Deck 11: Using Samples to Provide Evidence

Question 1

What is the relationship between a population and a sample?

A) A population is a representative sample of a defined group.
B) A sample is made up of objects and events, whereas a population is made up of people.
C) Both populations and samples are specialized segments of groups.
D) A sample is a representative group of a defined population.

Answer 1

D

Question 2

A researcher is studying post-polio syndrome in American polio survivors over the age 65. The researcher selects the sample subjects from the eligible subjects in a tristate area where the researcher is able to travel. Which group is the target population for this researcher?

A) American polio survivors over the age of 65
B) American polio survivors over the age of 65 with post-polio syndrome
C) American polio survivors over the age of 65 with post-polio syndrome in the tristate area
D) American polio survivors over the age of 65 with post-polio syndrome in the tristate area who participate in the research study

Answer 2

B

Question 3

Which of the following is an example of an accessible population?

A) All RNs in the United States
B) All pediatric RNs
C) RN-to-BSN students
D) RN-to-BSN students at one university

Answer 3

D

Question 4

When a study sample shows representativeness, what can be concluded about the study?

A) The study results show evidence of sampling bias.
B) The study used strict inclusion and exclusion criteria to limit the sample size.
C) The study is most likely generalizable, with results that can be applied to the target population.
D) The study is most likely not generalizable because the sample was obtained using specific inclusion criteria.

Question 5

A researcher studying pain associated with complications of Lyme disease wants to make sure that other types of patient pain do not influence the research results. Which action would best address the researcher's concerns?

A) Have study participants self-report any other health conditions that cause pain on a regular basis.
B) Set criteria to exclude participants with chronic pain disorders from the study.
C) Track study participants' use of anti-inflammatory and analgesic medications.
D) Set criteria to include only patients who exhibit the most severe and painful symptoms of Lyme disease in the study.

Question 6

What is present when subjects in a study do not adequately represent the target population?

A) Sample manipulation
B) Sample exclusion
C) Sample bias
D) Sample error

Question 7

A study sample is made up of 70% female subjects and 30% male subjects, and the target population is made up of 55% female subjects and 45% male subjects. Which of the following statements about the study is true?

A) The study sample shows representativeness.
B) The results of the study are generalizable to the target population.
C) The study's external validity is at risk from sampling bias.
D) The study sample demonstrates incorrect use of exclusion criteria.

Question 8

Which of the following methods will yield the most representative sample?

A) Nonprobability sampling
B) Simple random sampling
C) Cluster sampling
D) Systematic random sampling

Question 9

Which of the following statements explains why nonprobability sampling carries more risk of selection bias than probability sampling?

A) Exclusion criteria are not used in nonprobability sampling.
B) Nonprobability sampling uses strata that are not mutually exclusive.
C) Representativeness is not a consideration in nonprobability sampling.
D) Nonprobability sampling does not use randomization.

Question 10

What is the primary disadvantage of nonprobability sampling as compared to probability sampling?

A) Limited randomization
B) Large sample size
C) Limited generalizability
D) Small sample size

Question 11

At which point in the sampling process would the researcher create a sampling frame?

A) When the sampling interval has been chosen
B) When the exclusion criteria have been applied
C) When the convenience sample has been located
D) When the accessible population has been determined

Question 12

A researcher who administers a questionnaire to 50 RN-to-BSN students attending the same nursing school is using which sampling method?

A) Convenience
B) Target
C) Stratified
D) Purposive

Question 13

Which of the following statements best explains why the preferred method to obtain participants in qualitative research studies is purposive sampling?

A) Purposive sampling allows the researcher to choose participants whose experiences are most likely to be generalizable to the target population.
B) Purposive sampling ensures that participants are chosen randomly, thereby increasing the validity of the qualitative findings.
C) Purposive sampling uses networking to increase the sample size and broaden the target population.
D) Purposive sampling allows researchers to select participants who fit the very specific types of criteria that are investigated in qualitative studies.

Question 14

A researcher who interviews subjects selected from the members of six health policy interest groups in the state of Alabama is most likely using which sampling method?

A) Target
B) Stratified
C) Purposive
D) Convenience

Question 15

Which of the following actions would be most appropriate for a researcher who is concerned participant attrition will result in invalid study results?

A) Offer participants at risk of dropping out incentives if they stay in the study.
B) Begin the study with a larger sample than necessary.
C) Include a section in the consent form where participants agree in advance to complete the entire study.
D) Redefine the target population after attrition occurs so that the remaining subjects are still a representative sample.

Question 16

A researcher who divides nursing staff at a hospital into categories of CNAs, LPNs, RNs, and nurse practitioners before randomly selecting participants from each group is using stratified random sampling.

Question 17

The following groups are listed in size order from smallest to largest: accessible population, target population, population, sample.

Question 18

The more heterogeneous the target population is, the larger the sample size needs to be.

Question 19

If the accessible population is the same as the target population, then the entire target population will most likely be used as subjects and no sample is needed.

Question 20

If a minor child refuses to give oral or written assent to participate in a study, the researcher can include the child in the sample if written consent is given by the parents.