Question 1

A nurse researcher will choose to use a developmental study design to do what?

Accepted Answer

A)  Allow comparison of the results of qualitative studies of a phenomenon to the results of quantitative studies of the same phenomenon 
B)  Allow reanalysis of existing data for a secondary purpose not stated in the original research 
C)  Allow exploration of the changing nature of relationships between variables over time 
D)  Allow development or refinement of a tool or instrument 
A)  Allow comparison of the results of qualitative studies of a phenomenon to the results of quantitative studies of the same phenomenon 
B)  Allow reanalysis of existing data for a secondary purpose not stated in the original research 
C)  Allow exploration of the changing nature of relationships between variables over time 
D)  Allow development or refinement of a tool or instrument C

Question 2

Which statement about cross-sectional studies is most accurate?

Accepted Answer

A)  More than one group can be compared. 
B)  Only descriptive data can be measured. 
C)  Data are collected retrospectively rather than prospectively. 
D)  Data collection and data analysis can occur simultaneously. 
A)  More than one group can be compared. 
B)  Only descriptive data can be measured. 
C)  Data are collected retrospectively rather than prospectively. 
D)  Data collection and data analysis can occur simultaneously. A

Question 3

A nurse researcher would decide to use a longitudinal or prospective design for which reason?

Accepted Answer

A)  It is associated with data that are focused and deep. 
B)  It allows the overall study to be more manageable for the researcher. 
C)  It allows the issue of maturation to be avoided as a threat to internal validity. 
D)  It allows the nurse researcher to avoid the use of tools or instrumentation. 
A)  It is associated with data that are focused and deep. 
B)  It allows the overall study to be more manageable for the researcher. 
C)  It allows the issue of maturation to be avoided as a threat to internal validity. 
D)  It allows the nurse researcher to avoid the use of tools or instrumentation. A

Question 4

What is the first question that should be asked in determining whether a cross-sectional design or a longitudinal design should be used in a quantitative study?

Accepted Answer

A)  Is there an independent variable? 
B)  What is the nature of the problem being studied? 
C)  Will a measurement tool or instrument be needed? 
D)  Can statistical analysis be applied to the study data? 
A)  Is there an independent variable? 
B)  What is the nature of the problem being studied? 
C)  Will a measurement tool or instrument be needed? 
D)  Can statistical analysis be applied to the study data?

Question 5

Which types of research designs are considered to be developmental studies? (Select all that apply.)

Accepted Answer

A)  Cross-sectional 
B)  Comparative 
C)  Exploratory 
D)  Longitudinal 
E)  Prospective
F) Cohort
G) Descriptive 
A)  Cross-sectional 
B)  Comparative 
C)  Exploratory 
D)  Longitudinal 
E)  Prospective
F) Cohort
G) Descriptive

Question 6

A nurse researcher would choose to use a correlational study of multiple variables for which purpose?

Accepted Answer

A)  To identify the independent variable 
B)  To test whether one variable causes another variable 
C)  To examine relationships between or among variables 
D)  To distinguish how different one variable is from another variable 
A)  To identify the independent variable 
B)  To test whether one variable causes another variable 
C)  To examine relationships between or among variables 
D)  To distinguish how different one variable is from another variable

Question 7

What study design allows study participants to serve as their own controls, allowing early trends in the data to emerge?

Accepted Answer

A)  Cross-sectional 
B)  Ex post facto 
C)  Retrospective 
D)  Longitudinal 
A)  Cross-sectional 
B)  Ex post facto 
C)  Retrospective 
D)  Longitudinal

Question 8

Data collection instruments were sent to the same sample of women at six different times during the first year of living with breast cancer. What type of study design does this exemplify?

Accepted Answer

A)  Cross-sectional 
B)  Retrospective 
C)  Longitudinal 
D)  Correlational 
A)  Cross-sectional 
B)  Retrospective 
C)  Longitudinal 
D)  Correlational

Question 9

Why would a nurse researcher choose not to use a survey study design?

Accepted Answer

A)  Data analysis is limited with a survey design. 
B)  Information collected is relatively superficial. 
C)  Results are never applicable beyond the study population. 
D)  More subjects are required to reach statistical significance than for other study designs. 
A)  Data analysis is limited with a survey design. 
B)  Information collected is relatively superficial. 
C)  Results are never applicable beyond the study population. 
D)  More subjects are required to reach statistical significance than for other study designs.

Question 10

How does an experimental research design differ from a nonexperimental research design?

Accepted Answer

A)  Experimental designs allow observation of a phenomenon as it naturally occurs, and nonexperimental designs permit environmental manipulation. 
B)  Nonexperimental designs manipulate the dependent variable, and experimental designs manipulate the independent variable. 
C)  Nonexperimental designs attempt to test differences among variables, and experimental designs attempt to establish cause-and-effect relationships. 
D)  Experimental designs are scientific, and nonexperimental designs have no scientific basis. 
A)  Experimental designs allow observation of a phenomenon as it naturally occurs, and nonexperimental designs permit environmental manipulation. 
B)  Nonexperimental designs manipulate the dependent variable, and experimental designs manipulate the independent variable. 
C)  Nonexperimental designs attempt to test differences among variables, and experimental designs attempt to establish cause-and-effect relationships. 
D)  Experimental designs are scientific, and nonexperimental designs have no scientific basis.

Question 11

What can a nurse researcher address in a study using a survey design? (Select all that apply.)

Accepted Answer

A)  Interrelationships of variables 
B)  Description of variables 
C)  Assessment of differences between variables 
D)  Determination of causation 
E)  Prediction of treatment outcomes 
A)  Interrelationships of variables 
B)  Description of variables 
C)  Assessment of differences between variables 
D)  Determination of causation 
E)  Prediction of treatment outcomes

Question 12

Why would a nurse researcher choose to use research studies that examine the associations or relationships between variables?

Accepted Answer

A)  A causal relationship can be determined between the variables. 
B)  Greater manipulation of the variables is possible in this type of study. 
C)  Randomization of participants allows for increased generalizability. 
D)  There is application in clinical settings and a foundation for future experimental studies. 
A)  A causal relationship can be determined between the variables. 
B)  Greater manipulation of the variables is possible in this type of study. 
C)  Randomization of participants allows for increased generalizability. 
D)  There is application in clinical settings and a foundation for future experimental studies.

Question 13

Which method of data collection is most appropriate for a nurse researcher to use in a survey study?

Accepted Answer

A)  Videorecording of people-to-people interactions 
B)  Direct participant observation 
C)  Unstructured interview 
D)  Questionnaires 
A)  Videorecording of people-to-people interactions 
B)  Direct participant observation 
C)  Unstructured interview 
D)  Questionnaires

Question 14

What threat to internal validity is most closely associated with a longitudinal design?

Accepted Answer

A)  Instrumentation effects 
B)  Mortality effects 
C)  History effects 
D)  Selection bias 
A)  Instrumentation effects 
B)  Mortality effects 
C)  History effects 
D)  Selection bias

Question 15

A nurse researcher would decide to use a retrospective or ex post facto study for which reason?

Accepted Answer

A)  Obtaining informed consent is not an important issue. 
B)  There is maximal opportunity to manipulate the independent variable. 
C)  The dependent variable is measured at multiple times to examine maturation. 
D)  The dependent variable has already been affected by the independent variable. 
A)  Obtaining informed consent is not an important issue. 
B)  There is maximal opportunity to manipulate the independent variable. 
C)  The dependent variable is measured at multiple times to examine maturation. 
D)  The dependent variable has already been affected by the independent variable.

Question 16

Advantages to use of correlational design for a study include what? (Select all that apply.)

Accepted Answer

A)  Efficiency and effectiveness in data collection 
B)  Flexibility for investigating complex relationships 
C)  Multivariate manipulation of variables 
D)  Strong potential for clinical (real-world) application 
E)  Increased potential for generalizability 
A)  Efficiency and effectiveness in data collection 
B)  Flexibility for investigating complex relationships 
C)  Multivariate manipulation of variables 
D)  Strong potential for clinical (real-world) application 
E)  Increased potential for generalizability

Question 17

Which types of research designs are considered to be survey studies? (Select all that apply.)

Accepted Answer

A)  Descriptive 
B)  Exploratory 
C)  Correlational 
D)  Developmental 
E)  Comparative
F) Cross-sectional 
A)  Descriptive 
B)  Exploratory 
C)  Correlational 
D)  Developmental 
E)  Comparative
F) Cross-sectional

Question 18

A nurse researcher will choose an ex post facto design over more a correlational design for which reason?

Accepted Answer

A)  It is easier to implement. 
B)  The independent variable can be manipulated. 
C)  There is a greater degree of control in the design. 
D)  There is increased flexibility when variables relationships are complex. 
A)  It is easier to implement. 
B)  The independent variable can be manipulated. 
C)  There is a greater degree of control in the design. 
D)  There is increased flexibility when variables relationships are complex.

Question 19

Which type of study should be used when data are collected at only one point in time?

Accepted Answer

A)  Cross-sectional 
B)  Retrospective 
C)  Longitudinal 
D)  Prospective 
A)  Cross-sectional 
B)  Retrospective 
C)  Longitudinal 
D)  Prospective

Question 20

What features identify a study as methodologic in design? (Select all that apply.)

Accepted Answer

A)  A description of how the tool's items were formulated 
B)  A description of the experimental treatment 
C)  A clear definition of how the construct was measured 
D)  A reporting on the tool's tested reliability and validity 
E)  A statistical table showing the effect of the independent variable 
A)  A description of how the tool's items were formulated 
B)  A description of the experimental treatment 
C)  A clear definition of how the construct was measured 
D)  A reporting on the tool's tested reliability and validity 
E)  A statistical table showing the effect of the independent variable

Exam 10: Nonexperimental Designs

A nurse researcher will choose to use a developmental study design to do what?

Which statement about cross-sectional studies is most accurate?

A nurse researcher would decide to use a longitudinal or prospective design for which reason?

What is the first question that should be asked in determining whether a cross-sectional design or a longitudinal design should be used in a quantitative study?

Which types of research designs are considered to be developmental studies? (Select all that apply.)

A nurse researcher would choose to use a correlational study of multiple variables for which purpose?

What study design allows study participants to serve as their own controls, allowing early trends in the data to emerge?

Data collection instruments were sent to the same sample of women at six different times during the first year of living with breast cancer. What type of study design does this exemplify?

Why would a nurse researcher choose not to use a survey study design?

How does an experimental research design differ from a nonexperimental research design?

What can a nurse researcher address in a study using a survey design? (Select all that apply.)

Why would a nurse researcher choose to use research studies that examine the associations or relationships between variables?

Which method of data collection is most appropriate for a nurse researcher to use in a survey study?

What threat to internal validity is most closely associated with a longitudinal design?

A nurse researcher would decide to use a retrospective or ex post facto study for which reason?

Advantages to use of correlational design for a study include what? (Select all that apply.)

Which types of research designs are considered to be survey studies? (Select all that apply.)

A nurse researcher will choose an ex post facto design over more a correlational design for which reason?

Which type of study should be used when data are collected at only one point in time?

What features identify a study as methodologic in design? (Select all that apply.)

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

Introduction to Quantitative Research

Experimental and Quasi-Experimental 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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