Question 1

A nurse researcher can control for selection bias in a study by taking which of these actions?

Accepted Answer

A)  Allow subjects to self-select into an experimental or a control group 
B)  Handpick the subjects for group assignment 
C)  Use defined selection criteria for approaching potential subjects 
D)  Have someone other than the researcher select the subjects for the study

Question 2

A nurse researcher is planning to write a proposal for a research study using a quantitative design. To maintain control in the study, the nurse should include which elements? (Select all that apply.)

Accepted Answer

A)  Valid, reliable collection methods 
B)  Subjects of all ages 
C)  Trained data collectors 
D)  Standardized data collection processes 
E)  Analysis of data by words or text only

Question 3

A nurse researcher is investigating the effect of type of operating room mattress and surgical position on tissue interface pressures in healthy young adults. Which component of research is most affected by the choice of subjects?

Accepted Answer

A)  Mortality 
B)  Instrumentation 
C)  Internal validity 
D)  External validity

Question 4

A nurse is designing a study to determine whether a videotape or a written pamphlet is more effective in teaching young women how to perform breast self-examination (BSE). Which of these actions would provide the best control for a mediating variable?

Accepted Answer

A)  Include identical content in both BSE teaching methods 
B)  Exclude subjects who already perform BSE on a regular basis 
C)  Limit the study subjects to women who are heterosexual 
D)  Determine what breast cancer means to the individual participants

Question 5

What action by a nurse researcher will help eliminate bias on the dependent variable?

Accepted Answer

A)  Establishing strict eligibility criteria for the study participants 
B)  Ensuring that all data are collected by a single researcher 
C)  Formulating at least two hypotheses for each research question 
D)  Developing a strong theoretical framework for the study

Question 6

A nurse researcher assigns subjects to experimental and control groups in such a manner that each subject in a population has an equal chance of being selected. What is the researcher using?

Accepted Answer

A)  Selection bias 
B)  Convenience sampling 
C)  Randomization 
D)  Internal validity

Question 7

Which situation represents a threat to internal validity in an experimental study measuring the effect of a videotape of discharge instructions for patients who underwent coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery?

Accepted Answer

A)  Both men and women undergoing CABG surgery were included as subjects in the study. 
B)  Two new surgeons began performing CABG surgery during the study period. 
C)  Patients in the experimental group discussed aspects of the videotape with patients in the control group. 
D)  Data collection for the videotape and control groups took 1 year.

Question 8

How could a nurse researcher's use of a homogeneous sample weaken a research study?

Accepted Answer

A)  By decreasing the reliability of the findings 
B)  By decreasing the generalizability of the findings 
C)  By increasing the number of subjects needed to reach statistical significance 
D)  By increasing the risk that the findings were the result of chance alone

Exam 8: Introduction to Quantitative Research