N547 Review Questions
Measurement error: A. is the difference between what exists in reality and what is measured by an instrument B. is primarily an issue in qualitative research C. can be precisely measured D. can be avoided with careful study design and implementation
A
Probing is a strategy used in interviewing to: A. elicit more information in a specific area B. make it clear that the interviewer is in charge C. limit the range of responses D. ensure a variety of interpretations of the question by different subjects
A
What are researchers doing when they extend the study findings from the sample in a study back to a larger population? A. generalizing findings B. identifying clinical significance C. reporting findings D. identifying implications
A
What is the purpose of interpretation of study results, a creative process that uses introspection, reasoning, intuition, and logic? A. to give meaning to and determine the usefulness of the findings for practice B. to perform action-oriented activities C. to transform findings into terms that can easily be understood D. to determine statistical significance of the findings
A
When interpreting a study's findings, why is it important to determine the validity and reliability of each measurement strategy used from the actual study data, even though these were identified from the literature as appropriate before being used for data collection? A. reexamining the measures for the current study helps to determine the strength of evidence available from the results B. the validity and reliability of measures don't need to be reexamined again if the measures were shown to be valid and reliable in another study C. statistics cannot be run until validity and reliability are rechecked D. the researcher needs to make sure that the measures were administered properly
A
Which of the following is the true definition of translational research? A. a new research methodology defined as the translation of basic scientific discoveries into practical applications B. the funding and development of research studies focused on clinical outcomes C. the process of translating the results of study findings into a publication for widespread distribution D. the translation of research findings into other languages so that outcomes research findings can be shaped globally
A
A master's in nursing FNP student's total score on a multiple-choice final pharmacology examination is an example of which level of measurement? A. ratio B. interval C. nominal D. ordinal
B
Evidence-based practice is: A. focused on developing national guidelines for use in a particular clinical area B. the meticulous integration of best research evidence with clinical expertise and patient values and needs in delivering quality, cost-effective health care C. the careful application of a systematic process for reviewing and synthesizing evidence in order to design and conduct research to answer health-related questions D. the conduct and synthesis of a number of high-quality studies in a particular health-related area
B
In using EBP, a PICOS question related to a relevant clinical question is developed to identify the nature and scope of the literature search, key words and best search strategy, and guidance for selecting articles for review and synthesis. What does this acronym stand for? A. population intervention, contrast, outcome, study question B. population, intervention, comparison, outcome, study design C. population, involvement, comparison, outcome, study design D. participants, intervention, comparison, outcome, study question
B
Interviews have which advantage over questionnaires for data collection? A. data collection is done more quickly, and larger samples can be used B. response rate is higher, and depth of meaning may be explored C. interviews are more objective and require little interpersonal skill or training D. inconsistency in data collection and subject bias are not problems with interviews
B
The amount of change in a physiological measure than can be precisely measured reflects the measure's: A. selectivity B. sensitivity C. accuracy D. precision
B
What has been the primary benefit of applying evidence-based practice in health care over the past two decades? A. greater awareness by nurses of the need for involving patients and healthcare providers in solving clinical problems B. enhanced outcomes for patients, healthcare agencies, and healthcare providers C. improved healthcare provider-patient communication D. improved communication among the members of various healthcare disciplines
B
Which of the following is not a source from which evidence must be evaluated A. measurement B. clinical applications of the findings C. data analysis process D. the research plan
B
Which one of the following statements accurately reflects the concept of instrument reliability? A. an instrument's reliability has no bearing on the power of the study to detect the differences or relationships in the population B. the greater the tool's reliability, the less random error there is in the measurement method C. homogenous samples yield a stronger evaluation of a tool's reliability D. the measure of a tool's reliability is not population-specific; reliability values, once established, are tool-specific and the same in each study in which the tool is used
B
Which statement does not accurately characterize study attrition? A. subjects who are lost to the study during the data collection period are part of study attrition B. subjects who fail to follow instructions and thus have a small percentage of missing data are considered to be a part of study attrition C. individuals who decline to participate in the study are not considered to be a part of study attrition D. patient deaths are considered to be a part of study attrition
B
A study presents the results from the development of a new tool. This tool was established to measure the level of anxiety perceived by nursing students. Which type of validity must this study document for the tool? SELECT ALL THAT APPLY A. criterion-related validity B. content validity C. concurrent validity D. construct validity
B, D
A researcher reports that the effect of his intervention did not lead to statistically significant differences between the intervention and control groups. Changes in scores were, however, in the direction anticipated based on his theoretical framework. What might this mean? A. the intervention should be abandoned B. the logic used in designing the study was faulty C. the sample may have been too small D. the study was poorly conducted
C
Diaries have which advantage over interviews? A. they rely heavily on self-reported verbal recall of events B. costs of using diaries are higher than conducting multiple interviews C. they allow respondents to record events and perceptions soon after the event D. the researcher can follow up to clarify or expand responses as they are recorded
C
For a questionnaire, what is the threshold response rate at which a researcher would begin to have concern about the sample's representativeness? A. 60% B. 25% C. 50% D. 70%
C
In developing a strategy for observational measurement, what does the researcher need to ensure? A. overlapping categories B. groupings have a high degree of inference C. consistency in observation D. subjectivity in measurement
C
Two types of measurement are direct and indirect. With which one of the following can direct measurement be used? A. stress B. pain C. vital signs D. self-concept
C
What is the first step in interpretation of data A. to forecast the usefulness of the findings B. to consider all the evidence that supports the validity of the study results related to the study purpose, objectives, questions, or hypotheses C. to consider both supportive and contradictory evidence related to the research purpose and objectives, questions, or hypotheses D. to consider all the evidence that contradicts the validity of the study results in order to avoid leading others to attempt an unnecessary replication
C
What is the term for generalizations based on accumulated evidence from many studies? A. conclusions B. recommendations C. empirical generalizations D. replications
C
Which of the following best describes a meta-analysis? A. it is the same as the systematic review done as part of the EBP process B. it involves the systematic compiling and integration of qualitative study results C. it involves statistically pooling the results related to a clinical problem from a number of previous studies to summarize the different studies' results D. it is the compiled summary of findings across qualitative reports to identify knowledge in a selected area
C
Which of the following statements about instrument validity is true? A. the validity of the instrument regardless of the situation or population in which it is used B. how stable the instrument's items are C. the validity of an instrument reflects the extent to which the instrument is able to measure the construct under investigation D. instrument validity is measured when it is being normed. In subsequent research, its validity always retains the same value. It is an absolute indicator.
C
Which one of the following is an example of random measurement error? A. measurement values always being two units smaller than true values B. using a survey instrument written at a high level of readability so that it is more interpretable by subjects with a higher level of education C. pressing the wrong key when entering a subject's data into the computer D. including elements of hope in the measure of self-concept
C
Which statement is true about structured interviews A. the questions asked should be generated spontaneously for each participant B. the most sensitive topics should be addressed first C. the interviewer is required to ask the question precisely as it has been designed D. broad questions are asked, such as "describe for me how you feel about..."
C
Which of the following reflect true statements about systematic and random measurement error? SELECT ALL THAT APPLY A. once the observed score is known, both the true score and random error can be calculated B. in most cases, random error is attributed to subjects' transient personal factors C. error is reduced by careful consideration of how the measurement tool captures the phenomenon of interest D. the smaller the error score, the more closely the observed score will reflect the true score
C, D
If you are examining several instruments to find the one most appropriate for your study, which should be of greatest concern? A. the instrument has been used in several studies, but there is little or no documentation in the literature of the validity and reliability of the instrument B. the instrument measures some of the elements that you need to measure, but not all. There is documentation of good validity and reliability for the instrument C. the instrument was recently developed by the author of a published study, which indicates that validity and reliability testing have not yet been conducted D. the instrument has been used in a number of studies that have not reported validity and reliability data. You find a recent article providing statistical evidence of low reliability and evidence that the instrument is not considered valid for measuring the concept of interest
D
In developing a questionnaire, the researcher should: A. avoid response sets with categories such as "don't know" or "uncertain" B. not copy questions from previous studies C. include as many questions on the topic as possible D. identify the essential content to be covered
D
Other than data related to the concepts being measured to address the research objectives, questions, or hypotheses, what data are often collected from subjects or their records to provide a context for interpreting the data? A. concurrent illnesses that are not the focus of the study B. health information about significant others to describe stress in the study participant's life C. information related to mental health history and genetics D. demographic data including age, gender, level of education, and income
D
Reliability coefficients greater than _ are considered to be high and stable A. 0.00 B. 0.70 C. 0.50 D. 0.80
D
The term reliability is best understood as reflecting: A. the appropriateness of an instrument to measure the concept being examined B. whether the items on the instruments reflect all the important components of the concept to be measured C. the match between the items on the instrument and the conceptual definition of the concept that it is supposed to measure D. the regularity of measurement of an attribute, item or situation
D
Which one of the following is an example of systematic error? A. rapport of the subject with the data collector B. variations in levels of fatigue in subjects when measures are taken C. the playfulness or seriousness of the situation during data collection D. a thermometer that routinely indicates the body temperature as 0.1 F higher than the accurate temperature
D
Which statement is not a true representation of the systematic review done as part of the EBP process? A. the systematic review involves a structured, comprehensive synthesis of the research literature to identify the best research evidence available to address an issue or problem in health care B. reviews should be conducted using a guideline for conducting systematic reviews, such as the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses C. reviews should involve reviewing not only randomized controlled clinical intervention quantitative research and national guidelines, but qualitative research, descriptive studies, and correlational studies as well D. systematic reviews are not something that nurses need to do, since international organizations, such as the Cochrane Collaborative, do reviews for ant patient care question submitted to them
D
Which statement is true about error in physiological measurement? A. physiological measures are reliable and stable over time B. physiological measures, because they involve well-calibrated medical instruments, are error-free C. physiological measures are objective and concrete; there is little error associated with them D. physiological measures are subject to several sources of error
D
Which type of reliability is examined by Cronbach's alpha? A. stability B. split-half reliability C. equivalence D. homogeneity
D
Which of the following is the most common result of interpretation of studies? A. non significant results B. serendipitous results C. significant results opposite of those predicted D. significant results consistent with those predicted E. mixed results
E
what type of research objective is the following statement? The aim of this research is to identify the extent to which a community sample of adolescent females in grades 9 thorough 12 in a public school report a desire to become pregnant during adolescence. A. predictive B. description C. difference D. relational
B
which statement about theoretical frameworks is not accurate A. frameworks allow the researcher to link study findings to nursing's body of knowledge B. frameworks are concrete structures of meaning C. frameworks are used to guide the development of the study D. frameworks are important in the interpretation phase of every quantitative study
B
A study that involved a chart review to obtain only information about a patient's smoking history, age, gender, and incidence of cardiovascular disease would require which type of review by an institutional review board? A. formal review B. exempt from review C. complete review D. expedited review
B
Characterizing a concept in terms of the operations or procedures by which it is to be measured for a specific endeavor is a way of expressing which of the following A. a variable B. an operational definition C. a conceptual model D. a conceptual definition
B
Coding is the process of: A. protecting the identity of the study participant B. transforming data into numerical symbols for entry into the computer C. providing abbreviated variable names for the database D. preventing access to the data by those not involved in the study
B
a nurse is hoping to study the effects of exercise on stress in nursing students. Prior to designing the study, a literature search is conducted using the terms "stress" AND "nursing student." The best database for the search is likely: A. Medline B. CINAHL C. Academic Search Premier D. PsycARTICLES
B
A group of oncology nurses studied the effect of participation in a structured exercise program of walking following mastectomy. The study purpose was to determine whether mild exercise decreased reported side effects of chemotherapy at 3, 6, and 9 months during the intervention period. The control group received chemotherapy without the structured program of exercise. This study is an example of which of the following? A. applied research B. basic research C. correlational research D. descriptive research
A
A nurse midwife has conducted a qualitative study exploring women's disenfranchised grief following an abortion (that is, her sense of not being able to grieve or discuss her sense of loss openly following the procedure). As she analyzes the narratives gathered, which type of reasoning will she use to gain a better understanding of this phenomenon? A. dialectic B. inductive C. deductive D. operational
A
A nurse researcher who studies nurses' job satisfaction plans a study to examine the characteristics of ICU travel nurses and the extent to which these nurses differ, with respect to job satisfaction scores, from other ICU nurses who are not travelers. What type of quantitative research design is this? A. comparative descriptive design B. correlational design C. time-dimensional design D. Quasi-experimental design
A
A nurse who works at a women's clinic wishes to study the experience of women with eating disorders who have experienced a miscarriage. Which one of the following research questions reflects a phenomenological approach? A. what is it like for women with eating disorders who have experienced a miscarriage? B. between 1990 and 2010 in London, what agencies arose that were capable of providing support for women with eating disorders who had experienced miscarriage? C. is the depression following miscarriage more severe in women with eating disorders than in women without eating disorders? D. within the culture of women with eating disorders, what are common supportive gestures extended to a woman who has miscarried?
A
A researcher proposes that adolescent pregnancy rates are associated with communication effectiveness, study skills, knowledge of the basic facts of sex and reproduction, home visitation support, and peer support. This is an example of which of the following? A. a relational statement B. a conceptual mapping C. a hierarchical statement set D. a directional hypothesis
A
Adult study participants with diminished autonomy require what type of documentation of informed consent? A. formal written consent form signed by a legally authorized guardian B. videotaping of the consent process for participation in any study C. short-form written acceptance form D. tape recording of consent process for participation in low-to-moderate risk studies
A
In quantitative studies, researchers make a formal statement about the expected relationship between two or more variables in a specified population. This formal statement is called a research: A. hypothesis B. purpose C. question D. objective
A
Nursing practice, exploring research priorities of funding agencies, and professional organizations' priorities are major sources for A. identifying a research problem for study B. determining which literature to review C. developing a framework to guide the research D. identifying assumptions about the population of interest
A
Qualitative and quantitative methodologies differ in a variety of ways. Which statement reflects a characteristic that is not descriptive of quantitative research? A. it is mainly used to develop theory B. the basic elements of analysis are numerical data C. data are analyzed using statistical procedures D. having a representative sample of the population allows for generalization of findings
A
The 3 major abstract thought processes important to nursing are A. introspection, intuition, and reasoning B. introspection, research and science C. intuition, research and theory D. reasoning, research and theory
A
The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality is the lead agency for A. supporting research to improve the quality of health care, reduce health care costs, improve patient safety, and decrease medical errors B. managing data regarding the effects of chronic illness on quality of life C. the conduct of basic and clinical research in medicine D. identifying effective strategies to broaden access to care to decrease health disparities
A
The Declaration of Helsinki spelled out differences between therapeutic and non therapeutic research. Which statement about non therapeutic research is accurate? A. the main purpose of nontherapeutic research is to produce understanding that may help future patients but not the study participant B. less care needs to be exercised in non therapeutic research to protect the subjects, because there are no known risks in the study C. participants in nontherapeutic research often experience beneficial results because of participating in the study D. there is no need to have a signed consent for non therapeutic research studies, because little injury could result
A
The different types of qualitative research are consistent with particular philosophical perspectives or traditions. The philosophy shapes the view of science that in turn shapes the approaches and methods selected for the study. What type of qualitative research study identifies no formal approaches or methods with which researchers examine the phenomenon of interest? A. exploratory-descriptive B. ethnographic C. grounded theory D. phenomenology
A
The type of reasoning represented below is considered deductive because of the following reasoning Premise 1: Clients with untreated right-sided heart failure experience shortness of breath Premise 2: client Y has a new diagnosis of right-sided heart failure and has not started treatment Conclusion: client Y will report having experienced SOB A. progresses from general premise to a particular conclusion B. progresses from specific observation to a general statement
A
What are the three principal components of Donabedian's theory? A. outcomes of care, structures of care, and processes of care B. continuous quality improvement, periodic review, and attribution C. provider, recipient of care, and aspect of health D. the physician, the nurse and the patient
A
What was the major outcome resulting form the publication in the early 1920s of the Goldmark Report recommendations? A. recognition of the need to improve nursing education through teaching nursing in university settings B. the establishment of the National Center for Nursing Research C. the mandate to monitor patient morbidity and mortality rates in hospitals D. founding of the American Nurses' Association
A
When subjects are selected because they happen to be in the right place at the right time, the sampling method is referred to as: A. convenience sampling B. simple random sampling C. quota sampling D. proportionate sampling
A
Which of the following is the standard for the ethical conduct of biomedical research, which formed the foundation for the protection of all human subjects and addressed voluntary consent, right to withdraw, protection from harm, and the balance of risks and benefits? A. The Nuremberg Code B. The Declaration of Helsinki C. The National Commission for the Protection of Human Subjects of Biomedical and Behavioral Research D. The Regulations of the U.S. Department of Health, Education, and Welfare
A
Which one of the following is not a researchable question, as stated? A. what will be the result of global warming? B. does a near-death experience change the way a person thinks about the afterlife? C. are persons who have had a colon resection for recurrent diverticulitis more likely than other persons to suffer from bowel obstruction after the age of 65? D. what is the average percentage of apartment-dwellers in New York City owning pets?
A
Which statement accurately characterizes sampling theory? A. it describes an effective means for obtaining a sample that accurately reflects the population being studied B. it is useful in telling the researcher what research design to use C. it explains how study findings should be generalized to populations that differ from the sample D. it is a type of theory which could be used by researchers as a basis for a research study
A
Which statement does not accurately characterize concepts and constructs and the differences or similarities between them? A. both concepts and constructs are abstractions, both are equally abstract B. very abstract concepts are sometimes referred to as constructs C. constructs can subsume multiple concepts D. both concepts and constructs are abstractions, but constructs tend to be more abstract than concepts
A
A quasi-experimental design is an interventional design that lacks which of the following? (SELECT ALL THAT APPLY) A. random assignment B. random selection C. the presence of a separate and distinct control group D. a researcher-enacted intervention E. measurement off effect of the intervention
A, C, D
According to the algorithm for quantitative design types, which of the following are true (SELECT ALL THAT APPLY) A. experimental designs do more than merely describe B. an experimental design is a combination of the correlational design and the quasi-experimental design C. no intervention is present in descriptive or correlational research D. an interventional study lacking researcher manipulation of the independent variable, a distinct control group, or random assignment is quasi-experimental
A, C, D
Qualitative data collection can be accomplished through which of the following strategies? SELECT ALL THAT APPLY A. review of documents and images B. secondary analysis of quantitative data C. interviews D. observation of behavior
A, C, D
What parts should be included in a research question? SELECT ALL THAT APPLY A. the study variables, if appropriate B. the study design C. a questioning part D. what is to be learned E. the population of interest, if appropriate
A, C, D, E
When searching databases, it is important for the researcher to identify keywords to enter into the search process. Which statements are true about keywords? SELECT ALL THAT APPLY A. the researcher may need to find synonyms or alternate terms to describe the concepts B. it is not appropriate to include the population, interventions, measurement methods, or outcome variables among the keywords in a search of a database since this complicates the search C. identification of keywords for the core concepts of the study will yield sufficient citations for the literature review D. keywords are everyday words and phrases used for the major concepts or variables in the study for which the researcher is seeking information E. Wikipedia and blogs are not to be used for gathering preliminary information on a topic
A, D, E
There are 4 basic steps in the processes of reading and critically appraising sources. What activity or activities might help the reader enhance his or her own comprehension? A. determine whether the publication represents a primary or secondary source of information B. highlight or note important content and ideas throughout the article C. develop a summary statement about what is presented in the set of articles reviewed D. quickly review the entire article for general content
B
What is meant by the term construct validity A. the design chosen for the study is appropriate for the research purpose and question B. whether a study measures the concepts it purports to measure C. the extent to which the findings reflect true relationships, rather than the result of the effects of extraneous variables D. the extent to which study findings can be generalized beyond the sample used in the study
B
What is the primary reason that a qualitative researcher might access the literature following data analysis rather than in the early stages of research design? A. qualitative research is interpretive. Knowledge of the literature could prevent interpretation B. the researcher wants to base data analysis on the data, not the literature review C. the process of moving ahead with a study progresses more quickly if data can be collected first, followed by the literature review D. all qualitative types of research postpone literature review until after data analysis is complete
B
What is the purpose of longitudinal design A. to describe the effect of time on a variable B. to examine change in variable(s) of interest over time by remeasuring the variable(s) in the same subjects C. to describe the effect of time on a process by simultaneous examination of various subjects in different stages of that process D. to demonstrate that time is the cause of several effects
B
What is the purpose of the codebook? A. to protect study participants' right to privacy B. to identify each variable and give it a shortened name and descriptive label C. to keep a record or programming for data analyses D. to provide easy data collection
B
What is the term used to describe a qualitative researcher's awareness of personal biases and past experiences that might influence responses to either the participants or the data, and the use of that awareness, so that the data can be analyzed honestly and intellectually A. an emic view B. reflexivity C. bracketing D. an etic view
B
What term describes a statement about an area in which nursing's knowledge base is incomplete, related to general understanding, practice implications, or theory? A. research question B. research problem C. research design D. research purpose
B
Which of the following is not a human right that requires protection during the conduct of a research study? A. right to fair treatment B. right to the new treatment C. right to self-determination D. right to privacy
B
Which one of the following statements does not accurately represent concepts about sample size in qualitative research A. the focus in qualitative research is on the quality of information obtained from the person, situation, event, or documents samples, rather than on sample size B. representativeness of the sample is best accomplished through random selection of study participants whenever possible C. sample sizes in qualitative research methodologies are smaller than in quantitative research D. the criterion for determining the adequacy of the sample size is when data saturation occurs
B
Which one of the following statements does not accurately represent concepts about sample size in qualitative research? A. the focus in qualitative research is on the quality of information obtained from the person, situation, event, or documents sampled, rather than on sample size B. representativeness of the sample is best accomplished through random selection of study participants whenever possible C. sample sizes in qualitative research methodologies are smaller than in quantitative research D. the criterion for determining the adequacy of the sample size is when data saturation occurs
B
Which statement accurately reflects the relationship between the sample generalization? A. narrowly defining the accessible population enhances generalizability of findings B. if the study population was representative of the target population, the researcher can generalize the findings to that population C. if the study population was representative of the accessible population, bias is avoided and generalizations can be made D. if the entire population is that target of the study, there is no need for generalizations
B
Which statement is true about obtaining permission for a child's participation in research? A. assent from the child need not be sought if a parent or legal guardian agrees to the study B. children 9 years and older with normal cognitive development should be asked to assent to participation in research C. if the child provides assent and is willing to participate in the study, the researcher can proceed D. children cannot be asked for assent until they are at least 15 years of age
B
Which statement is true about studies in which the intervention is expected to have a small effect size? A. the researcher is encouraged to set the study's power to detect differences at 0.70 B. differences between groups will be more difficult to detect C. findings will have a high level of clinical significance D. a small sample will be sufficient to allow detection of differences between groups
B
Which statement is true about studies in which the intervention is expected to have a small effect size? A. the researcher is encouraged to set the study's power to detect differences at 0.70. B. differences between groups will be more difficult to detect C. findings will have a high level of clinical significance D. a small sample will be sufficient to allow detection of differences between groups
B
Which terms best describe the following hypothesis? Guided-imagery relaxation produces lower heart rate, lower blood pressure, and lower perceived anxiety levels in adults practicing the technique, compared with those not using the technique A. simple, causal, research B. complex, causal, directional C. simple, directional, research D. complex, nondirectional, null
B
Why should exclusion criteria be considered carefully in establishing eligibility criteria? A. the researcher can avoid having to write a justification for excluding certain subjects or elements B. although they may eliminate known extraneous variables, exclusion criteria limit the researcher's ability to generalize findings C. They more clearly define those to be included in the study by specifying who is not to be included D. they ensure that the researcher obtains a homogenous sample
B
The primary distinction(s) between grand theories and middle-range theories is/are which of the following? SELECT ALL THAT APPLY A. both grand and middle-range theories are called substantive theories because they both address issues of importance to clinical nursing practice B. middle-range theories focus more on explanation and implementation than do grand theories C. middle-range theories address more specific phenomena than do grand theories D. middle-range and grand theories both address specific phenomena; the distinction lies in the theories' direct application to nursing practice
B, C
Which statement(s) accurately characterize(s) hypotheses? SELECT ALL THAT APPLY A. the hypothesis specifically states the research design to be used in the research B. a single research study may have several hypotheses C. the hypothesis includes at least two variables and a statement predicting how these variables are related D. all quantitative research studies have a research hypothesis E. a hypothesis predicts the relationship between two variables
B, C
Evidence-based practice in nursing should do which of the following? SELECT ALL THAT APPLY A. be based exclusively on findings from nursing research studies B. consider the nurses' clinical expertise and the needs, values, preferences, and culture of the patients along with the research evidence C. reflect solely empirical studies about current practice with patients or families D. synthesize findings from any array of quality studies directly or indirectly addressing nursing practice
B, D
Which of the following reflect the primary differences between a research question and a research hypothesis? SELECT ALL THAT APPLY A. a research question is worded in the present tense, while the hypothesis is worded in the past tense B. research questions are interrogative statements; hypotheses are declarative C. more variables are listed in a research question than in a hypothesis D. hypotheses state a predicted or expected outcome and are tested E. a research question is more concrete than is a hypothesis
B, D
A hypothetical population is: A. a list of all members of the accessible population B. a population that is not generated from real clinical situations, but a population that is anticipated by the researcher C. a population that cannot be defined because a list of all members of that population cannot be obtained D. found only in large databases
C
A major focus of ongoing research in nursing is the development and refinement of sets of nursing-sensitive patient outcomes. Which one of the following best defines a nursing-sensitive patient outcome indicator? A. an incident of harm to a nurse, resulting from a patient-care encounter B. a common action performed by a nurse that is especially sensitive to the nurse's mood or general healthiness and well-being C. a patient outcome that is at least partially attributable to nurses or nursing D. a positive outcome accruing to a patient because of a nurse's sensitivity
C
A researcher interviews 14 participants, analyzes the data, and produces a framework presenting ideas that seem to be connected with willingness to undergo routine colonoscopy at recommended intervals. The ideas are family history of colon cancer, marital status, presence of polyps with initial colonoscopy, and religious belief. What type of research is this? A. exploratory-descriptive B. phenomenology C. grounded theory research D. ethnography
C
Demographic variables are attributes of subjects that are collected to allow the researcher to do which one of the following? A. identify environmental factors that might influence findings in an intervention study B. identify extraneous variables so that they can be controlled C. develop a description or profile of the sample D. change the environment so that the subjects are more comfortable with participating in the study
C
Participation in research is important for all nurses, and the American Nurses Association has identified the level of participation based on education. According to this organization, master's-prepared nurses are expected to A. conduct independent, funded research projects B. implement a program of funded research C. collaborate in research projects and provide clinical expertise for research D. develop nursing knowledge through research and theory development
C
Research hypotheses may be classified as "associative" or "causal". Which statement accurately describes an associative hypothesis? A. it suggests that two or more groups will be compared on some variable of interest B. it examines cause and effect relationships between variables C. it identifies variables that vary or change together in an identified population D. it states that there is no association between variables in the identified population
C
Sample size should be determined based on: A. the tradition of having at least 30 subjects per variable B. feasibility of acquiring study participants, given the type of subjects and the setting C. calculating the sample based on the ability of the study to detect actual differences D. the number obtained in previous similar studies
C
The ethical principle of justice related to which one of the following? A. ensuring participants will not be penalized if they withdraw from a study B. balancing participants' risks with benefits to ensure "doing good" and not doing harm C. the fair treatment and fair selection of subjects D. treating subjects as autonomous agent who can make their own decisions
C
The purpose of this study is to determine the effect on tumor regression and kidney function of a program of weekly chemotherapy admission in which dose size is tapered so that 2/3 of the total medication is delivered during the first third of treatments, with decreasing amounts administered during the remainder of the treatments." What methodology is indicated by this purpose? A. outcomes research B. qualitative research C. quantitative research D. mixed methods
C
The reasons for examining the design validity of a non interventional design including which of the following? A. to judge the credibility of the researcher B. to determine whether the researcher followed ethical guidelines for recruitment and consenting C. to help determine the usefulness of the study findings D. to be able to assess whether the independent variable really caused the change in the value of the dependent variable
C
What is the initial question the researcher should ask when designing a research study? A. what the of data analysis techniques will be used? B. what research methodology is the norm in the research topic area? C. what is the research question D. what instruments will be used to measure the variables in the study
C
What type of quantitative research involves the systematic investigation of relationships between or among variables? A. descriptive research B. grounded theory research C. correlational research D. philosophical inquiry
C
When a study participant's identity cannot be linked with their individual responses, even by the researcher, the participant is said to have which of the following? A. privacy B. fair treatment C. anonymity D. confidentiality
C
Which of the following is an assumption of historical philosophy? A. historical knowledge can be derived from data by using a mathematical formula B. there is nothing new that can be learned from reviewing past historical records C. knowledge gained about past events increases understanding of the past, present, and the future D. researchers cannot expect that peoples' experiences differ from those of the past, because individuals are essentially the same across time
C
Which of the following is one of the principal differences between quantitative and qualitative research? A. qualitative data may be measured; quantitative data are both measured and analyzed statistically B. qualitative research uses naturalistic settings; quantitative research does not C. quantitative research is judged to lack rigor if flexibility in data collection or data analysis is displayed. Flexibility in data collection and analysis is permitted in qualitative research D. inductive thinking characterizes quantitative research; deductive thinking is required for qualitative research
C
Which of the following is the most critical goal during data collection? A. getting a large number of subjects B. speed C. consistency D. obtaining assistance with data collection
C
Which of the following studies represent retrospective research A. a researcher spends a week in the online library, performing a literature review B. a university professor follows 30 subjects, collecting data each semester for 4 years, related to grade point average C. on June 30th every year the nurse manager collects data for the entire fiscal year, comparing sick leave per nurse per month in February with sick leave per nurse per month in May D. An animal researcher administers standard multivitamins to one group of rabbits and double doses to the other group of rabbits, measuring linear growth
C
Which one of the following is the most useful first question to ask when deciding upon the design for a quantitative research study? A. which analyses will be performed on the data, in order to answer the research question? B. what do i need to do to best control for extraneous variables C. is the study interventional or non interventional: will a cause-and-effect relationship be tested D. can I eliminate bias from the study by choosing one design rather than another
C
Which type of reasoning is represented in the following example? Observation 1: an altered level of comfort is experienced with invasive abdominal surgery Observation 2: An altered level of comfort is experienced with invasive facial surgery Observation 3: an altered level of comfort is experienced with invasive dental surgery Conclusion: therefore, any invasive surgery leads to an altered level of comfort A. problematic B. operational C. inductive D. deductive
C
Wide variations in philosophy allow for both empirical and humanistic-naturalistic research traditions to have credibility in nursing. Which one of the following statements are synonyms, respectively, for these two approaches? A. subjective/quantitative and objective/qualitative B. objective/qualitative and subjective/quantitative C. objective/quantitative and subjective/qualitative D. phenomenological and correlational
C
A statement that "the relationship between two concepts is expected to be linear and positive" can be translated as which one of the following? SELECT ALL THAT APPLY A. a positive relationship states that the changes in concepts will benefit the subject B. as values of Concept A increase, values of Concept B are expected to decrease C. as values of Concept A decrease, values of Concept B are expected to decrease D. as values of Concept A increase, values of Concept B are expected to increase
C, D
Although most published qualitative studies do not identify a theoretical framework, there is a theoretical basis for the main types of qualitative research, which adhere to specific philosophies and methods. Why is this so? A. all qualitative studies share the common theoretical framework of post positivism B. the results of a qualitative study represent the theoretical framework for that study C. all qualitative research has a theoretical framework, just as does quantitative research. It just isn't stated in the research report, so as not to confuse the reader D. the philosophical background of the individual approach represents the theoretical framework
D
In a study examining cause-and-effect interactions, what is the name of the variable that is the stimulus or activity to be varied to create an effect on the outcome? A. dependent variable B. research variable C. extraneous variable D. independent variable
D
In contrast to quantitative research study participants who are selected to be as representative of a population as possible, qualitative research participants are selected because they: A. are experienced in qualitative research methods B. are philosophically attuned to the use of narratives and narrative analysis as the best means to convey their experience to the researcher and to others C. meet the requirements for involvement in the study that the researcher specified at the outset of the study's implementation D. have experienced the phenomenon of interest
D
In most research reports the researcher states at least one hypothesis. Which of the following is true of the statistical or null hypothesis? A. it is not considered unless it is explicitly stated in the research study B. it states the opposite direction of what the researcher anticipates will happen C. it states that any identified relationships or interactions have no clinical relevance D. it specifies there is no relationship or no interaction between variables being studied
D
In order, largest to smallest, first to last, what are the three items that must be decided upon when planning research? A. the research design, the research strategy, and the research methods B. the research design, the research methodology, and the research strategy C. the research methods, the research strategy, and the research methodology D. the research methodology, the research design, and the research methods
D
Nursing studies in the 1990s primarily focused on A. nursing education B. characteristics of nurses and nursing roles C. steps of the nursing process D. clinical nursing practice
D
Reading and critiquing research reports are important steps in the review of literature. The first step in reading a research report is to skim it. This means that the reader A. carefully read all of the components of the study and make notes about what he or she thinks is important B. read only the abstract, conclusions, and/or summary of the study to know whether it is relevant C. carefully read and critique elements of the study D. quickly review the article to get an overall sense of the content
D
Research hypotheses may be classified in terms of being simple or complex. In stating that he or she is testing a complex hypothesis, what is the researcher saying? A. two groups of subjects are included in the study B. the variables have been defined in complex terms C. two variables are included which may be either causal or associative D. more than two variables are included in the hypothesis to be addressed
D
The __ is a selected group of people or elements included in a study; the __ is a particular group of people who are the focus of the research A. sampling frame; target population B. accessible population; sample C. sample; target population D. sample; population
D
The federal government has mandated that nursing homes, home healthcare agencies, and hospitals collect and report specifically measured care quality variables to the government. What was the rationale for this mandate? A. to encourage hospitals to involve nurses more in healthcare provision decisions B. to make information about other area hospitals available to hospital administrators C. to make sure that researchers had access to data D. to address the considerable variation in the quality of health care in these structures
D
The processing of ideas in order to reach conclusions is termed A. data analysis B. validation C. introspection D. reasoning
D
The purpose of a study was to identify whether there was a relationship between the number of days each month that nurses sat down at the bedside of patients uninterrupted on a particular unit for at least 5 minutes and the unit's patient satisfaction scores. This purpose statement indicates that this is probably which kind of study? A. quasi-experimental B. descriptive C. experimental D. correlational
D
The setting in which descriptive studies are most often conducted is in A. highly controlled setting, such as a laboratory B. partially controlled setting to control for factors like temperature, noise and interruptions C. setting where participants can be randomly assigned to a control or intervention group D. natural setting, such as a home, hospital or school
D
There are many sources for identifying research problems in nursing. Probably the single most valuable source of research problems is practice. Research based on practice issues must be which of the following? A. concerned with life-and-death issues, rather than reflective of minor concerns B. documented in a professional journal C. a research priority of a professional organization D. based on what working nurses in an area identify as important
D
What are sampling criteria? A. characteristics of subjects who participated in a study B. rules designed to ensure that samples for descriptive and correlational studies are very homogenous C. rules designed to limit the effects of the independent variable on the dependent variable D. a list of the characteristics essential to be included in the target population from which a sample is drawn
D
What is the focus of ethnographic research A. to develop interventions to change cultures B. to validate the researcher's perspective of the culture by observing and interacting in the culture C. to study cultures that are remote or foreign to add to our understanding of the world D. to explore social interactions in the context of culture, so as to provide a description
D
What is the primary purpose and function of the National Institute of Nursing Research? A. to support the implementation of evidence-based health care in hospitals through accreditation mechanisms B. to promote outcomes research related to quality and cost-effectiveness of patient care C. to publish research in order to disseminate findings and to promote use of research in practice D. to give recognition to nursing as a research discipline and to support basic and clinical nursing research and the dissemination of findings
D
Which federal funding agency has outcomes research as its principal focus A. National Quality Forum B. National Institutes of Health C. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services D. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality
D
Which is the best way for the researcher to maintain control and consistency during data collection? A. avoid intervening with data collection problems, as this might change how data are coded and entered B. adhere to the original research plan no matter what occurs to ensure study integrity C. observe for previously unidentified extraneous variables that might have an impact on the data being collected, and intervene as necessary to control these extraneous variables D. have a research team member available to subjects while they complete essential questions, to help ensure that forms are filled out completely and correctly
D
Which of the following captures the meaning of the term "research problem" A. the research problem explains why a research study is collected B. the research problem is the stated reason that a knowledge gap should be addressed C. the research problem describes what is known and what is not known in an area D. the research problem is an area in which nursing's knowledge base is not yet complete
D
Which of the following does not accurately describe the National Database of Nursing Quality Indicators program? A. NDNQI conducts an analysis of submitted data to examine correlations between nursing workforce characteristics and outcomes B. quarterly and annual reports of structure, process, and outcome indicators are available 6 weeks after the reporting periods close C. member healthcare facilities submit quarterly data via the Web to the processing center at the University of Kansas, School of Nursing D. participation in NDNQI is mandatory
D
Which of the following is an example of a testing threat to the internal validity? A. extreme values on an instrument may resolve naturally over time B. events can happen during the conduct of a study that influence how subjects respond to treatment or in how they answer survey items C. answering a large number of test questions may make subjects tired, frustrated, or bored, so they answer questions at the end of the task differently D. participants being retested with the same instrument may remember how they answer previously or may have learned as a result of the test itself
D
Which one of the following statements best characterizes scientific rigor in qualitative studies? A. data-collection methods are prescribed before the study begins, the sample is representative, and there is strict adherence to prescribed procedures during data collection and analysis B. there is no need to adhere to the philosophy underlying the method: qualitative research rico pertains only to data collection and assurances that information obtained from participants is accurate C. protocols for data collection include strict adherence to the content of interview questions and the order in which they are asked D. methods are congruent with the underlying philosophical perspective, analysis reflects the perspective of the participants, and data are collected with sensitivity and thoroughness
D
Which statement is true about quasi-experimental designs? A. they are inferior to experimental designs in most aspects B. they may be used to establish correlations between variables when an experimental study is not feasible C. threats to internal validity cannot be adequately controlled without severely threatening external validity in these studies D. they are an alternative for establishing causality when an experimental study might not be ethical or feasible
D
Which statement is true about research hypotheses? A. they are stated at a high level of abstraction and are found in conceptual models B. they are stated as general questions to be addressed in research C. they are broader in scope than specific propositions found in theories D. they are stated at the concrete level of abstraction and are testable
D
Which strategy improves the representativeness of a sample A. limiting the sample to a particular setting or type of setting B. not allowing characteristics that influence study variables to vary C. using the sample to establish population parameters D. selecting a sample that is as much like the population of interest in as many ways as possible
D
Why do federal regulations specify that the makeup of the institutional review board should reflect various backgrounds? A. gender studies have not been common until recently, and females react differently to different treatments B. awareness of local customs and cultures means that both IRB members and researchers understand issues of concern in diverse populations C. there is now great interest in researching healthcare issues in persons of different cultures D. this practice ensures that all research projects presented to the IRB will receive fair examination and not be denied without discussion
D