant difference between the means of two samples. The t-test is used to test for a significant difference between the means of two samples.

The nurse researcher understands that measures of dispersion are measures of: A. differences among samples. B. homogeneity, which indicates wider dispersion. C. individual differences of the members of the sample. D. the central tendency of the sample.

C. individual differences of the members of the sample. Measures of central tendency, or variability, are measures of individual differences of the members of the sample.

The researcher understands that a type I error occurs when the: A. data are not measured at the interval level. B. results are not significant. C. results indicate a significant difference when in reality there is no difference. D. wrong statistical procedures are used.

C. results indicate a significant difference when in reality there is no difference. A type I error indicates a significant difference when there is no difference.

The nurse researcher understands that the chi-square test of independence: A. determines whether two variables are independent or related. B. has a high risk of a type II error. C. is a very weak statistical test. D. All of the above

D. All of the above All of the options are correct.

The nurse researcher understands that the tails of the normal curve are: A. defined by the level of significance selected by the researcher. B. representative samples that may not belong to the same population. C. the extreme statistical values on the peripheral ends of the normal curve. D. All of the above

D. All of the above All of the responses are correct.

The nurse researcher understands that it is important to describe the sample because of which of the following? A. Allow readers to determine if the sample is similar to persons in their clinical setting B. Determine if groups being compared are equivalent C. Determine if the sample is representative of the target population D. All of the above

D. All of the above All of these options are important reasons for describing the sample.

The researcher understands that exploratory analysis is used for all but which of the following? A. Become familiar with the data B. Examine measures of central tendency and dispersion for each variable C. Identify outliers D. Generalize to a larger population

D. Generalize to a larger population Exploratory analysis is not used for this purpose. This requires confirmatory analysis using inferential statistics.

Using decision theory, if the level of significance was set at 0.05, which of the following probability levels from statistical analyses would indicate the greatest significant difference? A. 0.04 B. 0.01 C. 0.001 D. None of the above

D. None of the above According to decision theory, results are expressed dichotomously (divided into two distinct parts). Results are either significantly different or not significantly different. There are not degrees of significant difference.

A researcher wanted to compare the results of two tests completed on the same group. The most appropriate method to use would include: A. ANOVA. B. Chi-square. C. T-test. D. Z-score.

D. Z-score. Z-scores are used to standardize scores of different tests to make comparisons.

The nurse researcher understands that power is the: A. amount of variance allowed in the measured scores. B. capacity of the computer to run complex statistical analyses. C. degree to which the null hypothesis is false. D. probability that a statistical test will detect a significant difference that exists.

D. probability that a statistical test will detect a significant difference that exists. Power is the capacity of a statistical analysis to identify real differences (or relationships) in the data.

The researcher understands the most common purpose of a Pearson' s correlation is to examine: A. differences between groups. B. differences between variables. C. relationships among groups. D. relationships among variables.

D. relationships among variables. A Pearson's correlation usually examines relationships among variables.

The nurse researcher understands that confirmatory analyses are designed to: A. compare the results with the researcher's expectations. B. justify the study results. C. recheck results to confirm their correctness. D. test objectives, questions, and hypotheses.

D. test objectives, questions, and hypotheses. Confirmatory analyses test hypotheses, questions, and objectives.

The nurse researcher understands that the normal curve is a/an: A. distribution of the values of a single sample. B. illustration of scores from several samples. C. real distribution of the values of a population. D. theoretical frequency distribution of all possible values in a population.

D. theoretical frequency distribution of all possible values in a population. The normal curve is a theoretical frequency distribution.