Deck 10: Collecting Evidence

Question 1

A nurse who asks a patient to rate his or her pain level is most likely using which type of scale?

A) Physiological
B) Visual analog
C) Multidimensional
D) Likert

Answer 1

B

Question 2

A nurse researcher measures participants' blood pressure readings early in the morning and late in the evening and compares the two readings. Which data collection method is the nurse using?

A) Observation
B) Scale
C) Physiological measurement
D) Questionnaire

Answer 2

C

Question 3

Which of the following lists the types of measurement in order from weakest to strongest?

A) Nominal, ordinal, ratio
B) Ordinal, ratio, interval
C) Interval, nominal, ordinal
D) Ratio, interval, nominal

Answer 3

A

Question 4

Which of the following would most likely be gathered using dichotomous measurement?

A) Weight
B) Marital status
C) Exam scores
D) Educational level

Question 5

Which of the following statements describes the difference between interval measurement and ratio measurement?

A) Ratio measurement is used for continuous data, whereas interval measurement is used for noncontinuous data.
B) Interval measurement uses numeric values with equal intervals, whereas ratio measurement uses numeric values with unequal intervals.
C) Interval measurement scales have a zero point that is not absolute, whereas ratio measurement scales have an absolute zero point.
D) Ratio measurement uses numeric values without fixed meaning, whereas interval measurement uses numeric values with fixed meaning.

Question 6

The test scores of nursing students are calculated as percentages using a standard 100-point grading scale. The scores represent which type of measurement?

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

Question 7

In a study that examines the amount of empathy communicated by participants, which level of measurement would be used?

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

Question 8

A new instrument and an established instrument yield scores that are highly correlated. What can a researcher conclude about the new instrument?

A) The new instrument is not valid.
B) The new instrument has content validity.
C) The new instrument has construct validity.
D) The new instrument has criterion-related validity.

Question 9

If the high and low groups in a known group instrument test score similarly, what can a researcher conclude about the instrument?

A) The instrument should be reevaluated using divergent testing.
B) The instrument demonstrates convergent validity.
C) The instrument does not demonstrate construct validity.
D) The instrument is reliable but not valid.

Question 10

A nurse researcher asks several colleagues to evaluate a data collection tool to determine if the tool appears to measure the concept under study. Which type of validity is the nurse testing for?

A) Predictive validity
B) Construct validity
C) Face validity
D) Criterion validity

Question 11

What three attributes are used to determine the reliability of an instrument?

A) Equivalence, stability, and internal consistency
B) Stability, validity, and accuracy
C) Stability, equivalence, and validity
D) Validity, accuracy, and internal consistency

Question 12

Which of the following statements accurately describes the relationship between stability and internal consistency?

A) An instrument that demonstrates stability will also demonstrate internal consistency.
B) An instrument that demonstrates internal consistency will also demonstrate stability.
C) An instrument cannot demonstrate stability and internal consistency at the same time.
D) An instrument may demonstrate stability, internal consistency, or both at the same time.

Question 13

Three patients with tuberculosis who receive treatment at different facilities and have never been in contact with each other begin to exhibit a new cluster of symptoms not seen in other tuberculosis patients. Which method of collecting qualitative data about the phenomenon is most appropriate?

A) Interview
B) Case study
C) Focus group
D) Questionnaire

Question 14

In which situation would the researcher most likely choose storytelling rather than interviewing as the method of data collection?

A) The researcher has several predetermined questions that he or she wants all of the participants to answer.
B) The researcher has a personal experience related to the research topic that he or she can share with the participants.
C) The researcher wants to obtain in-depth information from the participants.
D) The researcher wants to be able to analyze the participants' nonverbal communication.

Question 15

What is the main difference between a systematic and a random measurement error in research?

A) A systematic error shows a difference between the true and observed measurement.
B) A random error occurs in the same way each time with each measurement taken.
C) A systematic error shows there was one or more transient factors in the measurement.
D) A random error occurs with unpredictably or by chance during the measurement.

Question 16

Unstructured observation at a group home would most likely be a data collection method that is congruent with the research question for a researcher who is studying peer interactions between patients who are recovering from substance abuse.

Question 17

An instrument that demonstrates reliability also shows validity.

Question 18

A digital garden rain gauge that inaccurately records an extra sixteenth of an inch of precipitation every 3 days when the lawn sprinklers are automatically turned on is an example of random measurement error.

Question 19

Describe two reasons why a researcher might prefer to gather data using interviews rather than self-administered questionnaires.

Question 20

How is stability related to reliability in instrument testing?