Deck 12: Sampling

Question 1

The nurse researcher knows that a sample is representative of a population when which statement is true?

A) The sample is homogeneous.
B) All units of a population are included.
C) The most readily accessible persons are used as participants.
D) The characteristics of the sample closely approximate those of the population.

Answer 1

The characteristics of the sample closely approximate those of the population.

Question 2

How should a nurse researcher expect a sample to differ from a population?

A) A sample can be an object or an event; a population refers to individuals or groups of people.
B) A population has a broad set of defining characteristics, whereas a sample has a narrow set of defining characteristics.
C) A population is a representative segment of a defined sample.
D) A sample is a representative segment of a defined population.

Answer 2

A sample is a representative segment of a defined population.

Question 3

A nurse researcher should attempt to clearly specify exclusion criteria for a study sample because such criteria will do what?

A) Limit the time needed to complete the study
B) Reduce the effect of extraneous variables on the accurate evaluation of the outcome variable
C) Eliminate the outside influences and inferences regarding the effectiveness of a behavioural intervention
D) Ensure that an adequate sample size is accrued to meet assumptions for accurate statistical analysis

Answer 3

Reduce the effect of extraneous variables on the accurate evaluation of the outcome variable

Question 4

Which of the following is the process of selecting representative units of a population for a research investigation?

A) Sampling
B) Snowballing
C) Delimitation
D) Random assignment

Question 5

A study was conducted to determine whether head flattening in preterm infants was prevented by placing their heads on a water pillow.The first 50 preterm infants admitted to a newborn intensive care unit during a specific year were assigned to either a usual care group or a treatment group.What type of sampling strategy is represented by this research plan?

A) Quota
B) Random
C) Purposive
D) Stratified

Question 6

What is the appropriate sampling interval for drawing a systematic sample of 25 participants from 200 women who had breast enhancement surgery in the course of a particular year at a specific medical centre?

A) Every fourth patient
B) Every fifth patient
C) Every eighth patient
D) Every tenth patient

Question 7

What is the primary characteristic of a probability sample?

A) Self-selection of participants
B) Random selection of the sample
C) Hand picking of participants by the researcher
D) Representation of proportional segments of the population

Question 8

What is the difference between an "accessible population" and a "target population"?

A) An accessible population meets inclusion criteria, whereas a target population meets exclusion criteria.
B) A target population meets inclusion criteria, whereas an accessible population meets exclusion criteria.
C) An accessible population represents the entire set of cases the researcher wishes to study, whereas a target population represents that part of the accessible population that could feasibly be included in the study.
D) A target population represents the entire set of cases the researcher wishes to study, whereas an accessible population represents that part of the target population that could feasibly be included in the study.

Question 9

At a teaching hospital,of the staff of 1,500 nurses,60% have a college diploma,and 21% have a BScN.The recruitment goal for a study was set at 1,000 nurses,with 600 in the college diploma group,210 in the BScN group,and 190 from any other type of nursing education.What type of sampling strategy is represented by this research plan?

A) Quota
B) Random
C) Purposive
D) Convenience

Question 10

What can a nurse researcher use to restrict the study population to homogeneous groups of participants?

A) Sampling
B) Self-selection
C) Eligibility criteria
D) Defining study limitations

Question 11

Which of the following statements best identifies the sample descriptors that form the basis for eligibility criteria in sample selection?

A) A sample of 1,000 practising nurses in a selected state was surveyed.
B) The sample consisted of 267 Canadian girls and American girls who lived in urban areas in their respective countries.
C) The sample consisted of 40 men between the ages of 20 and 55 who were treated for burn injuries during the past decade at a specialized burn unit.
D) The sample consisted of 57 hospital nurse executives and 178 staff registered nurses employed in Ontario.

Question 12

Which factor or condition of a sample meets the criterion for representativeness?

A) The sample is drawn randomly from the general population without the use of specific criteria.
B) The characteristics of the sample closely resemble the characteristics of the larger target population.
C) The sample includes the same percentage of men and women as well as members of different ethnic groups as the general population does.
D) The participants selected for the sample have agreed to express the specific opinions or beliefs representative of their ethnic or cultural group.

Question 13

A nurse researcher would hesitate to use nonprobability sampling because

A) it will result in reduced or limited generalizability.
B) informed consent must be obtained.
C) it will require large, unmanageable sample sizes.
D) sample sizes are too small for most methods of statistical analysis.

Question 14

What is the major characteristic of a stratified sample?

A) The sample population is divided into subsets that are homogeneous for a particular trait or feature.
B) The sample population is divided into subsets for random assignment into an intervention group or a usual care group.
C) The sample population is randomly assigned to a specific subgroup that will differ from other groups on the basis of treatment type.
D) The sample population is randomly assigned to a specific subgroup that will differ from other groups on the basis of treatment duration.

Question 15

What is the major benefit of nonprobability sampling,as compared with probability sampling?

A) It does not affect generalizability.
B) Informed consent must be obtained.
C) The necessary sample sizes are easier to obtain.
D) Sample sizes are too small for most methods of statistical analysis.

Question 16

Which of the following sampling strategies has the greatest risk for sample bias?

A) Quota
B) Random
C) Purposive
D) Convenience

Question 17

A nurse researcher should be concerned about establishing clear eligibility criteria for inclusion in a study sample because such criteria will do what?

A) Increase the homogeneity of the sample
B) Decrease the homogeneity of the sample
C) Increase the size of the sample
D) Decrease the size of the sample

Question 18

What type of sampling strategy is represented when every fourth postsecondary student who registers for a specific course is selected into the treatment group?

A) Cluster sampling
B) Systematic sampling
C) Simple random sampling
D) Stratified random sampling

Question 19

Which of the following statements about inclusion and exclusion criteria is true?

A) These criteria are not needed when the sample being studied is composed of events.
B) These criteria serve to ensure that the characteristics of the sample and the population are congruent.
C) Inclusion criteria are used to define independent variables, and exclusion criteria are used to define dependent variables.
D) Inclusion criteria are used to define dependent variables, and exclusion criteria are used to define independent variables.

Question 20

A nurse researcher has made a generalization on the basis of the experience of a small number of participants.What will the result of this be?

A) Small samples invalidate hypotheses.
B) The researcher may be unable to eliminate his or her bias.
C) Data obtained from a small number may represent the phenomenon inadequately.
D) Small samples increase historical threats to internal validity.

Question 21

What process is employed when a researcher accrues a sample of participants by using the word-of-mouth approach?

A) Referral
B) Networking
C) Recruitment
D) Quasiprobability

Question 22

A nurse researcher opts to use a stratified sample in a research study for which reason?

A) The sample population is divided into subsets that are homogeneous for a particular trait or feature.
B) The sample population is divided into subsets for random assignment into an intervention or a usual-care group.
C) The sample population is randomly assigned to a specific subgroup that will vary from the others on the basis of type of treatment.
D) The sample population is randomly assigned to a specific subgroup that will vary from the others on the basis of treatment duration.

Question 23

What question should a research consumer ask when evaluating the sample size in a research report?

A) How many assistants were involved in data collection?
B) How representative is the sample relative to the target population?
C) How great is the outcome difference between or among study groups?
D) How many previous studies has the researcher conducted before on similar topics?

Question 24

The nurse researcher is attempting to develop a purposive sampling strategy as part of a research study.What criteria will be used to determine whether the strategy is purposive?

A) Validation of scale with a known-group technique
B) Focus of study population relates to specific diagnosis
C) Focus of study population relates to broad, general topic
D) Effective posttesting of instruments
E) Collection of exploratory data
F) Collection of descriptive data

Question 25

The nurse researcher is deciding on a sampling strategy for the research study.Which type(s)of strategies would be considered to be probability sampling strategies?

A) Convenience
B) Quota
C) Simple random
D) Cluster
E) Purposive
F) Stratified random

Question 26

Which statement regarding sample size is most accurate?

A) Studies with smaller sample sizes have more accurate results.
B) Studies with smaller sample sizes are more likely to be representative of the target population.
C) Studies with larger sample sizes have more accurate results.
D) Studies with larger sample sizes are more likely to be representative of the target population.

Question 27

What are types of nonprobability of sampling?

A) Purposive
B) Quota
C) Stratified random
D) Multistage (cluster)
E) Convenience

Question 28

What does the technique of matching in a sampling strategy contribute to the research?

A) Improvement of study design
B) Elimination of the need for a control group
C) Increased equivalency of the comparison group
D) Reduction of sample size by making participants serve as their own controls

Question 29

The primary characteristic of a probability sample is considered to be what?

A) Self-selection of participants
B) Random selection of the sample
C) Participants handpicked by the researcher
D) Representation of proportional segments of the population

Question 30

A nurse researcher should be particularly concerned about having a small sample size for which reason?

A) There is increased risk of obtaining a nonrepresentative sample.
B) There is increased risk of a study participant interacting with another study participant.
C) There is increased potential for loss of confidentiality.
D) There is increased regression toward the mean.

Question 31

Which of the following terms describes the process of obtaining the required number of participants by asking those people who are easiest to access?

A) Selection bias
B) Convenience
C) Randomization
D) Internal reliability

Question 32

Which type of sampling is most at risk for sample bias?

A) Quota
B) Random
C) Purposive
D) Convenience

Question 33

A nurse researcher can most accurately use the technique of power analysis to do what?

A) To estimate sample size
B) To establish sampling strata
C) To assign participants randomly
D) To analyze sample representativeness