Question 1

A researcher wants to determine if nurses' levels of empathy for patients change after graduation from nursing school. The following groups are measured: new graduates, nurses who have worked for 2 years, and nurses who have worked for 5 years, on empathy toward patients with a comparison of scores. This study is:

A) prospective.
B) retrospective.
C) cross-sectional.
D) experimental.

cross-sectional.

Accepted Answer

This study is cross-sectional, as it is measuring different groups of nurses at the same point in time to compare their levels of empathy towards patients. It is not experimental because the researcher is not manipulating any variables, and it is not prospective or retrospective because it is not looking at changes over time.

Question 2

A study that follows a cohort of subjects and collects over time is referred to as:&#10;A) observational.&#10;B) retrospective.&#10;C) longitudinal.&#10;D) experimental.

Accepted Answer

Longitudinal studies follow a group of subjects over an extended period and collect data at different intervals. This type of study allows researchers to observe changes and trends over time.

Question 3

A situation where the identity of subjects remains unknown to protect subjects participating in a study is referred to as:&#10;A) confidentiality.&#10;B) human rights.&#10;C) risk-benefit ratio.&#10;D) anonymity.

Accepted Answer

Anonymity refers to the situation where the identity of subjects remains unknown to protect subjects participating in a study. This is particularly important in research studies where participants may disclose sensitive or personal information that could potentially harm them if their identity was revealed. Ensuring anonymity helps to build trust and encourages honest and candid responses from participants.

Question 4

All of the following groups deserve special protection as subjects in research, except:&#10;A) men and women over 65 years of age.&#10;B) children.&#10;C) prisoners.&#10;D) mentally ill.

Accepted Answer

Men and women over 65 years of age do not inherently require special protection in research simply based on their age, unlike children, prisoners, and the mentally ill, who are considered vulnerable populations.

Question 5

Individuals who provide data in a research study are often referred to as the:&#10;A) population.&#10;B) data points.&#10;C) coding plan.&#10;D) sample.

Accepted Answer

Individuals who participate in a research study are typically selected from a larger population and are referred to as the sample. The population refers to the entire group of individuals that the researcher is interested in studying. Data points refer to the specific pieces of information collected from each individual in the sample, while the coding plan refers to the system used to categorize and analyze the data.

Question 6

A research design that examines relationships between and among variables is referred to as:&#10;A) longitudinal.&#10;B) correlational.&#10;C) prospective.&#10;D) retrospective.

Accepted Answer

A correlational research design examines the relationships between and among variables, without manipulating any variables. Longitudinal studies involve collecting data from the same participants over an extended period of time, while prospective studies follow a group of individuals forward in time to examine the development of a particular outcome. Retrospective studies look back in time to collect data on past events or experiences.

Question 7

Which of the following statements is not true of an Institutional Review Board (IRB)?&#10;A) An IRB assures that researchers do not engage in unethical behavior.&#10;B) All IRB members must have an affiliation with the institution.&#10;C) An IRB can use an expedited review process where there are minimal risks.&#10;D) Certain types of research are exempt from the IRB process.

Accepted Answer

Not all IRB members need to have an affiliation with the institution. However, the majority of members must be from the institution, and at least one member must be from outside the institution.

Question 8

A researcher designs an experiment to test how variables interact to influence how well children learn. The main purpose of this study is:&#10;A) description.&#10;B) explanation.&#10;C) influence.&#10;D) prediction.

Accepted Answer

The main purpose of this study is to explain how variables interact to influence how well children learn, rather than simply describing or predicting outcomes.

Question 9

Nonexperimental research is often said to be weaker than experimental research in terms of:&#10;A) establishing whether a problem exists.&#10;B) establishing for whom a problem exists.&#10;C) documenting a causal relationship.&#10;D) all of the above

Accepted Answer

Nonexperimental research is weaker than experimental research in establishing a causal relationship between variables. It can still be useful in establishing the existence of a problem and for whom it exists, but it is unable to demonstrate causality in the same way as experimental designs.

Question 10

Providing subjects with an estimate of the potential risks in relation to the potential benefits is called the:&#10;A) right to privacy and dignity.&#10;B) right to anonymity and confidentiality.&#10;C) risk-benefit ratio.&#10;D) right to self-determination.

Accepted Answer

Providing subjects with an estimate of the potential risks in relation to the potential benefits is called the risk-benefit ratio. This is an important consideration in research ethics, as it ensures that participants are fully informed about the potential outcomes of their involvement in the research study. The right to privacy and dignity (A) refers to the ethical obligation to respect the autonomy and personal space of research subjects, while the right to anonymity and confidentiality (B) refers to the obligation to protect participants' identity and personal information. The right to self-determination (D) refers to the principle that individuals should have the freedom to make their own decisions about their lives, including decisions about their participation in research studies. While these principles are also important considerations in research ethics, they are not directly related to the provision of a risk-benefit ratio.

Deck 2: Understanding the Research Process and Ethical Issues in Nursing Research