Deck 8: Clarifying Quantitative Research Designs

Question 1

In a quasi-experimental study examining the effects of nonpharmacologic treatments on postoperative pain management,the researcher trains nursing staff so that all experimental group subjects receive the same types of treatments.This is an example of:

A) bias.
B) manipulation.
C) reliability.
D) validity.

Answer 1

manipulation.

Question 2

A nurse conducts a study to see whether there are differences in the number of books Latino parents and the number of books African-American parents read to their toddlers each week.Which type of study will this researcher utilize?

A) Comparative descriptive
B) Correlational
C) Cross-sectional
D) Longitudinal

Answer 2

Comparative descriptive

Question 3

A study in which subjects are assigned by the researcher into experimental and control groups increases:

A) bias.
B) control.
C) manipulation
D) validity.

Answer 3

bias.

Question 4

Which type of research design focuses on implementation of a treatment by the researcher?

A) Correlational
B) Descriptive
C) Experimental
D) Longitudinal

Question 5

A researcher reviews demographic characteristics of potential study subjects,such as age and gender,to determine whether these characteristics may influence the outcome of the study.This is done to help ensure:

A) construct validity.
B) external validity.
C) internal validity.
D) statistical conclusion validity.

Question 6

A researcher wishes to conduct a study of a small number of subjects on a large hospital intensive care unit.To minimize problems associated with extraneous variables in the study setting,the researcher will:

A) ensure double-blind data collection methods.
B) randomly assign subjects to treatment and control groups.
C) test the reliability of study measures.
D) train a small number of nurses to administer the intervention.

Question 7

A researcher conducts a quasi-experimental study to determine whether there is appropriate weight gain among premature infants who are fed according to cue-based protocols.The researcher trained neonatal intensive care nurses to apply cue-based feeding to orally fed infants and notes a statistical difference in weight gain between infants fed according to cue-based protocols and those fed according to standard protocols.The reviewer critiquing the study notes that not all nurses completed the cue-based feeding module.This would affect which type of validity?

A) Construct validity
B) External validity
C) Internal validity
D) Statistical conclusion validity

Question 8

A researcher theorizes a set of relationships among concepts used to describe why patients with chronic illness are often depressed.To test the accuracy of these hypothesized relationships,which type of study will be used?

A) Descriptive correlational
B) Grounded theory
C) Model testing
D) Predictive correlational

Question 9

If a researcher wishes to describe variables and to examine many relationships in a study,which type of study design will the researcher employ?

A) Correlational
B) Descriptive
C) Descriptive correlational
D) Descriptive cross-sectional

Question 10

A researcher conducts a quasi-experimental study to determine whether there is improved weight gain among premature infants who are fed according to cue-based protocols.The researcher trained neonatal intensive care nurses to apply cue-based feeding to orally fed infants and notes a statistical difference in weight gain between infants fed according to cue-based protocols and those fed according to standard protocols.The reviewer notes that parents who gave consent to participate in the study were from a higher socioeconomic class than the population as a whole.This is a threat to:

A) construct validity.
B) external validity.
C) internal validity.
D) statistical conclusion validity.

Question 11

Which statement is true about a descriptive study design?

A) It is not possible to operationally define variables in this type of study.
B) Sample selection and size cannot be controlled in descriptive studies.
C) This type of design is used to identify problems occurring in practice.
D) Variables may be manipulated to avoid bias in this type of study.

Question 12

A researcher develops a 7-point Likert scale to evaluate feelings of well-being in patients who are undergoing chemotherapy.The researcher administers this measure to other,similar patients in other medical centers.This is done in order to:

A) decrease mono-operation bias.
B) improve the test-retest reliability.
C) increase interrater reliability.
D) strengthen the operational definition of constructs.

Question 13

A researcher conducts a study to examine possible contributors to glycemic control in a group of subjects who have type 2 diabetes mellitus in a local community.A convenience sample of patients includes patients from 28 to 65 years old who range in weight from normal to obese,with time since diagnosis ranging from several months to several years.To determine causality in this study,the researcher will:

A) discuss outcomes in terms of the probability that education will improve glycemic control.
B) increase the manipulation of the independent variable to allow greater control by the researcher.
C) identify multicausal variables that may influence the outcome of glycemic control measures.
D) limit the study to younger persons only to minimize the effects of extraneous variables.

Question 14

A researcher conducts a quasi-experimental study to determine whether there is improved weight gain among premature infants who are fed according to cue-based protocols.The researcher trained neonatal intensive care nurses to apply cue-based feeding to orally fed infants and notes a statistical difference in weight gain between infants fed according to cue-based protocols and those fed according to standard protocols.Which might be a threat to internal validity in this study?

A) The concept of cue-based feeding is not well defined.
B) The study sample is homogeneous.
C) Some infants developed gastroenteritis.
D) Not all nurses received cue-based protocol education.

Question 15

A nurse researcher conducts a study to determine whether women who breastfeed their infants experience better sleep in the first two postpartum months.This study will employ which type of research design?

A) Correlational
B) Descriptive
C) Descriptive correlational
D) Predictive correlational

Question 16

A nurse researcher wishes to identify rates of pertussis infection in children less than one year of age and then again at 6 years of age to examine the relationship of immunization status on infection rates in this population.This is an example of which type of study design?

A) Correlational, longitudinal
B) Correlational, cross-sectional
C) Descriptive, longitudinal
D) Descriptive, cross-sectional

Question 17

In a research study,ambulatory clinic nurses teach children with asthma how to monitor peak expiratory flow volumes and how to use metered-dose inhalers to determine whether asthma control scores improve.The researcher discovers inconsistencies in how these measures were taught and how well the children understood the concepts.This represents a lack of:

A) control of extraneous variables.
B) internal validity.
C) intervention fidelity.
D) precision of measurement.

Question 18

A researcher conducts a quasi-experimental study to determine whether there is improved weight gain among premature infants who are fed according to cue-based protocols.The researcher trained neonatal intensive care nurses to apply cue-based feeding to orally fed infants and notes a statistical difference in weight gain between infants fed according to cue-based protocols and those fed according to standard protocols.The reviewer notes that components of cue-based feedings are not clearly identified.This is a threat to:

A) construct validity.
B) external validity.
C) internal validity.
D) statistical conclusion validity.

Question 19

A researcher administers a written test to evaluate knowledge of insulin administration and glucose monitoring to a group of subjects at annual intervals over the next decade.This is an example of which type of study design?

A) Correlational
B) Cross-sectional
C) Descriptive
D) Longitudinal

Question 20

A researcher wishes to conduct a correlational study to determine whether there is a relationship between stress levels and relapse rates among patients who have chronic conditions.In order to determine the existence of a relationship between these two variables,the researcher will attempt to:

A) manipulate the level of stress in study subjects.
B) obtain a large range of possible scores.
C) provide lengthy descriptions of subjects' behaviors.
D) randomly assign subjects to study groups.

Question 21

Which type of study is considered strongest for testing the effectiveness of an intervention?

A) Experimental
B) Pretest/Posttest
C) Quasi-experimental
D) Randomized controlled trial

Question 22

In a study to examine the effects of a newly modified anxiety-reducing nursing action on a group of subjects who have cancer,the control group will receive:

A) an alternative intervention.
B) no intervention.
C) the newly modified intervention.
D) the standard intervention.

Question 23

Which action will the researcher take to improve construct validity?

A) Allow data collectors to know which subjects are assigned to which groups
B) Ensure that operational definitions reflect theoretical constructs
C) Make sure that the researcher is involved in data collection
D) Utilize only one measurement method to measure study variables

Question 24

In a quasi-experimental study design,the group that receives standard care is usually referred to as the:

A) comparison group.
B) control group.
C) experimental group.
D) treatment group.

Question 25

Multiple replications of an initial study conducted in different populations produce findings that do not match those in the initial study.The initial study may lack which type of validity?

A) Construct validity
B) External validity
C) Internal validity
D) Statistical conclusion validity

Question 26

In order to attribute causality of a posttest measure in an experimental study,the independent variable will be:

A) administered to control group subjects only.
B) administered to subjects selected by the researcher.
C) administered to treatment group subjects.
D) defined loosely to avoid bias.

Question 27

A researcher wishes to study the effects of effective sleep hygiene on sleep quality and behavior among children diagnosed with attention deficit disorder.To minimize mono-operation bias,the researcher will:

A) accurately describe conceptual and operational definitions.
B) adequately discuss construct validity in the introduction.
C) evaluate multiple sleep hygiene techniques.
D) utilize a double-blind data collection methodology.

Question 28

An important measure to decrease threats to internal validity in an experimental study is to:

A) apply the intervention consistently.
B) improve the precision of measurement methods.
C) increase the sample size.
D) randomly assign subjects to study groups.

Question 29

When using Consolidated Standards for Reporting Trials (CONSORT)guidelines to critically appraise a randomized controlled trial (RCT),the nurse will make sure that the study:

A) is designed to definitively test a hypothesis.
B) is conducted in a laboratory to minimize setting bias.
C) uses subjects selected by the researcher for participation.
D) uses a descriptive or correlational design.

Question 30

In order to increase participation among potential subjects of a larger population,the researcher will:

A) limit the time and effort required to participate in the study.
B) provide demographic information about those who refuse to participate.
C) provide instruments that are detailed to increase the amount of data collected.
D) offer potential subjects a financial incentive to participate in the study.

Question 31

In a quasi-experimental study using a convenience sample of subjects from a local high school,the researcher asks potential subjects to volunteer for placement in either a "low sugar" diet program or a "regular sugar" diet program.This technique for assigning participation may compromise:

A) construct validity.
B) external validity.
C) internal validity.
D) statistical conclusion validity.