Deck 5: Research Problems,Purposes,and Hypotheses

Question 1

The nurse researcher states that a research purpose is to measure the effects of bar code medication administration on medication errors.This is a study purpose for which type of research?

A) Correlational
B) Grounded theory
C) Outcomes
D) Quasi-experimental

Answer 1

Outcomes

Question 2

In a research proposal,the researcher states that the proposed study will explore children's feelings about chemotherapy side effects.This statement describes the:

A) problem background.
B) problem significance.
C) research problem.
D) research purpose.

Answer 2

research purpose.

Question 3

What type of hypothesis is the following?
"Children with cystic fibrosis who use a cough assist device will experience less anxiety about their disease and have fewer inpatient hospital admissions per year."

A) Complex, directional
B) Complex, null
C) Simple, associative
D) Simple, nondirectional

Answer 3

Complex, directional

Question 4

Which is included in a statement of a research study purpose?

A) A description of gaps in knowledge about the research problem.
B) A discussion of the significance of the research problem.
C) A review of what is known about the research problem.
D) A statement about how the research problem will be studied.

Question 5

A nursing researcher determines that there is little information about the use of complementary practices in treating obesity.This represents the research:

A) design.
B) problem.
C) purpose.
D) significance.

Question 6

The most important initial step when developing a research study is to:

A) develop the problem statement.
B) explore the background for the research problem.
C) identify the research problem.
D) state the research purpose.

Question 7

A statement about the significance of a study describes the:

A) influence of results on nursing practice.
B) relationship among study variables.
C) study design and methods.
D) validity of the study measurement tools.

Question 8

Which statement in a study about preoperative education and postoperative recovery times represents a research question?

A) "What are the types of preoperative education materials that may be used?"
B) "What are the constructs that facilitate adult learning among patients?"
C) "What preoperative teaching will shorten postoperative recovery time?"
D) "What is already known about preoperative teaching and postoperative recovery?"

Question 9

Which component of a research study is exemplified in the statement,"This study identifies various themes associated with parenting children who have chronic disease?"

A) Aim or objective
B) Hypothesis
C) Research methodology
D) Research problem

Question 10

In a research proposal,the author describes what is already known about the research topic.This would be included in the discussion of the study's:

A) background.
B) feasibility.
C) purpose.
D) significance.

Question 11

The statement,"In this study,elevated blood glucose is a value greater than 110 mg/dL," is an example of a(n):

A) associative hypothesis.
B) conceptual definition.
C) operational definition.
D) problem statement.

Question 12

When writing a proposal for a research study,the researcher includes a problem statement that serves to:

A) define the specific focus of a study.
B) describe what is known about the research problem.
C) identify a gap in knowledge needed for practice.
D) indicate the importance of the problem to nursing.

Question 13

In a study comparing the effects of complementary therapies on pain scores and narcotic analgesic use in homeless women and women who own homes,which of the following is a demographic variable?

A) Complementary therapies
B) Homeless women
C) Narcotic analgesic use
D) Pain scores

Question 14

Identify the independent variable in the following hypothesis:
"Mothers of infants born with spina bifida who participate in support groups report higher levels of confidence when caring for their infants than do mothers who do not participate in support groups."

A) Confidence in caring for their infants
B) Infants with spina bifida
C) Mothers of infants with spina bifida
D) Support group participation

Question 15

The statement in the introduction of a research study report-"while children who have higher asthma control scores tend to have fewer emergency department visits for asthma exacerbations,it is unclear how nursing interventions can impact these scores"-represents the:

A) problem background.
B) problem significance.
C) research problem.
D) research purpose.

Question 16

All of the following aspects of a research proposal are part of the research hypothesis except:

A) methodology.
B) outcomes.
C) population.
D) variables.

Question 17

Which statement is a research purpose for a correlational study?

A) "This study will compare the effects of an oral antidiabetic medication to effects of a placebo on glucose control in groups of randomly assigned subjects."
B) "This study will examine whether pre-appointment telephone reminders increase show rate among patients in an ambulatory well-patient clinic."
C) "This study will use direct observation to identify methods parents use to discipline children in public places."
D) "This study will use questionnaires and school transcripts to examine the relationship of dietary habits to grades among school-age children."

Question 18

The statements in the introductory paragraphs of a research report that cite results of previous studies about a research problem represent the:

A) problem background.
B) problem significance.
C) problem statement.
D) research purpose.

Question 19

The statement,"Do patients who receive care in a Patient-Centered Medical Home have fewer emergency department visits than those who do not?" is an example of a research:

A) aim.
B) hypothesis.
C) method.
D) question.

Question 20

A reviewer assesses a potential researcher's credentials and experience,the availability of funding and resources,and ethical considerations of a potential study.This represents evaluation of a study's:

A) expertise.
B) feasibility.
C) purpose.
D) significance.

Question 21

In a qualitative study,which is true about the definition of research concepts?

A) They are measureable variables that help illustrate theoretical concepts.
B) They are often defined or described as a result of the study.
C) They are written to provide a concise measure of theoretical concepts.
D) They must be clearly described to proceed with the study.

Question 22

An examination of the researcher's plan for using measurement tools to examine relationships among variables helps determine the:

A) research hypothesis.
B) research objectives.
C) study feasibility.
D) study purpose.

Question 23

Which type of variable is used in a descriptive study?

A) Dependent variable
B) Independent variable
C) Research variable
D) Treatment variable

Question 24

Which is an example of a conceptual definition of a dependent variable in a study evaluating the effects of home nursing on coping among patients with chronic illness?

A) "Coping is a set of actions and strategies used by individuals to reduce the stressors associated with chronic disease management."
B) "Coping skills were measured using a five-point Likert scale with higher scores indicating higher coping skills."
C) "Home nursing can include registered nurse and nursing assistant management of treatments provided at home."
D) "Home nursing was measured in the number of hours per week and the number of hours per day of in-home care."

Question 25

Which type of variable is manipulated by the researcher?

A) Demographic
B) Dependent
C) Independent
D) Research

Question 26

Which is an example of a directional,correlational hypothesis?

A) "Increasing hours spent in study groups is associated with an increase in GPA among nursing students."
B) "Increased use of study groups will result in an increase in GPA among nursing students."
C) "Nursing students who use study groups are among groups of students who have higher GPAs."
D) "Studying in study groups is related to GPA levels in nursing students."

Question 27

Which is an important feature of a testable hypothesis?

A) It may differ from the variables and population identified in the research purpose.
B) Methods of sampling, measurement, and data analysis are included in the hypothesis statement.
C) Relationships among the study variables must be causative.
D) Variables in a testable hypothesis are measurable or able to be manipulated.

Question 28

Which is true about a research hypothesis?

A) It defines the various research variables and describes how they will be measured.
B) It explains the relationship of the research purpose to theory development.
C) It includes the research problem, purpose, and research questions.
D) It links the research problem statement to the study design and data analysis.

Question 29

In a study of adolescent children using a group of high school football players and junior-high school cyclists,researchers compared the length of recovery from concussion between those wearing brand X helmets and those wearing brand Y helmets.In this study "high school football players" represent which type of variable?

A) Demographic
B) Dependent
C) Independent
D) Research

Question 30

Which is true about an operational variable in quantitative research?

A) It is developed so that the degree of its existence can be measured.
B) It is often derived from a theoretical definition of a related concept.
C) It is specific to the time and setting of the research study.
D) It provides the theoretical meaning of a variable.

Question 31

A researcher wishes to study the effects of a low-fat diet on self-esteem,weight,and energy levels among obese women over age 40.Which is the independent variable in this study?

A) Low-fat diet
B) Obesity
C) Self-esteem, weight, and energy levels
D) Women over 40

Question 32

Which is true about a statement of the research purpose?

A) It describes the background for the subject of the research study.
B) It includes a discussion of the significance of the study.
C) It includes the research problem statement.
D) It provides a concise description of the study's focus.

Question 33

The statistical (null)hypothesis in a research study states that there is:

A) a causal relationship between variables.
B) a statistically significant relationship between variables.
C) an implied relationship between variables.
D) no relationship between variables.

Question 34

Which is true about a causal hypothesis?

A) It describes the effects of independent variables on dependent variables.
B) It predicts a negative or positive interaction between variables.
C) It proposes positive or negative relationships among variables.
D) It states that a relationship exists between variables without indicating direction.

Question 35

Which statement differentiates research variables from research concepts?

A) Concepts are more abstract than variables.
B) Concepts are usually studied in quantitative research.
C) Variables are less subject to manipulation and measurement.
D) Variables cannot be concisely defined or clearly described.

Question 36

Which is true about a dependent variable in a research study? It is:

A) manipulated by the researcher to test the research hypothesis.
B) the cause of changes in other variables in a research study.
C) the experimental variable in a research study.
D) the outcome the researcher wishes to predict.

Question 37

To reduce or eliminate the influence of environmental variables on study results,the researcher may:

A) completely describe all environmental settings encountered in the study.
B) discuss these variables in the study results.
C) use a research unit in a hospital or laboratory.
D) use a qualitative study design to conduct the study.

Question 38

In a research proposal,a statement about expected relationships among variables is the:

A) conceptual definition.
B) operational definition.
C) research hypothesis.
D) research problem.

Question 39

Which type of variable is used in a summary of sample characteristics?

A) Demographic variables
B) Dependent variables
C) Independent variables
D) Research variables

Question 40

During a study to measure the effects of violent video games on aggressive behavior,the researchers learned that a portion of the subjects lived in homes with one or more alcoholic parents.In this study,the presence of an alcoholic parent is a(n):

A) confounding variable.
B) dependent variable.
C) independent variable.
D) unrecognized variable.