Ch. 05: Introduction to Qualitative Research, Ch. 6: Qualitative Approaches to Research, Ch. 7: Appraising Qualitative Research, Ch. 8: Introduction to Quantitative Research

A study is examining the effect of a new antilipemic drug, compared with placebo, on lipoprotein levels in postmenopausal women. Which of these actions represents the researcher's attempt at constancy in data collection to control extraneous variables? a. Drawing the serum lipoprotein levels of all subjects at the same time of day b. Having the same phlebotomist draw serum lipoprotein levels of all subjects c. Using the same room for drawing blood for lipoprotein levels of all subjects d. Ensuring that all subjects are postmenopausal women taking lipid-lowering medication

ANS: A

For which of these reasons would a nurse researcher choose to assign subjects randomly to groups in a study? a. To help ensure that all groups within a study are representative of the larger population b. To increase the chance that the study groups will be different from each other with regard to extraneous variables c. To help ensure that current events do not influence the outcomes of the study d. To eliminate the need for establishing specific study criteria and subject eligibility

ANS: A

How would a nurse researcher ensure that the sample used in a quantitative study is homogeneous? a. Use eligibility criteria to limit extraneous variables relevant to the study. b. Randomly assign subjects to either the experimental or the control group. c. Assign one research assistant to collect data from all subjects. d. Collect data from all subjects at the same time of day.

ANS: A

The issue of control would be less important in a quantitative study with which type of research design? a. Exploratory b. Experimental c. Correlational d. Randomized clinical trial

ANS: A

What action by a nurse researcher will help eliminate bias on the dependent variable? a. Establishing strict eligibility criteria for the study participants b. Ensuring that all data are collected by a single researcher c. Formulating at least two hypotheses for each research question d. Developing a strong theoretical framework for the study

ANS: A

When reviewing a research report, the nurse determines that all aspects of a study systematically and logically follow from the research problem. Which condition has been met? a. Accuracy b. Feasibility c. Internal validity d. External validity

ANS: A

Which factor is most likely to be a mediating variable in a study to determine if high doses of vitamin C help reduce the subjects' susceptibility to influenza? a. The subjects' use of influenza vaccine b. The subject' knowledge of vitamin C's functions c. The gender of the potential subjects d. The marital status of the potential subjects

ANS: A

Which of these situations describes a reactive (Hawthorne) effect? a. Control subjects in an intervention study to reduce anxiety also experience a reduction in anxiety. b. The subjects in an intervention support group continue the support group after the study has ended. c. Subjects become concerned after learning that they received a placebo, not the treatment, during the study. d. Study subjects want to know the outcomes of the study after it is completed.

ANS: A

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

ANS: A Feedback A A distinctive characteristic of qualitative research studies is that data consist of text (words), not numbers as in quantitative research. B Dichotomous data are nominal and frequently found in quantitative studies. C Patterns emerge from qualitative research data. D The data generated by qualitative studies are appropriate for content analysis.

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

ANS: A Feedback 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. B Interpretation of data must be performed by the researchers. C Credibility of data must be established by the researchers. D Synthesis of data must be performed by the researchers.

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

ANS: A Feedback A New hypotheses are tested by quantitative, not qualitative, studies. B Both quantitative and qualitative studies use intensive data-collection approaches. C Inductive analysis is appropriate for some types of qualitative studies. D Qualitative studies examine the meaning of an experience to individuals.

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.

ANS: A Feedback A Qualitative research focuses on what experiences mean to people. B This topic suggests a descriptive study design. C This topic suggests an experimental study design. D This topic suggests an ex post facto or correlational study design.

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.

ANS: A Feedback A Researchers generally continue to recruit participants until they have reached data saturation, which means that nothing new is emerging from the interviews. B At times the researcher may have to locate additional subjects at various locations until saturation is achieved. C The number of subjects is not related to time frame because data will need to be collected until saturation is reached. D Power analysis is used to determine sample size in quantitative research studies.

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

ANS: A, B, C, E, G Feedback Correct Sample selection is a step in the qualitative research process. Data collection is a step in the qualitative research process. Review of the literature is a step in the qualitative research process. Description of findings is a step in the qualitative research process. Discussion of conclusions is a step in the qualitative research process. Incorrect Evaluation is not a step in the qualitative research process. Implementation of findings is not a step in the qualitative research process.

A nurse researcher is planning to write a proposal for a research study using a quantitative design. To maintain control in the study, the nurse should include which elements? (Select all that apply.) a. Valid, reliable collection methods b. Subjects of all ages c. Trained data collectors d. Standardized data collection processes e. Analysis of data by words or text only

ANS: A, C, D

A nursing student is reviewing a research study in which researchers used a pretest/posttest design to examine the effect of an AIDS education intervention on teenagers' knowledge about the condition over a school year. What threats to internal validity could be present? (Select all that apply.) a. Maturation b. Selection effects c. Reactivity d. Hawthorne effect e. Testing

ANS: A, E

What should the nurse researcher consider when determining the feasibility of a research question? (Select all that apply.) a. Time b. Selection effects c. Reactive effects d. Measurement effects e. Subject availability f. Cost

ANS: A, E, F

A nurse is designing a study to determine whether a videotape or a written pamphlet is more effective in teaching young women how to perform breast self-examination (BSE). Which of these actions would provide the best control for a mediating variable? a. Include identical content in both BSE teaching methods b. Exclude subjects who already perform BSE on a regular basis c. Limit the study subjects to women who are heterosexual d. Determine what breast cancer means to the individual participants

ANS: B

A nurse researcher is designing a quantitative research study involving a specific group of patients admitted to local hospitals. Which factor would negatively affect the feasibility of this study? a. The local region has a high percentage of families that could participate in the study. b. Potential study subjects represented less than 1% of hospital admissions during the year previous to the study. c. Study participants who were hospitalized children younger than 5 years could not give direct informed consent to participate in the study. d. A comprehensive review of the literature revealed no studies were conducted that examined this question during the past 15 years.

ANS: B

A nurse researcher should consider mortality a threat to the study's internal validity for which of these reasons? a. There is concern that the intervention may have harmful effects on subjects. b. Those who dropped out of the study may be different than those who remained in the study. c. Those who participated in the study may have died as a result of being in the study. d. There is concern that the design is inappropriate for the study question if a large number of participants drop out of a study.

ANS: B

How could a nurse researcher's use of a homogeneous sample weaken a research study? a. By decreasing the reliability of the findings b. By decreasing the generalizability of the findings c. By increasing the number of subjects needed to reach statistical significance d. By increasing the risk that the findings were the result of chance alone

ANS: B

In which of these ways does the nurse researcher's literature review help select the appropriate study design? a. By enlarging the scope of the study's hypotheses b. By objectively assessing available knowledge of the area c. By comparing current findings with previous study findings d. By ensuring faithfulness to the study's purpose

ANS: B

When should a nurse researcher include an extraneous variable as part of a study's design? a. When excluding the variable would limit the study's generalizability b. When the variable is an important consideration for the study's outcome c. When the researcher is limited by time or monetary constraints d. When it would not make a difference in the overall study outcome

ANS: B

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.

ANS: B Feedback A Deductive reasoning is typical of quantitative studies. 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. C Sample size is predetermined in quantitative studies. D Measurement is characteristic of quantitative studies.

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

ANS: B Feedback A Empiricism refers to the reliance on observation and experimentation, i.e., quantitative research. B A paradigm is a worldview, a philosophical or theoretical framework. C Holism is a theory that the universe and living nature are correctly seen as interacting wholes, more than the sum of their parts. D A viewpoint is a way of looking at or thinking about a subject.

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

ANS: B Feedback A Participant agreement on themes is not an influence on data saturation. B Data saturation occurs when the researcher recognizes that he or she has heard themes before in multiple prior interviews. C Phenomenologists do not use previous studies to determine data saturation because each new group of participants has its own unique set of subjective experiences compared with past groups in similar studies. D Lack of interest of participants does not indicate data saturation.

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

ANS: B Feedback A Qualitative studies are often represented as theory-generating, not theory-testing, studies. B Each research method originates in a philosophy of research and matches the nature of the research question. C These demographic variables may be characteristics of subjects or participants in quantitative or qualitative research studies. D Instruments to measure variables are not used in qualitative research studies.

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

ANS: B Feedback A The category "restricted by a priori frameworks" describes a discovery aborted because the researcher has obscured the findings with an existing theory. B The category "descriptive categories" describes a phenomenon to be vividly portrayed from a new perspective. 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. D The category "depiction of experiential variation" describes the main essence of an experience but also shows how the experience varies, depending on the individual or context.

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

ANS: B Feedback A The mode "insight or empathy" would help a nurse to understand patients better and to offer more sensitive support. B The mode of clinical application "assessment of status or progress" enables a nurse to describe the trajectory of an illness. C The mode "anticipatory guidance" enables a nurse to share qualitative findings with the patient. D The mode "coaching" enables a nurse to advise patients of steps they can take to reduce distress or improve adjustment to an illness according to the evidence in the study.

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

ANS: B Feedback A This is not an example of "restricted by a priori frameworks," which describes a discovery being aborted because the researcher has obscured the findings with an existing theory. B This is an example of "descriptive categories," which describes a phenomenon vividly portrayed from a new perspective. C This is not an example of "shared pathway or meaning," which describes a synthesis of a shared experience or process or integration of concepts that provides a complex picture of a phenomenon. D This is not an example of "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.

A nurse researcher assigns subjects to experimental and control groups in such a manner that each subject in a population has an equal chance of being selected. What is the researcher using? a. Selection bias b. Convenience sampling c. Randomization d. Internal validity

ANS: C

A nurse researcher can control for selection bias in a study by taking which of these actions? a. Allow subjects to self-select into an experimental or a control group b. Handpick the subjects for group assignment c. Use defined selection criteria for approaching potential subjects d. Have someone other than the researcher select the subjects for the study

ANS: C

The measures used by a nurse researcher to maintain uniformity of conditions in a quantitative research study refer to which aspect of the study? a. Accuracy b. Methods c. Control d. Validity

ANS: C

Which situation represents a threat to internal validity in an experimental study measuring the effect of a videotape of discharge instructions for patients who underwent coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery? a. Both men and women undergoing CABG surgery were included as subjects in the study. b. Two new surgeons began performing CABG surgery during the study period. c. Patients in the experimental group discussed aspects of the videotape with patients in the control group. d. Data collection for the videotape and control groups took 1 year.

ANS: C

Why should a nurse researcher want to limit or eliminate extraneous variables in a study? a. More research questions would be required to account for the extraneous variables. b. Extensive statistical analysis would be required to justify the presence of extraneous variables. c. Extraneous variables compete with the independent variables as explanations of the study's outcome. d. Manipulation of the extraneous variables increases the risk for researcher bias in the study's outcomes.

ANS: C

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

ANS: C Feedback A Insight or empathy means that the nurse would be better able to understand the behaviors of a patient. B Assessment of status or progress means that the nurse can assess how the patient is moving through the grief process. 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. D Coaching would involve coaching the patient to recognize signs that she is progressing from one stage of the grief process to another.

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.

ANS: C Feedback A Some qualitative studies take extended times to complete. B Both qualitative and quantitative research designs may be used to answer research questions that are clinical in nature. C This describes qualitative research designs. The interpretive, naturalistic approach values the lived experience from the perspectives of participants and informants. D Novice researchers are challenged by both qualitative and quantitative research studies.

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

ANS: C Feedback A The category "restricted by a priori frameworks" describes a discovery being aborted because the researcher has obscured the findings with an existing theory. B The category "descriptive categories" describes a phenomenon vividly portrayed from a new perspective. 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. D The category "depiction of experiential variation" describes the main essence of an experience, but it also shows how the experience varies, depending on the individual or context.

Which factors would be considered threats to internal validity? (Select all that apply.) a. Time b. Selection effects c. History d. Testing e. Subject availability f. Cost g. Selection bias

ANS: C, D, G

A nurse researcher assigns half a study sample to an experimental group and the other half to a control group. What does this action represent? a. Instrumentation of the independent variable b. Manipulation of the mediating variable c. Elimination of the mediating variable d. Manipulation of the independent variable

ANS: D

A nurse researcher is investigating the effect of type of operating room mattress and surgical position on tissue interface pressures in healthy young adults. Which component of research is most affected by the choice of subjects? a. Mortality b. Instrumentation c. Internal validity d. External validity

ANS: D

External validity refers to which of these issues? a. The relationship existing between the independent variable and the study outcomes b. The influence of a specific event on the independent variable c. The degree to which extraneous or mediating variables interfere with the study outcomes d. The degree to which findings are generalizable to populations beyond those studied

ANS: D

The nurse researcher designed a study examining anxiety among elementary school children. If a widely publicized murder of a child occurred in the city during the time frame of the study, what type of threat to internal validity would the murder represent? a. Maturation b. Instrumentation c. Selection bias d. Historical

ANS: D

What is the overall purpose of the research design in a quantitative research study? a. To determine sample size b. To identify the problem statement c. To assist the researcher in identifying gaps in the knowledge base d. To provide the plan for answering the research question

ANS: D

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

ANS: D Feedback A "Late-term pregnancy loss" describes the precipitating cause of the topic (grief) to be studied. B "Gender and age" designate demographic characteristics of participants. C "Grief experience" is the phenomenon to be studied. D "Rural Mexico" is the location (context) where the experience occurred for the participants.

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

ANS: D Feedback A A characteristic of quantitative or empirical research is the control of variables. B A characteristic of quantitative or empirical research is prediction of outcomes. C A characteristic of quantitative or empirical research is providing explanation of events. D Meaning and understanding of human experience are characteristics of qualitative research.

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

ANS: D Feedback A Measuring variables (one or more human characteristics) is not a focus of qualitative research. B Control of variables is consistent with quantitative research design. C Qualitative studies view human beings in a holistic way, not as the sum of parts. 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 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

ANS: D Feedback A The category "restricted by a priori frameworks" refers to a discovery aborted because the researcher has obscured the findings with an existing theory. B The category "descriptive categories" refers to a phenomenon vividly portrayed from a new perspective, which provides a map into previously uncharted territory. C The category "shared pathway or meaning" refers to the synthesis of a shared experience or process, as well as the integration of concepts that provide a complex picture of a phenomenon. D The findings describe the category "description of experiential variation."

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

ANS: D Feedback A This is not an example of "restricted by a priori frameworks," which describes a discovery being aborted because the researcher has obscured the findings with an existing theory. B This is not an example of "descriptive categories," which describes a phenomenon vividly portrayed from a new perspective. C This is not an example of "shared pathway or meaning," which describes a synthesis of a shared experience or process or integration of concepts that provides a complex picture of a phenomenon. 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.

. The nurse is critiquing a qualitative research study. Which question would be appropriate for the nurse to ask when critiquing the study's sample selection? a. Are the informants who were chosen appropriate to inform the research? b. If a particular approach is used to guide the inquiry, does the researcher complete the study according to the processes described? c. Does the researcher address the credibility, auditability, and fittingness of the data? d. Does the researcher place the report in the context of what is already known about the phenomenon (e.g., the existing literature)?

a. Are the informants who were chosen appropriate to inform the research?

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 gathering and data analysis occur simultaneously

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. Description of the lived experience

Which outcome or overall purpose would be consistent with a qualitative study? a. Development of creative solutions to practical problems b. Prediction and control of a human phenomenon c. Description of behavior within a context-free theoretical framework d. Use of statistical analyses to determine significant differences between variables

a. Development of creative solutions to practical problems

. Which criterion helps to determine whether the results of a qualitative study can be applied beyond the study sample or population? a. Evidence of fittingness or transferability of the findings b. Evidence of trustworthiness or validity of the findings c. Credentials and experience of the person applying the findings d. Statistical significance and reliability of the findings

a. Evidence of fittingness or transferability of the findings

The nurse is critiquing a qualitative research study. Which question would be appropriate for the nurse to ask when critiquing the study's credibility? a. Has adequate time been allowed to fully understand the phenomenon? b. Are the results meaningful to individuals not involved in the research? c. Does the investigator document the research process? d. What is the projected significance of the research to nursing?

a. Has adequate time been allowed to fully understand the phenomenon?

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. How do incarcerated prisoners interact with fellow prisoners who are known pedophiles?

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. In what ways do Puerto Rican women learn about health information?

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. 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

. 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. Participants are observed in natural settings 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.

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. The phenomenon of breast self-examination among African American women

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. The researcher is supporting the study's findings

The nurse researcher reports that after data collection was completed, a follow-up focus group session with participants was used to validate that the participants agreed the findings were true to their own experiences. What aspect of the study does this support? a. The study's credibility b. The study's auditability c. The study's transferability d. The study's fittingness

a. The study's credibility

. 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. Using theoretical sampling d. Changing approaches to data collection as data emerge

The identification of themes is important when reviewing findings of a qualitative research report because themes do what? a. Reflect congruence between the questions asked and the methodology b. Allow description of a large quantity of data in a condensed format c. Demonstrate both the emic and etic views of a topic d. Explain the nature of differences reported by participants experiencing a common phenomenon

b. Allow description of a large quantity of data in a condensed format

The nurse is critiquing a qualitative research study. Which question would be appropriate for the nurse to ask when critiquing the study's fittingness? a. Has adequate time been allowed to fully understand the phenomenon? b. Are the results meaningful to individuals not involved in the research? c. Does the investigator document the research process? d. What is the projected significance of the research to nursing?

b. Are the results meaningful to individuals not involved in the research?

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

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. Credibility d. Auditability f. Fittingness

When critiquing a report of a qualitative research study, the nurse asks, "Is protection of human participants addressed?" This question is critiquing what section of the report? a. Data analysis b. Data collection c. Statement of the phenomenon of interest d. Conclusions, implications, and recommendations

b. Data collection

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. Expressing the researcher's opinions or values to the participants

The nurse is critiquing a qualitative research study. Which question would be appropriate for the nurse to ask when critiquing the study's methodology? a. Are the informants who were chosen appropriate to inform the research? b. If a particular approach is used to guide the inquiry, does the researcher complete the study according to the processes described? c. Does the researcher address the credibility, auditability, and fittingness of the data? d. Does the researcher place the report in the context of what is already known about the phenomenon (e.g., the existing literature)?

b. If a particular approach is used to guide the inquiry, does the researcher complete the study according to the processes described?

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. Organization of data

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

. Which activity represents attention to credibility in a qualitative study? a. Ensuring that all subjects self-identified with a specific ethnic group. b. Providing direct quotations from study participants. c. Identifying the basic social psychological process (BSP) under study. d. Determining usefulness of the data outside of the study.

b. Providing direct quotations from study participants.

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. Researchers and participants may develop relationships that blur boundaries of their interactions. d. Researchers serve as instruments for data interpretation. e. Researchers may change the research design as knowledge emerges, thus altering risks to participants.

. During the critique of a qualitative research study, the nurse notes the statement, "Saturation was achieved at the completion of 20 interviews." What is the significance of this statement? a. The investigator should collect additional data. b. The data collection period has ended. c. Purposive sampling is now required. d. Random sampling should be initiated.

b. The data collection period has ended.

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 research design may require ongoing negotiation of consent.

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. The researcher is fully engaged, becoming a thoughtful presence during the interview.

In the report of a qualitative research study, what does a theme represent? a. A guideline for evaluating the appropriateness of the study b. The operational definition of the study's conceptual framework c. A label that describes key ideas shared by study participants d. The relationship between the study's hypotheses and the research questions

c. A label that describes key ideas shared by study participants

When critiquing a qualitative research study, the nurse asks, "Has the researcher remained true to the data?" This question is critiquing which area of the report? a. Method b. Data collection c. Data analysis d. Findings

c. Data analysis

. 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. 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

. Before applying the results of a qualitative study in practice, the nurse should take several actions including which of these actions? a. Use triangulation to combine quantitative and qualitative methods in a replication study. b. Evaluate the credentials and experience of the researcher who conducted the study. c. Determine if the concepts/themes identified in the study support the work completed by other researchers. d. Be sure that the study's findings were significant at the 0.05 or greater level of probability.

c. Determine if the concepts/themes identified in the study support the work completed by other researchers

. 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 the questions or statements posed to the study participants

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

Qualitative research is designed to describe what? a. Results of hypothesis testing b. Definitive conclusions to research questions c. Insiders' views of a human phenomenon d. Findings derived from a large, randomly selected sample

c. Insiders' views of a human phenomenon

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. People who participated in the study are described as informants

Which study characteristic would indicate that a grounded theory approach, rather than a phenomenologic approach, was used? a. Data were collected by more than one person. b. Participants reviewed and evaluated the transcripts for accuracy. c. The focus was on the process elements of the phenomenon. d. It studied a lived human experience.

c. The focus was on the process elements of the phenomenon.

. Which of the following elements would the nurse expect to see in a report of a grounded theory study? (Select all that apply). a. Hypotheses b. Independent variable c. Themes d. Basic social psychological process e. Statistical procedures f. Participant quotes g. Purposive sample

c. Themes d. Basic social psychological process f. Participant quotes g. Purposive sample

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. Theories are expected to emerge directly from the data and not from previous research.

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. To examine patterns of action and interaction between and among various types of social units

When critiquing a report of a qualitative research study, the nurse asks, "How has the researcher made explicit the significance of the study to nursing theory, research, or practice?" This question is critiquing what section of the report? a. Data analysis b. Data collection c. Statement of the phenomenon of interest d. Conclusions, implications, and recommendations

d. Conclusions, implications, and recommendations

. One outcome of collecting evidence about a phenomenon of interest in a qualitative research study may be what? a. Triangulation b. Participant cross-checking c. Metasynthesis d. Instrument development

d. Instrument development

. 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

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. Skilled observation of individuals in a social setting

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

d. Social science

What information in the report of a qualitative research study indicates to the nurse that the research meets the criterion of auditability? a. The study's participants recognize the experience described as their own. b. The results are meaningful to individuals beyond those in the study population. c. The projected significance of the study to nursing is described. d. The researcher documented how the data led to the conclusions.

d. The researcher documented how the data led to the conclusions.

Which of these titles of a research report indicates the study is qualitative, rather than quantitative? a. Predicting the treatment choice for women older than age 50 experiencing breast cancer b. Evaluating nursing interventions for complex oncology clinical phenomena c. Using virtual reality as a distraction method during chemotherapy d. Transcending pain during bone marrow aspiration

d. Transcending pain during bone marrow aspiration

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. White teenager's statement that being "skinny" is more socially acceptable than having a higher weight