Question 1

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?

Accepted Answer

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? 
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

Question 2

Which study characteristic would indicate that a grounded theory approach, rather than a phenomenologic approach, was used?

Accepted Answer

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. 
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

Question 3

Which of the following elements would the nurse expect to see in a report of a grounded theory study? (Select all that apply).

Accepted Answer

A)  Hypotheses 
B)  Independent variable 
C)  Themes 
D)  Basic social psychological process 
E)  Statistical procedures
F) Participant quotes
G) Purposive sample 
A)  Hypotheses 
B)  Independent variable 
C)  Themes 
D)  Basic social psychological process 
E)  Statistical procedures
F) Participant quotes
G) Purposive sample C, D, F, G

Question 4

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?

Accepted Answer

A)  Data analysis 
B)  Data collection 
C)  Statement of the phenomenon of interest 
D)  Conclusions, implications, and recommendations 
A)  Data analysis 
B)  Data collection 
C)  Statement of the phenomenon of interest 
D)  Conclusions, implications, and recommendations

Question 5

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?

Accepted Answer

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 
B)  The study's auditability 
C)  The study's transferability 
D)  The study's fittingness

Question 6

One outcome of collecting evidence about a phenomenon of interest in a qualitative research study may be what?

Accepted Answer

A)  Triangulation 
B)  Participant cross-checking 
C)  Metasynthesis 
D)  Instrument development 
A)  Triangulation 
B)  Participant cross-checking 
C)  Metasynthesis 
D)  Instrument development

Question 7

Which activity represents attention to credibility in a qualitative study?

Accepted Answer

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. 
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.

Question 8

What information in the report of a qualitative research study indicates to the nurse that the research meets the criterion of auditability?

Accepted Answer

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. 
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.

Question 9

Before applying the results of a qualitative study in practice, the nurse should take several actions including which of these actions?

Accepted Answer

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. 
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.

Question 10

The nurse is critiquing a qualitative research study. Which question would be appropriate for the nurse to ask when critiquing the study's credibility?

Accepted Answer

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? 
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?

Question 11

The nurse is critiquing a qualitative research study. Which question would be appropriate for the nurse to ask when critiquing the study's methodology?

Accepted Answer

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? 
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)?

Question 12

The nurse is critiquing a qualitative research study. Which question would be appropriate for the nurse to ask when critiquing the study's fittingness?

Accepted Answer

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? 
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?

Question 13

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?

Accepted Answer

A)  Method 
B)  Data collection 
C)  Data analysis 
D)  Findings 
A)  Method 
B)  Data collection 
C)  Data analysis 
D)  Findings

Question 14

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?

Accepted Answer

A)  Data analysis 
B)  Data collection 
C)  Statement of the phenomenon of interest 
D)  Conclusions, implications, and recommendations 
A)  Data analysis 
B)  Data collection 
C)  Statement of the phenomenon of interest 
D)  Conclusions, implications, and recommendations

Question 15

Qualitative research is designed to describe what?

Accepted Answer

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 
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

Question 16

In the report of a qualitative research study, what does a theme represent?

Accepted Answer

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 
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

Question 17

Which of these titles of a research report indicates the study is qualitative, rather than quantitative?

Accepted Answer

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 
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

Question 18

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?

Accepted Answer

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. 
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.

Question 19

Which criterion helps to determine whether the results of a qualitative study can be applied beyond the study sample or population?

Accepted Answer

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 
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

Question 20

The identification of themes is important when reviewing findings of a qualitative research report because themes do what?

Accepted Answer

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 
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

Exam 7: Appraising Qualitative Research

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?

Which study characteristic would indicate that a grounded theory approach, rather than a phenomenologic approach, was used?

Which of the following elements would the nurse expect to see in a report of a grounded theory study? (Select all that apply).

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?

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?

One outcome of collecting evidence about a phenomenon of interest in a qualitative research study may be what?

Which activity represents attention to credibility in a qualitative study?

What information in the report of a qualitative research study indicates to the nurse that the research meets the criterion of auditability?

Before applying the results of a qualitative study in practice, the nurse should take several actions including which of these actions?

The nurse is critiquing a qualitative research study. Which question would be appropriate for the nurse to ask when critiquing the study's credibility?

The nurse is critiquing a qualitative research study. Which question would be appropriate for the nurse to ask when critiquing the study's methodology?

The nurse is critiquing a qualitative research study. Which question would be appropriate for the nurse to ask when critiquing the study's fittingness?

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?

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?

Qualitative research is designed to describe what?

In the report of a qualitative research study, what does a theme represent?

Which of these titles of a research report indicates the study is qualitative, rather than quantitative?

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?

Which criterion helps to determine whether the results of a qualitative study can be applied beyond the study sample or population?

The identification of themes is important when reviewing findings of a qualitative research report because themes do what?

Integrating Research, Evidence-Based Practice, and Quality Improvement Processes

Research Questions, Hypotheses, and Clinical Questions

Gathering and Appraising the Literature

Theoretical Frameworks for Research

Introduction to Qualitative Research

Qualitative Approaches to Research

Introduction to Quantitative Research

Experimental and Quasi-Experimental Designs

Nonexperimental Designs

Systematic Reviews and Clinical Practice Guidelines

Sampling

Legal and Ethical Issues

Data Collection Methods

Reliability and Validity

Data Analysis: Descriptive and Inferential Statistics

Understanding Research Findings

Appraising Quantitative Research

Strategies and Tools for Developing an Evidence-Based Practice

Developing an Evidence-Based Practice

Quality Improvement

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