Deck 10: Clarifying Measurement and Data Collection in Quantitative Research

Question 1

A nursing professor administers three versions of a final exam to a class of students and compares the exams for reliability.This is a measure of:

A) homogeneity.
B) interrater reliability
C) equivalence.
D) test-retest reliability.

Answer 1

equivalence.

Question 2

A researcher conducts a study to identify the relationship of lifestyle choices to the development of chronic diseases.The researcher surveys subjects and identifies diabetes mellitus,coronary artery disease,and renal disease in study subjects.These measures represent which level of measurement?

A) Interval
B) Nominal
C) Ordinal
D) Ratio

Answer 2

Nominal

Question 3

A researcher reviews study data about head circumference in newborns and notes that study personnel are measuring from the end of the measuring tape and not from the zero point,which is 1 cm from the end.This is an example of which type of measurement error?

A) Indirect
B) Random
C) Reliability
D) Systematic

Answer 3

Systematic

Question 4

A researcher conducts a study to examine the effects of breastfeeding on infant weight at age 6 months.Which type of measurement is used to measure the infants' weight?

A) Direct
B) Indirect
C) Nominal
D) Ordinal

Question 5

A researcher evaluates a measurement tool by administering the tool to a group of subjects every 2 weeks for 8 weeks.This is a measure of the tool's:

A) alternate forms reliability.
B) internal consistency reliability.
C) interrater reliability.
D) test-retest reliability.

Question 6

A researcher tests a measurement tool's validity by administering it to a group of subjects who don't have health insurance and a group who have health insurance to examine attitudes about access to health care.The researcher is looking for evidence of validity from:

A) contrasting groups.
B) convergence.
C) divergence.
D) readability.

Question 7

A researcher evaluates whether a tool addresses the major elements of the construct being studied.This helps to ensure:

A) content validity.
B) equivalence.
C) internal consistency.
D) readability level.

Question 8

A researcher performs a series of pilot studies to evaluate whether a measurement tool produces consistent results.This is an evaluation of:

A) accuracy.
B) precision.
C) reliability.
D) validity.

Question 9

Which can be measured using direct measurement?

A) Anxiety level
B) Blood pressure
C) Diagnosis
D) Feelings

Question 10

A researcher studying the effects of an intervention on symptoms measures the time from intervention to absence of symptoms and reports this in the number of days.This measure represents which level of measurement?

A) Interval
B) Nominal
C) Ordinal
D) Ratio

Question 11

A researcher may use which strategy to reduce the potential for measurement error when evaluating obesity in study subjects?

A) Measure weight, abdominal girth, and BMI on all subjects
B) Train multiple data collectors to take measurements
C) Use scales in several different clinical settings to obtain data
D) Utilize a single measure, such as BMI, applied to all subjects

Question 12

A researcher evaluates scores of a paper and pencil instrument with dichotomous variables using the Kuder-Richardson formula.This is a test of:

A) alternate forms reliability.
B) internal consistency reliability.
C) interrater reliability.
D) test-retest reliability.

Question 13

A study measuring the effects of a new diuretic medication records hourly urine output of subjects.This measure represents which level of measurement?

A) Interval
B) Nominal
C) Ordinal
D) Ratio

Question 14

A researcher wishes to study the effects of preoperative teaching on anxiety levels among toddlers and preschoolers undergoing surgery.To reduce the potential for measurement error,the researcher will:

A) ask study subjects to describe feelings of anxiety.
B) develop a new tool to measure anxiety levels in children.
C) rely on multiple observers to collect data for this study.
D) use a standardized checklist of anxiety behaviors.

Question 15

A researcher notes a reliability score of 0.75 between two observers in a clinical drug trial evaluating whether the drug decreases anxiety.This score means that:

A) there is 25% random error.
B) there is 75% random error.
C) this is an acceptable measure of reliability.
D) this measurement tool is not reliable.

Question 16

Among subjects with coronary artery disease,a researcher identifies three levels of symptoms which can be categorized by severity.This represents which level of measurement?

A) Interval
B) Nominal
C) Ordinal
D) Ratio

Question 17

Which statement is true about validity?

A) Validity evaluates an instrument for a specific group or purpose.
B) Validity occurs when an instrument is valid across situations.
C) Validity measures are absolute.
D) Validity measures are independent of reliability.

Question 18

A researcher develops a new instrument to measure coping skills and conducts a pilot study to compare the new tool with an existing tool that measures this concept.This is an example of evidence of validity from:

A) contrasting groups.
B) convergence.
C) divergence.
D) readability.

Question 19

A researcher studying children identifies the following age groups:
Birth to age 12 months
12 months to 3 years
3 years to 5 years
5 years to 12 years
12 years to 18 years
These categories are not:

A) empirical.
B) equal.
C) exclusive.
D) exhaustive.

Question 20

In a pilot study to help train a group of data collectors who will evaluate children's pain using a FACES rating scale,the researcher examines the reliability of the scores of each data collector.This is an example of which type of reliability measure?

A) Alternate forms reliability
B) Internal consistency reliability
C) Interrater reliability
D) Test-retest reliability

Question 21

A researcher administers two instruments known to measure opposite concepts and performs correlational analyses on the results.The original measure has a negative correlation of ?7?0.6 with the new measure.This indicates:

A) both measures are valid.
B) neither measure is valid.
C) only the first measure is valid.
D) only the second measure is valid.

Question 22

Which is true about using data from an existing database?

A) It allows larger sampling and complex analyses.
B) The burden on participants is higher than when primary data collection is used.
C) The researcher is able to draw upon data that are specific to a particular study.
D) Research reports do not have to describe data collection procedures.

Question 23

Which statement is true about using a questionnaire to collect data?

A) Questions are presented consistently with less chance for bias than with an interview.
B) Questionnaires are generally more expensive than interviewing techniques.
C) Subjects usually give more in-depth answers when responding to questionnaires.
D) The response rate is generally higher than when using interviews to collect data.

Question 24

When documenting reports that previous research has demonstrated the accuracy of a physiologic measure,the researcher is addressing the measure's:

A) equivalence.
B) homogeneity.
C) reliability.
D) validity.

Question 25

Which is true about a test that is highly sensitive for detecting a disease?

A) There is a high probability of having a false negative result.
B) There is a high probability of having a false positive result.
C) There is a low probability of having a false negative result.
D) There is a low probability of having a false positive result.

Question 26

A screening test has a specificity of 92%.This means that there is a(n):

A) 92% chance of a true positive.
B) 92% chance of a false positive.
C) 8% chance of a false positive.
D) 8% chance of a true positive.

Question 27

A researcher reports that a measure is highly sensitive when diagnosing patients.The reviewer understands that this test:

A) has a low percentage of false negatives.
B) has a low percentage of false positives.
C) has a high percentage of false negatives.
D) has a high percentage of false positives.

Question 28

A researcher uses a checklist of questions to ask participants while collecting data for a study.This represents which type of data collection?

A) Structured interview
B) Structured questionnaire
C) Unstructured interview
D) Unstructured questionnaire

Question 29

A researcher evaluating the weight of subjects who are obese ensures that the scales used are maintained and calibrated according to the manufacturer's recommendations.This is to ensure:

A) accuracy.
B) convergence.
C) precision.
D) validity.

Question 30

What type of information is typically found in an administrative database?

A) Data collected for a specific research study
B) Demographic information about a population
C) Journal accounts of subjects' responses to surveys
D) Statistical results of experimental studies

Question 31

Which type of scale is most commonly used in a survey of patient satisfaction?

A) Likert scale
B) Numeric rating scale
C) Rating scale
D) Visual analog scale

Question 32

In a study evaluating pulse oximetry measures in infants,a researcher notes that the pulse oximeter probes are attached to infants' feet in different ways.This represents which type of measurement error?

A) Environmental
B) Equipment
C) Subject
D) User

Question 33

Which is important when using observational measurement in order to produce reliable data?

A) Data collectors will record observations in their own words.
B) Each subject should have different observers to record responses.
C) Observations will be spontaneously recorded as they occur.
D) Researchers will develop checklists of notable behaviors for observers to use.

Question 34

An instrument that detects the presence of streptococcal antibodies is negative.Before reporting the absence of disease,the researcher must determine whether this result might be a:

A) false negative.
B) false positive.
C) gold standard.
D) true positive.

Question 35

In a study measuring oxygen saturation levels in infants,the researcher notes that data collectors record low saturation levels that occur when the heart rate is erratic and the infants are irritable and actively moving around.This will likely result in which type of measurement error?

A) Environmental
B) Equipment
C) Interpretation
D) User

Question 36

A researcher wishes to evaluate the reliability of a visual analog pain scale in a group of postoperative patients.The best way to do this is to compare results:

A) to results of the test when given to another set of subjects.
B) to results from the same subjects using the FACES rating scale.
C) to results from a previous measure with a different visual analog scale.
D) to results from a group of subjects who have minimal or no pain.

Question 37

Which is true about a test that is highly specific?

A) It is good at identifying patients who do not have a disease.
B) It is good at identifying patients who have a disease.
C) It results in an increased number of false negatives.
D) It results in an increased number of false positives.

Question 38

Which generally is an advantage of using primary data in a research study?

A) It allows researchers to conduct more longitudinal studies.
B) It has greater specificity to the study purpose.
C) It puts less burden on study participants.
D) It reduces the cost of data collection.

Question 39

Which data represent the lowest form of measurement?

A) Levels of anxiety on a scale from mild to severe
B) Race and ethnicity classification
C) Temperature of subjects after an intervention
D) Weight, height, and body mass index

Question 40

A researcher administers a scale measuring self-confidence and one measuring self-doubt to a group of subjects and performs a correlational analysis of the results.This is a test of validity from:

A) contrasting groups.
B) convergence.
C) divergence.
D) readability.

Question 41

In a study involving multiple data collectors,the researcher helps to ensure consistency in data collection by:

A) describing the study participant recruitment process in the research summary.
B) detailing the training process of the data collectors in the research report.
C) discarding data that includes even minor deviations in data collection methods.
D) minimizing the influence of intervening forces on the study findings.