Research Exam 4

The researcher understands that which of the following would be an example of systematic error? a. A thermometer that indicates the body temperature as 0.1°F higher than the accurate temperature. b. The rapport of the subject with the data collector. c. The playfulness or seriousness of the situation during data collection. d. Variations in fatigue in subjects when measures are taken.

a. A thermometer that indicates the body temperature as 0.1°F higher than the accurate temperature.

Which of the following concern measurement reliability? Select all that apply. a. Accuracy b. Consistency of measurement c. Homogeneity d. Systematic error e. Heterogenity

a. Accuracy b. Consistency of measurement

Which of the following is not a characteristic of ANOVA? a. Can be used only with two groups b. Often requires post hoc tests to identify locations of differences c. Tests for differences between means d. F statistic used to report results

a. Can be used only with two groups

During data cleaning, the researcher will perform which of the following? Select all that apply. a. Check the data for accuracy b. Correct all errors c. Identify missing data points and supply the data d. Organize according to responses e. Sort according to demographics

a. Check the data for accuracy b. Correct all errors c. Identify missing data points and supply the data

Which of the following is related to inference? a. Conclusion or judgment based on evidence b. Logical movement from a general truth to a specific instance c. Researcher's guess about the outcomes of the study d. Theoretical application of study findings

a. Conclusion or judgment based on evidence

Evidence of validity of measurement can be obtained from examining which of the following? a. Contrasting groups b. Dependability c. Equivalence d. Stability

a. Contrasting groups

Match the definitions with the types of sampling. Subjects are not selected with probability sampling methods: a. Convenience sampling b. Probability sampling c. Cluster sampling d. Quota sampling e. Purposive sampling f. Network sampling

a. Convenience sampling

Which of the following is not a descriptive statistic? a. Correlational analysis b. Frequency distribution c. Mean d. Standard deviation

a. Correlational analysis

A researcher studying the strategies for breastfeeding mothers to use to reduce, prevent, and manage nipple pain is best described by which of the following types of design? a. Descriptive b. Ex post facto c. Experimental d. Quasi-experimental

a. Descriptive

Which of the following recruitment strategies would be the most effective in obtaining the desired number of subjects? a. Direct contact b. Mail contact c. Small groups d. Telephone contact

a. Direct contact

Identify the response that indicates the type of limitations, if any, on manipulation of the independent variable that might influence the researcher to select a nonexperimental research design based on the following research question: Does the use of certain tampons cause toxic shock syndrome? a. Ethical constraints limit manipulation. b. Independent variable cannot be manipulated. c. Manipulation is possible. d. Practical constraints limit manipulation.

a. Ethical constraints limit manipulation.

The nurse understands that homogeneity includes which of the following? a. Examines the correlation of various items within a scale b. Is measured by Cronbach's â-coefficient c. Splits the items in a scale and examines only the first half of items d. All the above

a. Examines the correlation of various items within a scale

Types of results from inferential statistical analyses include all except which of the following? a. Findings b. Not significant c. Significant c. Unpredicted

a. Findings

When evaluating a correlational design, which of the following would be included? Select all that apply. a. Large sample b. Low response rate of subjects c. Sample representing all elements of the population d. A wide range of values on each measure

a. Large sample c. Sample representing all elements of the population d. A wide range of values on each measure

The risk of a type II error increases with which of the following? Select all that apply. a. Low levels of power b. Small effect sizes c. Type I error d. Small samples

a. Low levels of power b. Small effect sizes d. Small samples

Which of the following would the nurse would not consider when critiquing the adequacy of a sample? a. Possibility of a type I error b. Potential biases in the sample c. Sample size d. Sampling criteria

a. Possibility of a type I error

Which of the following is a type of nonprobability sampling? a. Purposive b. Simple random c. Stratified d. Systematic

a. Purposive

Which of the following are requirements for an experimental study? Select all that apply. a. Random sampling b. Control group c. Repeated measures d. Control of the intervention

a. Random sampling b. Control group d. Control of the intervention

Match the definitions with the types of sampling. Expected difference in values that occurs when examining different subjects from the same sample: a. Random variation b. Systemic variation c. Target population d. Sampling frame

a. Random variation

Which of the following best describes physiological measures? a. They are described in detail in well-written research reports. b. They are easier to obtain than psychosocial measures. c. They are more valid than psychosocial measures. d. They are reliable when obtained from the patient's record.

a. They are described in detail in well-written research reports.

The purpose of a predictive correlation design is to predict the level of a. the dependent variable versus the independent variables. b. the independent variable versus the dependent variables. c. no causal relationships among variables. d. None of the above

a. the dependent variable versus the independent variables.

The research study has a threat to internal validity when which of the following occurs? a. valid rival hypothesis exists. b. Findings are generalized beyond the target population. c. The results of statistical analysis are incorrectly interpreted. d. There is a mismatch between the conceptual and operational definitions.

a. valid rival hypothesis exists.

The researcher understands that sensitivity of physiological measures is related to which of the following? a. Ability to distinguish the measure from other signals b. Amount of change that can be measured precisely c. Amount of variation in the equipment d. Evaluation of the adequacy of the operational definition

b. Amount of change that can be measured precisely

Which intervention should be included in research designs that test causality? a. An experimental test of the treatment as it is commonly provided b. Carefully developed to provide the most effective treatment possible c. Designed to minimize the differences between groups d. Unknown to increase knowledge of its usefulness

b. Carefully developed to provide the most effective treatment possible

A researcher wants to conduct a study examining the relationship between gender and heart disease. Which of the following methods would be most appropriate? a. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) b. Chi-square c. Pearson's r d. Regression analysis

b. Chi-square

How can the adequacy of a quantitative study's sample size best be evaluated? a. Analyzing the samples of previous studies b. Conducting a power analysis c. Determining the number of subjects in the target population d. Examining the design validity

b. Conducting a power analysis

What type of design validity is concerned with the fit between the conceptual and operational definitions of variables and that the instrument measures what it is supposed to in the study? a. External validity b. Construct validity c. Internal validity d. Statistical conclusion validity

b. Construct validity

In any study in which the data are numerical, data analysis begins with which of the following? a. Correlational statistics b. Descriptive statistics c. Hypothesis-testing statistics d. Predictive statistics

b. Descriptive statistics

A researcher wanted to study the elements or variables associated with fear. Which of the following would be an appropriate statistical measure? a. Chi-square b. Factor analysis c. Pearson's r d. t-test

b. Factor analysis

Which of the following should the researcher do when recruiting subjects for a study? a. Avoid difficult or unpleasant individuals. b. Follow the sampling criteria. c. Obtain large groups rather than individual contacts if direct contact is necessary. d. Use the telephone or mail whenever possible rather than direct contact.

b. Follow the sampling criteria.

The sample includes adults over the age of 18, able to read and speak English, and hospitalized for their first abdominal surgery. What is this an example of? a. Exclusion sampling criteria b. Inclusion sampling criteria c. Population statistics d. Sample characteristics

b. Inclusion sampling criteria

Identify the response that indicates the type of limitations, if any, on manipulation of the independent variable that might influence the researcher to select a nonexperimental research design based on the following research question: Does a nurse's gender affect salary and rate of promotion? a. Ethical constraints limit manipulation. b. Independent variable cannot be manipulated. c. Manipulation is possible. d. Practical constraints limit manipulation.

b. Independent variable cannot be manipulated.

Which of the following is true of a one-tailed test of significance? a. Increases the risk of a type II error b. Indicates that extreme scores on only one tail are considered significant c. Is referred to as no directional d. Is weaker than two-tailed tests

b. Indicates that extreme scores on only one tail are considered significant

The nurse understands that reliability includes which of the following? a. Can be generalizable b. Is concerned with the consistency of measurement c. Measures the amount of systematic error d. All the above

b. Is concerned with the consistency of measurement

Which of the following elements would a researcher expect to find in an experimental study? a. Absence of a control group b. Manipulation of the independent variable c. Broadly defined independent variable d. Random selection of subjects for the study

b. Manipulation of the independent variable

Which of the following statements about cause is incorrect? a. The effect cannot occur unless the cause first occurs. b. Most phenomena in nursing can be clearly pinned down to a single cause and a single effect. c. The greater the proportion of causal factors that can be identified and explored, the clearer the understanding of the phenomenon. d. The greater the understanding of cause, the greater the ability to predict and control the effect or outcome.

b. Most phenomena in nursing can be clearly pinned down to a single cause and a single effect.

Nurse researchers wanted to study the characteristics of parents who have abused their children. They initially identified parents who consented to participate in the study. Next, they asked these subjects to identify other individuals who might participate in the study. What sampling method was used in this study? a. Convenience b. Network c. Purposive d. Systematic

b. Network

The researcher understands which of the following pertains to using focus groups? a. Larger groups are desirable. b. People feel free to express their views. c. Recruitment of subjects is easily obtained. d. Segmentation is undesirable.

b. People feel free to express their views.

Match the definition with the types of sampling. Sample selection ensures that each element has a chance to be selected for the study. a. Convenience sampling b. Probability sampling c. Cluster sampling d. Quota sampling e. Purposive sampling f. Network sampling

b. Probability sampling

When the nurse is critiquing a study, it is important to identify which of the following possible sources of bias? a. Establishing a control group b. Purposive sampling c. Random assignment d. Timed intervention

b. Purposive sampling

Which of the following is not an example of a scale? a. Likert b. Questionnaire c. Rating d. Visual analog

b. Questionnaire

A researcher was conducting a phenomenological study of the lived experience of losing a limb. A convenience sampling method was used to obtain subjects. Subjects were recruited for the study until an equal number of males and females were obtained. The total sample was 14 (7 males and 7 females). What is the sampling method used in this study? a. Purposive b. Quota c. Stratified random d. Systematic

b. Quota

The research study has a type I error that may occur when which of the following occurs? a. Researcher concludes that there is no difference between groups when there is a difference. b. Researcher concludes that there are differences between groups when there is no difference. c. Sample size is large, thus increasing the applicability of the study. d. Study contains multiple extraneous variables increasing the likelihood of error.

b. Researcher concludes that there are differences between groups when there is no difference.

The number of participants or sample size in a qualitative study is adequate when which of the following occurs? a. A power analysis indicates the power of 0.8 is achieved. b. Saturation of data is achieved, and additional subjects provide no new information. c. The sample size is large enough to identify differences between groups in the study. d. The statistical analysis techniques identify significant findings.

b. Saturation of data is achieved, and additional subjects provide no new information.

Match the definitions with the types of sampling. Phenomenon that occurs when the selected subjects—measurement values vary in some way from those of the population: a. Random variation b. Systemic variation c. Target Population d. Sampling frame

b. Systemic variation

Data collected from previous research and stored in a database are considered ____________ data. a. primary b. secondary c. administrative d. tertiary

b. secondary

A researcher asked nurses in a hospital to participate in a study that examined the leadership of the hospital. A total of 500 subjects were asked to participate, and 200 consented to be in the study. What is the refusal rate for this study? a. 20% b. 40% c. 60% d. 80%

c. 60%

Match the definition with the types of sampling. Obtaining a population where composing a sampling frame is severely inhibited: a. Convenience sampling b. Probability sampling c. Cluster sampling d. Quota sampling e. Purposive sampling f. Network sampling

c. Cluster sampling

Which of the following is the purpose of exploratory data analysis? Select all that apply. a. Check the data for accuracy b. Correct all errors c. Determine the nature of variation in the data d. Identify outliers e. Obtain a better understanding of the data

c. Determine the nature of variation in the data d. Identify outliers e. Obtain a better understanding of the data

The nurse researcher understands that bias is a serious problem in a study because of its effect is to which of the following? a. Change the setting of the study b. Control the study findings c. Distort the study findings d. Reduce change of error

c. Distort the study findings

Which of the following is considered the most powerful design a researcher can use to examine causality? a. Correlational b. Descriptive c. Experimental d. Quasi-experimental

c. Experimental

The nurse researcher is explaining the purpose of control in a study design. This would include which of the following? a. Establish the credibility of the researcher. b. Highlight design flaws. c. Increase the probability that the results are true to reality. d. Interfere with the validity of the findings.

c. Increase the probability that the results are true to reality.

What do measures of dispersion indicate? a. Differences among samples b. Homogeneity, which indicates wider dispersion c. Individual differences of the members of the sample d. The central tendency of the sample

c. Individual differences of the members of the sample

Identify the response that indicates the type of limitations, if any, on manipulation of the independent variable that might influence the researcher to select a nonexperimental research design based on the following research question: Does assertiveness training affect psychiatric nurses' job performance? a. Ethical constraints limit manipulation. b. An independent variable cannot be manipulated. c. Manipulation is possible. d. Practical constraints limit manipulation.

c. Manipulation is possible.

Identify the response that indicates the type of limitations, if any, on manipulation of the independent variable that might influence the researcher to select a nonexperimental research design based on the following research question: Does the use of procedural touch by nursing staff affect patient morale? Select all that apply. a. Ethical constraints limit manipulation. b. An independent variable cannot be manipulated. c. Manipulation is possible. d. Practical constraints limit manipulation.

c. Manipulation is possible. d. Practical constraints limit manipulation.

The statement that heart disease is caused by stress, high cholesterol, gene expression, and dietary patterns reflects which perspective? a. Causality b. Effect c. Multicausality d. Probability

c. Multicausality

To judge statistical suitability while critiquing a study, the nurse researcher needs to know all except which of the following? a. Level of measurement b. Number of groups c. Reliability of the measures d. Whether the groups are dependent or independent

c. Reliability of the measures

The sample for a study was randomly selected from a list of registered nurses (RNs) obtained from the Board of Nurse Examiners (BNE) for Texas. The study had a cultural focus, so the final sample included 100 Caucasian, 100 Hispanic, and 100 African American RNs. What type of sampling method was used in this study? a. Convenience b. Simple random c. Stratified random d. Systematic

c. Stratified random

Match the definitions with the types of sampling. The number of subjects who meet the criteria of the study: a. Random variation b. Systemic variation c. Target population d. Sampling frame

c. Target population

Which statement accurately describes control in the study design? a. Researchers build controls into their study plan to maximize the influence of intervening forces on the findings. b. Control is very important in observational studies to ensure that the intervention is consistently implemented. c. The research report needs to reflect the controls implemented in a study and any problems that needed to be managed during the study. d. Researchers continually look for previously unidentified, dependent variables that might have an impact on the data being collected.

c. The research report needs to reflect the controls implemented in a study and any problems that needed to be managed during the study.

For what purpose is the t-test used? a. To describe relationships between two variables b. To examine differences among three or more groups c. To test for a significant difference between the means of two samples d. To test the power of a statistical procedure

c. To test for a significant difference between the means of two samples

Which of the following leads to a type I error? a. When data are not measured at the interval level b. When results are not significant c. When results indicate a significant difference when there is no difference d. When wrong statistical procedures are used

c. When results indicate a significant difference when there is no difference

Observational measures are used most commonly in _______________ research. a. correlational b. intervention c. qualitative d. outcomes

c. qualitative

Which of the following can be inferred from design validity? a. Presence of threats with serious biases b. Study integrity c. Whether the study design tests the framework propositions d. All of above

d. All of above

For what reason is it important to describe the sample? a. Allow readers to determine if the sample is similar to persons in their clinical setting b. Determine if groups being compared are equivalent c. Determine if the sample is representative of the target population d. All the above

d. All the above

In a published study, which of the following information should be provided about the data collection process? a. Number of potential subjects who declined to participate b. Strategies used to approach potential subjects c. The timing and settings in which measurements were taken d. All the above

d. All the above

The nurse researcher understands that a type II error may occur because of which of the following? a. A small sample b. Recently developed scales c. Minimal controls d. All the above

d. All the above

The nurse understands that measurement errors can be related to which of the following? a. A theoretical framework b. Survey tools c. The difference between the true score and what is measured d. All the above

d. All the above

The nurse understands that test-retest reliability includes which of the following? a. Assesses the consistency of repeated measures b. Assumes that the variable to be measured will remain the same at two testing times c. Assumes that variability in values is a result of measurement error d. All the above

d. All the above

The researcher understands the following to be true when data collection forms are used to record a. data from the patient record. b. demographic data. information provided orally c. by subject or family. d. All the above

d. All the above

The researcher understands the precision of physiological measures is related to which of the following? a. Maintained by recalibration of instruments b. Part of quality control testing c. The degree of reproducibility of measurements d. All the above

d. All the above

What is the purpose of replication studies? a. To decrease the acceptance of erroneous results b. To establish the credibility of findings c. To extend the generalizability of findings d. All the above

d. All the above

Which of the following describes the purpose of the Chi-square test of independence? a. Determines whether two variables are independent or related b. Has a high risk of a type II error c. Is a very weak statistical test d. All the above

d. All the above

Which of the following describes the tails of the normal curve? a. They are defined by the level of significance selected by the researcher. b. They are representative samples that may not belong to the same population. c. They are the extreme statistical values on the peripheral ends of the normal curve. d. All the above

d. All the above

The researcher would like to produce trustworthy data from measurements used in a study. Which of the following would the researcher ensure? a. Measurement error is reduced. b. Rules are provided to guide measurement. c. Values are assigned consistently from one subject to another. d. All the above are correct.

d. All the above are correct.

The researcher understands that exploratory analysis is used for all except which of the following? a. Become familiar with the data b. Examine measures of central tendency and dispersion for each variable c. Identify outliers d. Generalize to a larger population

d. Generalize to a larger population

Which of the following best explains power? a. It is the amount of variance allowed in the measured scores. b. It is the capacity of the computer to run complex statistical analyses. c. It is the degree to which the null hypothesis is false. d. It is the probability that a statistical test will detect a significant difference that exists.

d. It is the probability that a statistical test will detect a significant difference that exists.

The reliability and validity of physiological measures a. are acceptable in data obtained from the patient record. b. should not be included in research reports. c. can be assumed to be accurate. d. None of the above

d. None of the above

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

d. None of the above

Which of the following is an example of random measurement error? a. Actual measures smaller than the true measure b. Including elements of hope in our measure of self-concept c. Measuring blood sugar immediately after breakfast d. Punching the wrong key when entering data into the computer

d. Punching the wrong key when entering data into the computer

A nurse researcher conducted a grounded theory study of the self-care behavior of patients diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. Ten subjects were selected because they were judged to have strong self-care behavior, and 10 subjects were selected because of their poor self-care behavior. What sampling method was used in this study? a. Cluster b. Convenience c. Network d. Purposive

d. Purposive

Match the definitions with the types of sampling. Technique used to select underrepresented groups in the population: a. Convenience sampling b. Probability sampling c. Cluster sampling d. Quota sampling e. Purposive sampling f. Network sampling

d. Quota sampling

Grades on a multiple choice final examination are an example of which level of measurement? a. Ordinal b. Interval c. Nominal d. Ratio

d. Ratio

The most common purpose of a Pearson's correlation is to examine which of the following? a. Differences between groups b. Differences between variables c. Relationships among groups d. Relationships among variables

d. Relationships among variables

Match the definitions with the types of sampling. List of every potential subject in the population: a. Random variation b. Systemic variation c. Target population d. Sampling frame

d. Sampling frame

When interpreting research outcomes, the type of results that agree with those predicted by the researcher and support the logical links developed by the researcher among the framework, purpose, study questions, hypotheses, variables, and measurement tools is known as? a. Nonsignificant results b. Significant and unpredicted results c. Unexpected results d. Significant results

d. Significant results

Which of the following methods provides a sample that is most likely to be representative of the target population? a. Convenience sampling b. Purposive sampling c. Quota sampling d. Simple random sampling

d. Simple random sampling

A research article states that "participants were recommended by others already in the study." What is this an example of? a. Convenience sampling b. Quota sampling c. Random sampling d. Snowball sampling

d. Snowball sampling

A researcher asked nurses in a hospital to participate in a study that examined the leadership of the hospital. A total of 500 subjects were asked to participate, and 200 consented to be in the study. What does the sample in this study demonstrate? a. A probability sampling method b. Quota sampling c. Representativeness d. Systematic variation

d. Systematic variation

A researcher selected only people with a high intelligence quotient (IQ) to be in her study so that they would perform well on the multiple-choice tests administered to measure the subjects' knowledge in the study. This study demonstrates which of the following? a. Cluster sample b. Representative sample c. Stratified random sample d. Systematic variation in the sample

d. Systematic variation in the sample

In a comparison group intervention in a study focused on pain management of migraine headache sufferers, which of the following should be included? a. A treatment designed to vary considerably from one subject to another b. Complementary or alternative therapies c. No treatment for any of the subjects d. The standard treatment or protocol for migraine headaches

d. The standard treatment or protocol for migraine headaches

Which of the following does the normal curve indicate? a. Distribution of the values of a single sample b. Illustration of scores from several samples c. Real distribution of the values of a population d. Theoretical frequency distribution of all possible values in a population

d. Theoretical frequency distribution of all possible values in a population

Which of the following is a serious threat to the validity of mailed questionnaires? a. Quantitative statistics cannot be generated. b. Questionnaires present a greater opportunity for bias than interviews do. c. A slim spectrum of information can be obtained. d. Thirty percent of potential subjects return them.

d. Thirty percent of potential subjects return them.

The nurse researcher is attempting to identify the characteristics of a factorial design. Which of the following would be included in this design? a. Data from multiple studies b. One depended variable c. Probability hypotheses d. Two or more levels of a treatment

d. Two or more levels of a treatment

Control techniques are used in studies by researchers to increase which of the following? a. Applicability b. Generalizability c. Reliability d. Validity

d. Validity

Which of the following scales measures pain with facial expressions instead of numbers? a. Likert scale b. Rating scale c. Semantic differential scale d. Visual analog scale

d. Visual analog scale

A researcher wants to compare the results of two tests completed on the same group. Which of the following methods would be most appropriate? a. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) b. Chi-square c. t-test d. Z-score

d. Z-score

According to sampling theory, findings can be generalized to the a. individuals in the same social class as the sample. b. individuals receiving care in the same type of setting. c. sample under study. d. target population.

d. target population.

Match the definitions with the types of sampling. Specific selection of subjects with certain characteristics by the investigator to be in the study: a. Convenience sampling b. Probability sampling c. Cluster sampling d. Quota sampling e. Purposive sampling f. Network sampling

e. Purposive sampling

Match the definitions with the types of sampling. Securing individuals through social contacts for the study: a. Convenience sampling b. Probability sampling c. Cluster sampling d. Quota sampling e. Purposive sampling f. Network sampling

f. Network sampling