Deck 18: Appraising Quantitative Research

Question 1

Where in a report of a quantitative research study would a nurse researcher expect the gaps or conflicts about the phenomenon studied to be identified?

A) Analysis of data
B) Research design
C) Problem statement
D) Review of the literature

Answer 1

Review of the literature

Question 2

A comparison study investigating the levels of depression in blind and sighted adolescents does not use a hypothesis. Does the lack of a hypothesis in this study represent a weakness? Why or why not?

A) Not a weakness; study is descriptive
B) Not a weakness; study is quasi-experimental
C) Is a weakness; study is descriptive
D) Is a weakness; study is quasi-experimental

Answer 2

Not a weakness; study is descriptive

Question 3

A study abstract includes the following statement: "There was a negative relationship between infants with difficult behavioral styles and maternal involvement." The most accurate interpretation of the statement is what?

A) The more difficult the infant was, the more involved the mother was.
B) The more difficult the infant was, the less involved the mother was.
C) The less difficult the infant was, the less involved the mother was.
D) There was no relationship between infant behavior and maternal involvement.

Answer 3

The more difficult the infant was, the less involved the mother was.

Question 4

In evaluating quantitative research, a researcher can expect to review the report's segments in which order?
A-Methods
B-Introduction
C-Literature review
D-Discussion
E-Results

A) A, B, C, D, E
B) B, A, C, D, E
C) E, C, D, B, A
D) B, C, A, E, D

Question 5

This statement was included in a study's abstract: "This research was an exploratory descriptive investigation of the pregnancy experiences of a multiethnic group of pregnant adolescents." What is this indicative of?

A) The study's aims
B) The study's design
C) The study's significance
D) The study's implications

Question 6

Which critical appraisal question would evaluate the review of the literature of a research report?

A) Is there a synthesis summary that presents the overall strengths and weaknesses and arrives at a logical conclusion that generates hypotheses or research questions?
B) What are the sources of bias, and are they dealt with appropriately?
C) How have the purpose, aims, or goals of the study been substantiated?
D) To what population may the findings be generalized? What are the limitations in generalizability?

Question 7

How could the sample selection procedures used in a research study investigating the levels of depression occurring in blind and sighted adolescents make the sample of blind adolescents more homogeneous?

A) Eliminate subjects taking prescription medications
B) Narrow the age range of subjects to those between 13 and 18 years
C) Have the same person administer the questionnaire to all subjects
D) Avoid telling the subjects the nature of the study

Question 8

What would make a study researching the levels of depression occurring in blind and sighted adolescents nonexperimental versus experimental in design?

A) The sample size was small.
B) The two samples were not equal in size.
C) The dependent variable was not manipulated.
D) The independent variable was not manipulated.

Question 9

The critical appraisal question that would most accurately evaluate the applicability to nursing practice of a research report is what?

A) Would it be possible to replicate this study in another clinical setting?
B) Are the results of each hypothesis or research question presented and presented objectively?
C) Did testing of the hypothesis(es) or research question(s) clearly support or not support each hypothesis or research question?
D) Was there an observation guide?

Question 10

Which change in the sample selection procedure of a study involving continuous handrail support, oxygen uptake, and heart rate in women during submaximal step treadmill exercise would have the greatest impact on increasing the generalizability of the results?

A) Increasing the sample size
B) Including subjects who smoke in the study
C) Having a true control group rather than having subjects serve as their own controls
D) Expanding the sample population to include equal numbers of women who were moderately fit and highly fit

Question 11

This statement was included in a research report: "A positive correlation was found between the variables of self-reported sleep adequacy and performance on the driving simulator (r = 0.21), although the correlation did not reach statistical significance." A research consumer should evaluate this to mean what?

A) No relationship exists between the two variables.
B) The hypothesis was supported by the data presented.
C) The hypothesis was not supported by the data presented.
D) The relationship between the variables is too weak to have practical application.

Question 12

Which statement most accurately evaluates a quantitative research study report's scientific merit?

A) The sample size was appropriate for the statistical tests used.
B) The study had one independent variable and two dependent variables.
C) Data described in narrative form within the text could have been more concise in a table.
D) The discussion was excessive in length.

Question 13

Which critical appraisal question would evaluate the sampling of a research report?

A) Is there a synthesis summary that presents the overall strengths and weaknesses and arrives at a logical conclusion that generates hypotheses or research questions?
B) What are the sources of bias, and are they dealt with appropriately?
C) How have the purpose, aims, or goals of the study been substantiated?
D) To what population may the findings be generalized? What are the limitations in generalizability?

Question 14

This statement was included in a study's abstract: "By formalizing parenting education in the immediate postpartum period, midwives may have the opportunity to reduce the prevalence of postnatal depression"? What is this indicative of?

A) The study's results
B) The study's analysis
C) The study's implications
D) The study's recommendations

Question 15

Both the problem statement and the purpose of a quantitative research study report should address what?

A) Generalizability
B) Sampling procedure
C) Implications for future research
D) Relationship between the variables

Question 16

The critique of a quantitative research report should include what?

A) Applying the findings in clinical practice
B) Summarizing the major steps of the research process
C) Constructively evaluating a study for its strengths and weaknesses
D) Determining whether the phenomenon studied by participants can be recognized as their own

Question 17

The critical appraisal question that would most accurately evaluate the research question and hypothesis of a research report is what?

A) Is there a synthesis summary that presents the overall strengths and weaknesses and arrives at a logical conclusion that generates hypotheses or research questions?
B) What are the sources of bias, and are they dealt with appropriately?
C) How have the purpose, aims, or goals of the study been substantiated?
D) To what population may the findings be generalized? What are the limitations in generalizability?

Question 18

Which critical appraisal question would evaluate the research question and hypothesis of a research report?

A) Is there a synthesis summary that presents the overall strengths and weaknesses and arrives at a logical conclusion that generates hypotheses or research questions?
B) What are the sources of bias, and are they dealt with appropriately?
C) How have the purpose, aims, or goals of the study been substantiated?
D) To what population may the findings be generalized? What are the limitations in generalizability?

Question 19

A study includes this statement: "The fact that the inventory [instrument] was administered verbally introduced a potential bias of social desirability." This is indicative of what?

A) Implications for practice
B) Limitations of the study
C) Generalizability of the study
D) Recommendations for future research

Question 20

Why would a study involving continuous handrail support, oxygen uptake, and heart rate in women during submaximal step treadmill exercise be quasi-experimental in design versus experimental?

A) The sample size was small.
B) Randomization was not used in sample selection.
C) The dependent variables were not manipulated.
D) The independent variables were not manipulated.

Question 21

The critical appraisal question that would most accurately evaluate the data-collection methods and procedures of a research report is what?

A) Would it be possible to replicate this study in another clinical setting?
B) Are the results of each hypothesis or research question presented and presented objectively?
C) Did testing of the hypothesis(es) or research question(s) clearly support or not support each hypothesis or research question?
D) Was there an observation guide?

Question 22

The critical appraisal question that would most accurately evaluate the conclusions, implications, and recommendations of a research report is what?

A) Would it be possible to replicate this study in another clinical setting?
B) Are the results of each hypothesis or research question presented and presented objectively?
C) Did testing of the hypothesis(es) or research question(s) clearly support or not support each hypothesis or research question?
D) Was there an observation guide?

Question 23

Which critical appraisal question would evaluate the data analysis of a research report?

A) Would it be possible to replicate this study in another clinical setting?
B) Are the results of each hypothesis or research question presented and presented objectively?
C) Did testing of the hypothesis(es) or research question(s) clearly support or not support each hypothesis or research question?
D) Was there an observation guide?

Question 24

A nurse researcher is critically appraising a research report and asks the question "Is the format appropriate for use with this population?" Which data collection methods and procedures would this question evaluate?

A) Physiologic measurement
B) Questionnaires
C) Available data records
D) Observation

Question 25

A nurse researcher is critically appraising a research report and asks the question "What sources of bias are possible with use of records or existing data sets?" The data collection method(s) and procedure(s) that this question evaluates is what?

A) Physiologic measurement
B) Interviews
C) Available data records
D) Questionnaires

Question 26

A nurse researcher is critically appraising a research report and asks the question "Is a rationale given for the selection of a particular instrument or method?" Which data collection methods and procedures would this question evaluate?

A) Physiologic measurement
B) Interviews
C) Available data records
D) Observation

Question 27

A nursing student is critiquing a research study on the effects of test anxiety reduction and a review course on National Council Licensure Examination-Registered Nurse (NCLEX-RN) success rates of graduate nurses. The student notes several threats to internal validity. These threats affect the accuracy of which variables? (Select all that apply.)

A) NCLEX success rates
B) Test anxiety reduction
C) Graduate nurses
D) Review course
E) Type of nursing program

Question 28

Evaluating a research report for issues of scientific merit includes which factors? (Select all that apply.)

A) Quality of data collection
B) Appropriateness of statistical analysis
C) Comprehensiveness of literature review
D) Design match to research question
E) Presentation of typeface in article

Question 29

A nurse researcher is critically appraising a research report and asks the question "What provision is made for maintaining accuracy of the instrument and its use, if any?" Which data-collection methods and procedures would this question evaluate?

A) Physiologic measurement
B) Questionnaires
C) Available data records
D) Observation

Question 30

A nurse researcher is critically appraising a research report and asks the question "Was interrater reliability calculated?" Which data collection methods and procedures would this question evaluate?

A) Physiologic measurement
B) Interviews
C) Available data records
D) Observation