Deck 3: Introduction to Qualitative Research

Question 1

Which qualitative study will call for an exploratory-descriptive study approach?

A) An evaluation of clinical outcomes of standard nursing interventions
B) An examination of the effects of a treatment on various ethnic groups
C) A review of data to evaluate theoretical constructs
D) A study on a topic about which little is known or understood

Answer 1

A study on a topic about which little is known or understood

Question 2

When designing a study,which has the greatest influence as a researcher decides which type of qualitative study design to use?

A) Funding and resources
B) Literature review
C) Population
D) Research question

Answer 2

Research question

Question 3

What is a key element of hermeneutics in research?

A) Analysis of documents and interviews to identify themes and subthemes in data
B) Bracketing of the researcher's own perceptions for the duration of the study
C) Description of phenomena without interpretation by the researcher
D) Focusing solely on phenomena themselves without consideration of biases

Answer 3

Analysis of documents and interviews to identify themes and subthemes in data

Question 4

What is true about phenomena in qualitative research?

A) Human behavior is generally the result of the direct influence of independent variables.
B) Knowledge gained by qualitative research is concrete and derived from statistical data.
C) Multiple realities are possible based on meanings created by individuals and groups.
D) Time and context have very little influence on individual or group perspectives.

Question 5

What role does qualitative research play in evidence-based practice (EBP)?

A) Because it does not involve random-controlled trials (RCTs),it does not contribute directly to EBP.
B) It offers a systematic approach for yielding insights into human experience and behavior.
C) It provides a way to measure and evaluate quality outcomes that affect patient care.
D) It provides the basis for most EBP guidelines and patient care protocols.

Question 6

A researcher wishes to learn about the experiences that women have when breastfeeding their infants in the workplace.Which type of study design will the researcher employ?

A) Ethnographic
B) Exploratory-descriptive
C) Grounded theory
D) Historical

Question 7

A researcher develops a study to examine various phenomena that contribute to theory development.This is an example of which type of research?

A) Ethnographic research
B) Grounded theory research
C) Historical research
D) Phenomenological research

Question 8

A qualitative researcher writes down his/her ideas,perceptions,thoughts,and biases about the topic of a study before starting data collection.This is a form of

A) deductive reasoning.
B) intuiting.
C) gaining an emic perspective.
D) bracketing.

Question 9

A researcher wishes to understand how inner-city Somali immigrants adapt healthcare practices into their experiences with the U.S.healthcare system.Which type of study approach will the researcher use?

A) Descriptive-qualitative
B) Ethnographic
C) Grounded theory
D) Phenomenological

Question 10

A researcher identifies a socioeconomic group of people to study.After developing a rapport with key members of the group,getting information about group members from the key members,and spending time working among group members,the researcher prepares a written report about the group based on this experience.Which type of qualitative research does this represent?

A) Ethnographic
B) Grounded theory
C) Historical
D) Phenomenological

Question 11

The goal of grounded theory research is to

A) develop theories and hypotheses based on research findings.
B) establish an ethnographic perspective on subjects.
C) provide validity checks for constructs.
D) test theoretical constructs and hypotheses.

Question 12

A researcher utilizes an emic approach in a research study to

A) gather data about lived experiences of individuals.
B) understand behaviors from within a culture.
C) examine individual human behavior according to personal biases.
D) use techniques such as bracketing and intuiting.

Question 13

A researcher conducts a study to examine the feelings of cancer patients at various points during their disease,including at diagnosis,when beginning chemotherapy,and during remission.Which type of study will the researcher use for this study?

A) Ethnographic
B) Grounded theory
C) Historical
D) Phenomenological

Question 14

Which is an example of an etic approach in an ethnographic study?

A) A longitudinal study examining individual immigrants' attitudes about health care
B) A study about African tribal women and their feelings about HIV prevention
C) A study comparing various ethnic groups' folk health practices
D) A study of differences between BSN- and AND-prepared nurses' attitudes about health care

Question 15

A researcher conducts a qualitative study and learns that individuals have a variety of reactions to an event.What can the researcher conclude from this finding?

A) The findings are interesting,but are not useful for theory development.
B) The reactions described in this study may be generalized to a larger population.
C) The study has little significance since there is no well-defined single outcome.
D) The variety of reactions is expected since perception varies with individuals.

Question 16

What is true about grounded theory research?

A) It is a method used to quantify theoretical constructs in theory development.
B) It is used to further research in areas where much concrete data is already known.
C) Study designs use a theoretical basis to develop the research questions.
D) Theory is developed from the data collected during the research.

Question 17

A researcher wishes to examine the experiences and feelings of siblings of children who have cancer to gain information about this population.Which type of qualitative study method will the researcher use?

A) Ethnographic
B) Exploratory-descriptive
C) Grounded theory
D) Historical

Question 18

When performing an external criticism of the documents used in historical research,the reviewer must determine whether the documents are

A) genuine or fraudulent.
B) interesting or dull.
C) well known or obscure.
D) written by authors who are still living.

Question 19

A researcher who bases phenomenological research on Husserl's philosophy will

A) incorporate personal biases into conclusions and discussion of the research.
B) interpret subjects' experiences according to the researcher's own biases.
C) place personal biases aside when considering and reporting research findings.
D) use personal biases to look for hidden meanings in research data.

Question 20

What is true about scientific rigor in qualitative nursing research?

A) Studies are rigorous only when results are quantifiable.
B) Study findings are considered trustworthy when rigor is applied.
C) Scientific rigor is not applicable with qualitative studies.
D) Scientific rigor is only used with random-controlled trials.

Question 21

A researcher may choose to use a focus group instead of one-to-one interviews to

A) encourage free expression of views of the participants.
B) increase conformity and consistency of participants' responses.
C) reduce the time needed to collect data.
D) allow more time for lengthy and complete responses.

Question 22

What may characterize questions asked by the researcher during an exploratory-descriptive study?

A) A focus on participants' biographical information
B) Using structured individual questions
C) One main question with follow-up questions
D) Open-ended questions with probes to follow up

Question 23

To maximize collection of pertinent information when conducting an observational study,the researcher records field notes

A) after the observation has concluded.
B) during or immediately after the observation.
C) prior to beginning the observation.
D) when writing the research discussion.

Question 24

What is the researcher-participant relationship in qualitative research?

A) Attaching personal meanings of the researcher to subjects' responses
B) Controlling subjects' responses by stating the aims of the study
C) Creating empathetic and honest relationships with study subjects
D) Keeping a distance to avoid skewing research findings

Question 25

During a qualitative research study,a researcher asks subjects a fixed set of questions to which the participants respond freely.This is an example of a(n)

A) open-ended interview.
B) semi-structured interview.
C) structured interview.
D) unstructured interview.

Question 26

A researcher investigates how nurses in a rural hospital regard the importance of asthma education using an ethnographic approach.Why was this approach appropriate?

A) To find out what it was like for nurses to provide this education
B) To explore the theoretical basis of asthma education
C) To improve understanding of how these nurses define asthma education
D) To look at the history of asthma education to shed light on current practice

Question 27

When appraising a study in which data was collected by interview,the reviewer will assess for

A) adequate length of time for each interview.
B) evidence that prompts were not used to encourage responses.
C) use of clinical setting for conducting interviews.
D) utilization of payment for participation of subjects.

Question 28

While reviewing transcripts of interviews conducted for a qualitative study,the researcher appraises the data for congruence with the philosophical perspective of the study.This is an example of

A) perspective.
B) reliability.
C) rigor.
D) validity.

Question 29

When conducting historical research about the experiences of women refugees from the Sudan,the researcher interviews women who served as nurses among this population.These nurses represent

A) control group subjects.
B) experimental group subjects.
C) primary data sources.
D) secondary data sources.

Question 30

Which qualitative research tradition has been used most frequently to study areas in which little previous research has been conducted and to gain a new viewpoint in familiar areas of research?

A) Phenomenological research
B) Grounded theory
C) Ethnographic research
D) Exploratory-descriptive qualitative research

Question 31

Which type of research uses a less formal method of reporting data?

A) Ethnographic
B) Grounded theory
C) Historical
D) Phenomenological

Question 32

What type of data collection method is most common in qualitative research?

A) Distribution and review of questionnaires from subjects
B) Interviews with and observation of subjects
C) Participation and immersion in the lives of subjects
D) Review of historical documents and literature about subjects

Question 33

What are subjects in qualitative research studies usually called?

A) Experimental subjects
B) Participants
C) Primary sources
D) Secondary sources

Question 34

Which is true about focus groups?

A) Researchers may elicit the assistance of moderators who share common characteristics with the participants.
B) A moderator or facilitator conducting a focus group will always be the researcher.
C) Focus group leaders understand that they can alter the procedures or script developed by the researcher.
D) The recommended size of a focus group is three to four participants.

Question 35

A researcher classifies words and phrases that occur in data collected in a qualitative study.This process is called

A) coding the data.
B) describing the data.
C) dwelling with the data.
D) interpreting the data.

Question 36

A researcher describes phrases and terms discovered in a qualitative study and describes and links these with various themes.This is an example of

A) coding the data.
B) describing the data.
C) dwelling with the data.
D) interpreting the data.

Question 37

When gathering data for a study using observational methods,it is important for the data collector to

A) be observant of all that is done,said,and unsaid.
B) direct subjects by setting the stage through structured questions.
C) record those actions and words that are related to the focus of the study.
D) participate directly with subjects to better understand them.

Question 38

Which is true about data analysis in a qualitative study?

A) It has very little structure.
B) It is unnecessary in qualitative studies.
C) It requires less time than with quantitative analysis.
D) It should be consistent with the philosophical method of the study.

Question 39

How are subjects selected for qualitative research studies?

A) As volunteers through advertising for subjects
B) Based on knowledge or experience
C) By random sampling methods
D) Through convenience sampling

Question 40

When conducting research about the experiences of early advanced practice nurses,the researcher may consult which possible secondary source?

A) A textbook history of early advanced practice nurses
B) Currently practicing advanced practice nurses
C) Former patients of early advanced practice nurses
D) The scope of practice guidelines for advanced practice nursing

Question 41

How are findings from qualitative studies used to add to the body of nursing knowledge?

A) Findings are useful only for describing study subjects.
B) Findings may be generalized to a wide variety of population groups.
C) Findings provide a broad overview from which meaning is derived.
D) Findings reveal meanings that can be used to develop theory.

Question 42

Which is true about rigor in qualitative research?

A) Data should be interpreted according to the initial expectations of the researcher.
B) Findings of the study should be generalizable to a larger population.
C) Studies are evaluated based on design detail and thoroughness of evaluation.
D) There is no method for judging rigor in qualitative research.

Question 43

Which of the following are true statements about qualitative research? Select all that apply.

A) Qualitative research is a systematic approach used to describe experiences and situations from the perspective of persons in the situation.
B) Qualitative research findings make an indistinct contribution to evidence-based practice.
C) Qualitative research can generate rich descriptions of the experiences of the participants.
D) Qualitative research is conducted in controlled settings to learn about a topic from the perspectives of the participants.
E) Qualitative research process follows the same general steps as the quantitative research process,and is based on the same philosophical values and assumptions.

Question 44

Which is true about phenomenological research?

A) It is a method that views the person and the environment as integrated.
B) It seeks to quantify human behavior and experience.
C) It disregards the meaning of lived experiences.
D) It is a single approach that uses quantitative research methods.

Question 45

A researcher uses at least two different perspectives to converge into a unique perspective on the topic.This is an example of

A) perspective.
B) triangulation.
C) reliability.
D) validity.

Question 46

A researcher uses film footage to collect data in which type of research?

A) Ethnographic
B) Grounded theory
C) Historical
D) Phenomenological

Question 47

Which statement is true regarding researchers who conduct studies using the exploratory-descriptive qualitative research approach?

A) Researchers design studies to obtain information needed to develop a program or intervention for various groups of patients.
B) Researchers are exploring an old topic or describing a situation.
C) Researchers develop studies to provide information and insight into clinical or practice problems.
D) Researchers often have a realistic orientation and are in search of useful information and practical solutions.

Question 48

What is the purpose of qualitative research?

A) To allow researchers to interject their own values into studies
B) To describe data that cannot be measured or quantified
C) To describe experiences and insight from the subject's perspective
D) To establish causal relationships among subjective data