Question 1

The nurse researcher opts to group frequency data using large interval widths in a research study.What problem should the researcher recognize might be encountered by using this type of interval widths?

Accepted Answer

A)   Overlap can occur.
B)   Patterns can be obscured.
C)   Means cannot be determined.
D)   Some data may not fit into any category. B

Question 2

How can a nurse researcher determine the assignment of a number to an object for measurement?

Accepted Answer

A)   The object must vary within a narrow range to meet category requirements.
B)   All objects assigned a specific measurement number must be similar to all other objects assigned the same number.
C)   The objects assigned to one specific number must be positively related to the dependent variable of the study.
D)   The objects assigned to one specific number must be positively related to the independent variable of the study. B

Question 3

The nurse researcher is interested in estimating how reliably data can be used to generalize the findings of a study.Which type of data analysis should be used to allow this to occur?

Accepted Answer

A)   Inferential statistics
B)   Descriptive statistics
C)   Nonparametric statistics
D)   Mathematical statistics A

Question 4

The nurse researcher is interested in using nominal level data.Which object or event could be used if nominal-level data are of primary interest?

Accepted Answer

A)   Test scores
B)   Education level
C)   Marital status
D)   Weight

Question 5

In a study of women's adjustment to breast cancer,the youngest participant was 23 years old and the oldest participant was 89 years old.How should the nurse researcher interpret this data?

Accepted Answer

A)   This is the mean age.
B)   This is the modal age.
C)   This is the median age.
D)   This is the range in age.

Question 6

The nurse researcher is using the percentage of nurses holding various nursing degrees as a variable in a research study.What type of statistics would be most appropriate in this case?

Accepted Answer

A)   Inferential statistics
B)   Descriptive statistics
C)   Nonparametric statistics
D)   Mathematical statistics

Question 7

When would a nurse researcher opt to use measures of central tendency?

Accepted Answer

A)   When there is a need to describe how reliably the findings can be generalized
B)   When there is a need to describe how much dispersion is in the sample
C)   When there is a need to describe the accuracy of predictions made
D)   When there is a need to describe the average member of the sample

Question 8

Why would a nurse researcher opt to use factor analysis?

Accepted Answer

A)   It is used to control statistically for a variable and measures differences among group means.
B)   It is used to take a large number of variables and group them into a smaller number of factors.
C)   It is used to test the relationship between two variables measured at interval or ratio level data.
D)   It is used to measure the relationship between one outcome or dependent variable and several dependent variables.

Question 9

Which measures of central tendency allow for rank ordering with equal intervals? (Select all that apply).

Accepted Answer

A)   Mode
B)   Range
C)   Median
D)   Mean
E)   Semiquartile rangeF)  PercentileG)  SD

Question 10

Which statements regarding measures of central tendency are accurate? (Select all that apply.)

Accepted Answer

A)   This classification of levels of measurement is scientifically inaccurate.
B)   Having the mean, mode, and median exactly the same indicates the measures have been correctly applied.
C)   They have great flexibility with regard to the amount of mathematical manipulation possible.
D)   They vary from sample to sample, even when the same trait or characteristic is measured.

Question 11

The nurse researcher opts to use interval-level data.What will be the researcher's primary concern if this level of data is used?

Accepted Answer

A)   Categories must be mutually exclusive.
B)   Intervals between data categories must be equal.
C)   The rank of zero (0)  represents the absence of the measured variable.
D)   Variance between assigned categories is qualitative rather than quantitative.

Question 12

The nurse researcher finds that the data include a score reported to be in the 75th percentile.How should the researcher interpret this?

Accepted Answer

A)   The score is at the median.
B)   The score has exceeded the mode.
C)   The score is exceeded by only 25% of the cases.
D)   The score represents the average of all scores measured at this time.

Question 13

Which characteristic is an essential criterion for categorizing an object,event,or fact as nominal level data? (Select all that apply.)

Accepted Answer

A)   The degree of the characteristic must be positively related to the number assigned.
B)   Rank orders must be calculated for meaningful interpretation.
C)   Categories must be mutually exclusive.
D)   Category ranges cannot overlap.

Question 14

The nurse researcher determines that a correlation exists between two variables.How should the researcher interpret this information?

Accepted Answer

A)   The correlation describes the most frequently occurring score.
B)   The correlation describes the variability of scores from the mean.
C)   The correlation describes the range of the middle 50% of the scores.
D)   The correlation describes the magnitude and direction of the relationship between variables.

Question 15

The nurse researcher is using a research study that involved categories of patient weights.What level of measurement would be most appropriate in this study?

Accepted Answer

A)   Nominal
B)   Ordinal
C)   Interval
D)   Ratio

Question 16

An instrument produced a correlation coefficient: r = 0.49,p = 0.04.How would a nurse researcher interpret the magnitude of this correlation?

Accepted Answer

A)   Very low
B)   Low
C)   Moderate
D)   High

Question 17

What conclusion can be drawn from statistics that indicate the mean nursing salary in a specific city is $55,000,the range is $38,000 to $78,000,the median salary is $58,000,and the mode is $56,000?

Accepted Answer

A)   The standard deviation ( SD )  is small.
B)   The mode can be calculated from the median.
C)   The average nursing salary in this city is $55,000.
D)   The mean does not reflect the true salary for nurses in this city.

Question 18

The nurse researcher is interested in describing the assignment of numbers to objects or events.How can this be best achieved?

Accepted Answer

A)   Through use of prediction
B)   Through use of dispersion
C)   Through use of variability
D)   Through use of measurement

Question 19

The nurse researcher is using respiratory rate as a variable in a research study.What level of measurement would be most appropriate in this case?

Accepted Answer

A)   Nominal
B)   Ordinal
C)   Interval
D)   Ratio

Question 20

Which data measurement scales typically use nonparametric tests of significance? (Select all that apply.)

Accepted Answer

A)   Nominal
B)   Ordinal
C)   Interval
D)   Ratio

Exam 14: Data Analysis: Descriptive and Inferential Statistics

The nurse researcher opts to group frequency data using large interval widths in a research study.What problem should the researcher recognize might be encountered by using this type of interval widths?

How can a nurse researcher determine the assignment of a number to an object for measurement?

The nurse researcher is interested in estimating how reliably data can be used to generalize the findings of a study.Which type of data analysis should be used to allow this to occur?

The nurse researcher is interested in using nominal level data.Which object or event could be used if nominal-level data are of primary interest?

In a study of women's adjustment to breast cancer,the youngest participant was 23 years old and the oldest participant was 89 years old.How should the nurse researcher interpret this data?

The nurse researcher is using the percentage of nurses holding various nursing degrees as a variable in a research study.What type of statistics would be most appropriate in this case?

When would a nurse researcher opt to use measures of central tendency?

Why would a nurse researcher opt to use factor analysis?

Which measures of central tendency allow for rank ordering with equal intervals? (Select all that apply) .

Which statements regarding measures of central tendency are accurate? (Select all that apply.)

The nurse researcher opts to use interval-level data.What will be the researcher's primary concern if this level of data is used?

The nurse researcher finds that the data include a score reported to be in the 75th percentile.How should the researcher interpret this?

Which characteristic is an essential criterion for categorizing an object,event,or fact as nominal level data? (Select all that apply.)

The nurse researcher determines that a correlation exists between two variables.How should the researcher interpret this information?

The nurse researcher is using a research study that involved categories of patient weights.What level of measurement would be most appropriate in this study?

An instrument produced a correlation coefficient: r = 0.49,p = 0.04.How would a nurse researcher interpret the magnitude of this correlation?

What conclusion can be drawn from statistics that indicate the mean nursing salary in a specific city is $55,000,the range is $38,000 to $78,000,the median salary is $58,000,and the mode is $56,000?

The nurse researcher is interested in describing the assignment of numbers to objects or events.How can this be best achieved?

The nurse researcher is using respiratory rate as a variable in a research study.What level of measurement would be most appropriate in this case?

Which data measurement scales typically use nonparametric tests of significance? (Select all that apply.)