Question 1

A study that involves only women with at least one past pregnancy who are between the ages of 17 and 34 is an example of:&#10;A) how the breadth of a research question functions.&#10;B) how the boundaries of a research question function.&#10;C) a research question that is semi-inclusive.

Accepted Answer

The study specifies a particular group (women with past pregnancies, aged 17-34), which sets clear boundaries for the research question.

Question 2

A sound research question is one that emanates from:&#10;A) a long-held passion of the researcher.&#10;B) a targeted literature review.&#10;C) alignment of political agendas with public health agendas.

Accepted Answer

A sound research question is typically developed from a targeted literature review, which helps identify gaps in existing knowledge and ensures the question is relevant and researchable.

Question 3

In conducting a literature review, Maria cites several sources. Which of the following does not belong in a literature review?&#10;A) Journal of Public Health&#10;B) A fact sheet from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention&#10;C) An MSNBC news podcast&#10;D) New England Journal of Medicine

Accepted Answer

A literature review typically includes scholarly sources such as peer-reviewed journals and official reports, whereas a news podcast is not considered a scholarly source.

Question 4

Identifying the research gap is a process that takes into full account the study population (e.g., if the gap does not exist for white males, but does indeed exist for Latinos, then it is a gap that should be addressed for Latinos).

Accepted Answer

Identifying a research gap involves recognizing areas where specific populations, such as Latinos, may be underrepresented or have unique needs that are not addressed by existing research, even if the gap does not exist for other groups like white males.

Question 5

Which of the following is not part of the four-step model described in Chapter 2?&#10;A) Create a phrase that captures the essence of the study hypothesis.&#10;B) Use the NIH RePORTER.&#10;C) Identify the study population.&#10;D) Identify the study design.

Accepted Answer

The four-step model typically involves creating a hypothesis, identifying the study population, and identifying the study design. Using the NIH RePORTER is not part of this model.

Question 6

A statement of the purpose for a study reads as follows: "To identify cross-sectional associations between personal agency to avert skin cancer and use of tanning booths among white females under the age of 30 years." What element is lacking?

A) A phrase regarding the hypothesis of the study
B) A phrase regarding the study design
C) Identification of the study population

Accepted Answer

The statement lacks a phrase regarding the hypothesis of the study, as it only describes the purpose and does not specify any expected outcomes or predictions.

Question 7

Imagine that one of your most influential professors says to you, "I have a large dataset on the topic of social ties and obesity-you are welcome to use this for your thesis." You quickly say yes. As such, you will be engaged in what kind of research?

A) Reframing research
B) Internal validity research
C) Secondhand research
D) Secondary research

Accepted Answer

Secondary research involves using existing data collected by someone else, such as the dataset provided by the professor, for analysis in your own research.

Question 8

Generally speaking, the internal validity of a study is increased by:&#10;A) less restrictive boundaries.&#10;B) more restrictive boundaries.&#10;C) expanding the breadth.&#10;D) a targeted literature review.

Accepted Answer

More restrictive boundaries help control extraneous variables, thereby increasing the internal validity of a study.

Question 9

Which of the following phrases is not an example of a working hypothesis?&#10;A) Alcoholics attending weekly support group meetings will have lower rates of alcohol-related missed days from work compared to those not attending these meetings.&#10;B) Mothers of teen daughters who smoke are more likely to be smokers themselves.&#10;C) Obesity is a product of a built environment that promotes sedentary lifestyles.

Accepted Answer

A working hypothesis is a testable statement that can be investigated through experimentation or observation. Option C is more of a general statement or theory rather than a specific, testable hypothesis.

Question 10

A literature review can be an overwhelming task; hence, simply reading the abstracts (rather than the entire article) is an acceptable first step in this task.

Accepted Answer

Reading abstracts is a common initial step in literature reviews to quickly assess the relevance of articles before deciding which ones to read in full.

Deck 2: Framing the Research Question