Question 1

A nurse researcher assigns half a study sample to an experimental group and the other half to a control group. What does this action represent?

Accepted Answer

A)  Instrumentation of the independent variable 
B)  Manipulation of the mediating variable 
C)  Elimination of the mediating variable 
D)  Manipulation of the independent variable 
A)  Instrumentation of the independent variable 
B)  Manipulation of the mediating variable 
C)  Elimination of the mediating variable 
D)  Manipulation of the independent variable D

Question 2

External validity refers to which of these issues?

Accepted Answer

A)  The relationship existing between the independent variable and the study outcomes 
B)  The influence of a specific event on the independent variable 
C)  The degree to which extraneous or mediating variables interfere with the study outcomes 
D)  The degree to which findings are generalizable to populations beyond those studied 
A)  The relationship existing between the independent variable and the study outcomes 
B)  The influence of a specific event on the independent variable 
C)  The degree to which extraneous or mediating variables interfere with the study outcomes 
D)  The degree to which findings are generalizable to populations beyond those studied D

Question 3

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

Accepted Answer

A)  Maturation 
B)  Selection effects 
C)  Reactivity 
D)  Hawthorne effect 
E)  Testing 
A)  Maturation 
B)  Selection effects 
C)  Reactivity 
D)  Hawthorne effect 
E)  Testing A, E

Question 4

A study is examining the effect of a new antilipemic drug, compared with placebo, on lipoprotein levels in postmenopausal women. Which of these actions represents the researcher's attempt at constancy in data collection to control extraneous variables?

Accepted Answer

A)  Drawing the serum lipoprotein levels of all subjects at the same time of day 
B)  Having the same phlebotomist draw serum lipoprotein levels of all subjects 
C)  Using the same room for drawing blood for lipoprotein levels of all subjects 
D)  Ensuring that all subjects are postmenopausal women taking lipid-lowering medication 
A)  Drawing the serum lipoprotein levels of all subjects at the same time of day 
B)  Having the same phlebotomist draw serum lipoprotein levels of all subjects 
C)  Using the same room for drawing blood for lipoprotein levels of all subjects 
D)  Ensuring that all subjects are postmenopausal women taking lipid-lowering medication

Question 5

What should the nurse researcher consider when determining the feasibility of a research question? (Select all that apply.)

Accepted Answer

A)  Time 
B)  Selection effects 
C)  Reactive effects 
D)  Measurement effects 
E)  Subject availability
F) Cost 
A)  Time 
B)  Selection effects 
C)  Reactive effects 
D)  Measurement effects 
E)  Subject availability
F) Cost

Question 6

Which of these situations describes a reactive (Hawthorne) effect?

Accepted Answer

A)  Control subjects in an intervention study to reduce anxiety also experience a reduction in anxiety. 
B)  The subjects in an intervention support group continue the support group after the study has ended. 
C)  Subjects become concerned after learning that they received a placebo, not the treatment, during the study. 
D)  Study subjects want to know the outcomes of the study after it is completed. 
A)  Control subjects in an intervention study to reduce anxiety also experience a reduction in anxiety. 
B)  The subjects in an intervention support group continue the support group after the study has ended. 
C)  Subjects become concerned after learning that they received a placebo, not the treatment, during the study. 
D)  Study subjects want to know the outcomes of the study after it is completed.

Question 7

Which factor is most likely to be a mediating variable in a study to determine if high doses of vitamin C help reduce the subjects' susceptibility to influenza?

Accepted Answer

A)  The subjects' use of influenza vaccine 
B)  The subject' knowledge of vitamin C's functions 
C)  The gender of the potential subjects 
D)  The marital status of the potential subjects 
A)  The subjects' use of influenza vaccine 
B)  The subject' knowledge of vitamin C's functions 
C)  The gender of the potential subjects 
D)  The marital status of the potential subjects

Question 8

Which factors would be considered threats to internal validity? (Select all that apply.)

Accepted Answer

A)  Time 
B)  Selection effects 
C)  History 
D)  Testing 
E)  Subject availability
F) Cost
G) Selection bias 
A)  Time 
B)  Selection effects 
C)  History 
D)  Testing 
E)  Subject availability
F) Cost
G) Selection bias

Question 9

A nurse researcher is designing a quantitative research study involving a specific group of patients admitted to local hospitals. Which factor would negatively affect the feasibility of this study?

Accepted Answer

A)  The local region has a high percentage of families that could participate in the study. 
B)  Potential study subjects represented less than 1% of hospital admissions during the year previous to the study. 
C)  Study participants who were hospitalized children younger than 5 years could not give direct informed consent to participate in the study. 
D)  A comprehensive review of the literature revealed no studies were conducted that examined this question during the past 15 years. 
A)  The local region has a high percentage of families that could participate in the study. 
B)  Potential study subjects represented less than 1% of hospital admissions during the year previous to the study. 
C)  Study participants who were hospitalized children younger than 5 years could not give direct informed consent to participate in the study. 
D)  A comprehensive review of the literature revealed no studies were conducted that examined this question during the past 15 years.

Question 10

Why should a nurse researcher want to limit or eliminate extraneous variables in a study?

Accepted Answer

A)  More research questions would be required to account for the extraneous variables. 
B)  Extensive statistical analysis would be required to justify the presence of extraneous variables. 
C)  Extraneous variables compete with the independent variables as explanations of the study's outcome. 
D)  Manipulation of the extraneous variables increases the risk for researcher bias in the study's outcomes. 
A)  More research questions would be required to account for the extraneous variables. 
B)  Extensive statistical analysis would be required to justify the presence of extraneous variables. 
C)  Extraneous variables compete with the independent variables as explanations of the study's outcome. 
D)  Manipulation of the extraneous variables increases the risk for researcher bias in the study's outcomes.

Question 11

A nurse researcher should consider mortality a threat to the study's internal validity for which of these reasons?

Accepted Answer

A)  There is concern that the intervention may have harmful effects on subjects. 
B)  Those who dropped out of the study may be different than those who remained in the study. 
C)  Those who participated in the study may have died as a result of being in the study. 
D)  There is concern that the design is inappropriate for the study question if a large number of participants drop out of a study. 
A)  There is concern that the intervention may have harmful effects on subjects. 
B)  Those who dropped out of the study may be different than those who remained in the study. 
C)  Those who participated in the study may have died as a result of being in the study. 
D)  There is concern that the design is inappropriate for the study question if a large number of participants drop out of a study.

Question 12

For which of these reasons would a nurse researcher choose to assign subjects randomly to groups in a study?

Accepted Answer

A)  To help ensure that all groups within a study are representative of the larger population 
B)  To increase the chance that the study groups will be different from each other with regard to extraneous variables 
C)  To help ensure that current events do not influence the outcomes of the study 
D)  To eliminate the need for establishing specific study criteria and subject eligibility 
A)  To help ensure that all groups within a study are representative of the larger population 
B)  To increase the chance that the study groups will be different from each other with regard to extraneous variables 
C)  To help ensure that current events do not influence the outcomes of the study 
D)  To eliminate the need for establishing specific study criteria and subject eligibility

Question 13

In which of these ways does the nurse researcher's literature review help select the appropriate study design?

Accepted Answer

A)  By enlarging the scope of the study's hypotheses 
B)  By objectively assessing available knowledge of the area 
C)  By comparing current findings with previous study findings 
D)  By ensuring faithfulness to the study's purpose 
A)  By enlarging the scope of the study's hypotheses 
B)  By objectively assessing available knowledge of the area 
C)  By comparing current findings with previous study findings 
D)  By ensuring faithfulness to the study's purpose

Question 14

The issue of control would be less important in a quantitative study with which type of research design?

Accepted Answer

A)  Exploratory 
B)  Experimental 
C)  Correlational 
D)  Randomized clinical trial 
A)  Exploratory 
B)  Experimental 
C)  Correlational 
D)  Randomized clinical trial

Question 15

The measures used by a nurse researcher to maintain uniformity of conditions in a quantitative research study refer to which aspect of the study?

Accepted Answer

A)  Accuracy 
B)  Methods 
C)  Control 
D)  Validity 
A)  Accuracy 
B)  Methods 
C)  Control 
D)  Validity

Question 16

When should a nurse researcher include an extraneous variable as part of a study's design?

Accepted Answer

A)  When excluding the variable would limit the study's generalizability 
B)  When the variable is an important consideration for the study's outcome 
C)  When the researcher is limited by time or monetary constraints 
D)  When it would not make a difference in the overall study outcome 
A)  When excluding the variable would limit the study's generalizability 
B)  When the variable is an important consideration for the study's outcome 
C)  When the researcher is limited by time or monetary constraints 
D)  When it would not make a difference in the overall study outcome

Question 17

When reviewing a research report, the nurse determines that all aspects of a study systematically and logically follow from the research problem. Which condition has been met?

Accepted Answer

A)  Accuracy 
B)  Feasibility 
C)  Internal validity 
D)  External validity 
A)  Accuracy 
B)  Feasibility 
C)  Internal validity 
D)  External validity

Question 18

What is the overall purpose of the research design in a quantitative research study?

Accepted Answer

A)  To determine sample size 
B)  To identify the problem statement 
C)  To assist the researcher in identifying gaps in the knowledge base 
D)  To provide the plan for answering the research question 
A)  To determine sample size 
B)  To identify the problem statement 
C)  To assist the researcher in identifying gaps in the knowledge base 
D)  To provide the plan for answering the research question

Question 19

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

Accepted Answer

A)  Maturation 
B)  Instrumentation 
C)  Selection bias 
D)  Historical 
A)  Maturation 
B)  Instrumentation 
C)  Selection bias 
D)  Historical

Question 20

How would a nurse researcher ensure that the sample used in a quantitative study is homogeneous?

Accepted Answer

A)  Use eligibility criteria to limit extraneous variables relevant to the study. 
B)  Randomly assign subjects to either the experimental or the control group. 
C)  Assign one research assistant to collect data from all subjects. 
D)  Collect data from all subjects at the same time of day. 
A)  Use eligibility criteria to limit extraneous variables relevant to the study. 
B)  Randomly assign subjects to either the experimental or the control group. 
C)  Assign one research assistant to collect data from all subjects. 
D)  Collect data from all subjects at the same time of day.

Exam 8: Introduction to Quantitative Research

A nurse researcher assigns half a study sample to an experimental group and the other half to a control group. What does this action represent?

External validity refers to which of these issues?

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

A study is examining the effect of a new antilipemic drug, compared with placebo, on lipoprotein levels in postmenopausal women. Which of these actions represents the researcher's attempt at constancy in data collection to control extraneous variables?

What should the nurse researcher consider when determining the feasibility of a research question? (Select all that apply.)

Which of these situations describes a reactive (Hawthorne) effect?

Which factor is most likely to be a mediating variable in a study to determine if high doses of vitamin C help reduce the subjects' susceptibility to influenza?

Which factors would be considered threats to internal validity? (Select all that apply.)

A nurse researcher is designing a quantitative research study involving a specific group of patients admitted to local hospitals. Which factor would negatively affect the feasibility of this study?

Why should a nurse researcher want to limit or eliminate extraneous variables in a study?

A nurse researcher should consider mortality a threat to the study's internal validity for which of these reasons?

For which of these reasons would a nurse researcher choose to assign subjects randomly to groups in a study?

In which of these ways does the nurse researcher's literature review help select the appropriate study design?

The issue of control would be less important in a quantitative study with which type of research design?

The measures used by a nurse researcher to maintain uniformity of conditions in a quantitative research study refer to which aspect of the study?

When should a nurse researcher include an extraneous variable as part of a study's design?

When reviewing a research report, the nurse determines that all aspects of a study systematically and logically follow from the research problem. Which condition has been met?

What is the overall purpose of the research design in a quantitative research study?

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

How would a nurse researcher ensure that the sample used in a quantitative study is homogeneous?

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

Appraising Qualitative 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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