Deck 8: Clarifying Quantitative Research Designs

Question 1

A nurse researcher wishes to identify rates of pertussis infection in children less than 1 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

Answer 1

Correlational,longitudinal

Question 2

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

Answer 2

Descriptive correlational

Question 3

A nurse researcher understands there are numerous concepts relevant to quantitative research designs.What concept best describes the following example,"Patient diagnosis,age,pre-surgical condition,and complications after surgery are interrelated causes of the length of patients' hospital stays"?

A) Probability
B) Multicausality
C) Causality
D) Bias

Answer 3

Multicausality

Question 4

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 5

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 6

A nurse researcher monitors women with breast cancer for depression before and throughout their chemotherapy treatment.This is an example of which type of study design?

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

Question 7

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.

Question 8

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

Question 9

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 10

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

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

Question 11

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 12

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 13

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

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

Question 14

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 to

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

Question 15

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 16

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 17

Which statement is true about a cross-sectional design?

A) This design includes a time element that involves data collection on variables at one point in time.
B) This design includes a time element that involves data collection on variables at different points in time.
C) This design involves collecting data from the same study participants at multiple points in time and might also be referred to as repeated measures.
D) This design looks at predictive relationships between variables.

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 parents who gave consent to participate in the study were from a higher socioeconomic class than the population.This is a threat to

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

Question 19

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.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 20

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 21

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 22

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 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

Which statement is true about a quantitative research design?

A) A research design is a blueprint for conducting a quantitative study that minimizes control over factors that could interfere with the validity of the findings.
B) A research design is a blueprint for conducting a quantitative study that minimizes control over factors that could interfere with the reliability of the findings.
C) A research design is a blueprint for conducting a quantitative study that maximizes control over factors that could interfere with the validity of the findings.
D) A research design is a blueprint for conducting a quantitative study that maximizes control over factors that could interfere with the reliability of the findings.

Question 25

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.

Question 26

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 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

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 29

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 30

Which of the following are true statements about randomized controlled trials (RCTs)? Select all that apply.

A) The RCT design is noted to be the weakest methodology for testing the effectiveness of an intervention.
B) In a RCT design,participants are randomized to the intervention and control groups to reduce selection bias.
C) Blinding or withholding of study information from data collectors,participants,and their healthcare providers can enhance the potential for bias.
D) RCTs may be carried out in a single setting or in multiple geographic locations to decrease sample size and obtain a more representative sample.
E) RCTs,when appropriately conducted,are considered the gold standard for determining the effectiveness of healthcare interventions.

Question 31

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 32

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 33

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 34

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 35

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 36

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