Question 1

What is the relationship between a population and a sample?
A) A population is a representative sample of a defined group.
B) A sample is made up of objects and events, whereas a population is made up of people.
C) Both populations and samples are specialized segments of groups.
D) A sample is a representative group of a defined population.

Accepted Answer

A sample is a subset of a population that is used to represent the entire group in statistical analysis.

Question 2

A researcher is studying post-polio syndrome in American polio survivors over the age 65. The researcher selects the sample subjects from the eligible subjects in a tristate area where the researcher is able to travel. Which group is the target population for this researcher?
A) American polio survivors over the age of 65
B) American polio survivors over the age of 65 with post-polio syndrome
C) American polio survivors over the age of 65 with post-polio syndrome in the tristate area
D) American polio survivors over the age of 65 with post-polio syndrome in the tristate area who participate in the research study

Accepted Answer

The target population is the group the researcher intends to study, which is American polio survivors over the age of 65 with post-polio syndrome.

Question 3

Which of the following is an example of an accessible population?
A) All RNs in the United States
B) All pediatric RNs
C) RN-to-BSN students
D) RN-to-BSN students at one university

Accepted Answer

An accessible population is a group that researchers can realistically reach and study. "RN-to-BSN students at one university" is specific and feasible for researchers to access.

Question 4

When a study sample shows representativeness, what can be concluded about the study?
A) The study results show evidence of sampling bias.
B) The study used strict inclusion and exclusion criteria to limit the sample size.
C) The study is most likely generalizable, with results that can be applied to the target population.
D) The study is most likely not generalizable because the sample was obtained using specific inclusion criteria.

Accepted Answer

A representative sample means the study results can be generalized to the target population, as it accurately reflects the characteristics of that population.

Question 5

A researcher studying pain associated with complications of Lyme disease wants to make sure that other types of patient pain do not influence the research results. Which action would best address the researcher's concerns?
A) Have study participants self-report any other health conditions that cause pain on a regular basis.
B) Set criteria to exclude participants with chronic pain disorders from the study.
C) Track study participants' use of anti-inflammatory and analgesic medications.
D) Set criteria to include only patients who exhibit the most severe and painful symptoms of Lyme disease in the study.

Accepted Answer

Excluding participants with chronic pain disorders will help ensure that the pain being studied is specifically related to Lyme disease, minimizing the influence of other types of pain on the research results.

Question 6

What is present when subjects in a study do not adequately represent the target population?
A) Sample manipulation
B) Sample exclusion
C) Sample bias
D) Sample error

Accepted Answer

The answer of What is present when subjects in a...

Question 7

A study sample is made up of 70% female subjects and 30% male subjects, and the target population is made up of 55% female subjects and 45% male subjects. Which of the following statements about the study is true?
A) The study sample shows representativeness.
B) The results of the study are generalizable to the target population.
C) The study's external validity is at risk from sampling bias.
D) The study sample demonstrates incorrect use of exclusion criteria.

Accepted Answer

The study's external validity is at risk from sampling bias because the gender distribution in the sample does not match the target population, which can affect the generalizability of the results.

Question 8

Which of the following methods will yield the most representative sample?
A) Nonprobability sampling
B) Simple random sampling
C) Cluster sampling
D) Systematic random sampling

Accepted Answer

Simple random sampling is the most representative method because each member of the population has an equal chance of being selected, minimizing bias.

Question 9

Which of the following statements explains why nonprobability sampling carries more risk of selection bias than probability sampling?
A) Exclusion criteria are not used in nonprobability sampling.
B) Nonprobability sampling uses strata that are not mutually exclusive.
C) Representativeness is not a consideration in nonprobability sampling.
D) Nonprobability sampling does not use randomization.

Accepted Answer

Nonprobability sampling does not use randomization, which increases the risk of selection bias because the sample may not accurately represent the population.

Question 10

What is the primary disadvantage of nonprobability sampling as compared to probability sampling?
A) Limited randomization
B) Large sample size
C) Limited generalizability
D) Small sample size

Accepted Answer

Nonprobability sampling lacks random selection, which limits the ability to generalize findings to the broader population.

Question 11

At which point in the sampling process would the researcher create a sampling frame?
A) When the sampling interval has been chosen
B) When the exclusion criteria have been applied
C) When the convenience sample has been located
D) When the accessible population has been determined

Accepted Answer

A sampling frame is created after determining the accessible population, as it is a list of elements from which the sample will be drawn.

Question 12

A researcher who administers a questionnaire to 50 RN-to-BSN students attending the same nursing school is using which sampling method?
A) Convenience
B) Target
C) Stratified
D) Purposive

Accepted Answer

Convenience sampling is a non-probability sampling method in which the researcher selects participants who are easily accessible. In this case, the researcher is administering a questionnaire to 50 RN-to-BSN students attending the same nursing school. This is a convenience sample because the researcher is selecting participants who are easily accessible to them.

Question 13

Which of the following statements best explains why the preferred method to obtain participants in qualitative research studies is purposive sampling?
A) Purposive sampling allows the researcher to choose participants whose experiences are most likely to be generalizable to the target population.
B) Purposive sampling ensures that participants are chosen randomly, thereby increasing the validity of the qualitative findings.
C) Purposive sampling uses networking to increase the sample size and broaden the target population.
D) Purposive sampling allows researchers to select participants who fit the very specific types of criteria that are investigated in qualitative studies.

Accepted Answer

Purposive sampling is used in qualitative research to select participants who have specific characteristics or experiences relevant to the research question, allowing for in-depth exploration of the topic.

Question 14

A researcher who interviews subjects selected from the members of six health policy interest groups in the state of Alabama is most likely using which sampling method?
A) Target
B) Stratified
C) Purposive
D) Convenience

Accepted Answer

Purposive sampling is a non-probability sampling method in which the researcher selects subjects based on their knowledge or expertise about the population being studied. In this case, the researcher is selecting subjects from the members of six health policy interest groups in the state of Alabama. This is a purposive sampling method because the researcher is selecting subjects based on their knowledge about the population being studied (i.e., health policy interest groups in Alabama).

Question 15

Which of the following actions would be most appropriate for a researcher who is concerned participant attrition will result in invalid study results?
A) Offer participants at risk of dropping out incentives if they stay in the study.
B) Begin the study with a larger sample than necessary.
C) Include a section in the consent form where participants agree in advance to complete the entire study.
D) Redefine the target population after attrition occurs so that the remaining subjects are still a representative sample.

Accepted Answer

Starting with a larger sample size can help mitigate the effects of attrition, ensuring that the remaining sample is still large enough to maintain statistical power and validity.

Question 16

A researcher who divides nursing staff at a hospital into categories of CNAs, LPNs, RNs, and nurse practitioners before randomly selecting participants from each group is using stratified random sampling.

Accepted Answer

Stratified random sampling involves dividing a population into subgroups (strata) and then randomly selecting samples from each subgroup.

Question 17

The following groups are listed in size order from smallest to largest: accessible population, target population, population, sample.

Accepted Answer

The correct order from smallest to largest is: sample, accessible population, target population, population.

Question 18

The more heterogeneous the target population is, the larger the sample size needs to be.

Accepted Answer

A heterogeneous population has more variability, requiring a larger sample size to accurately represent the diversity and ensure reliable statistical inferences.

Question 19

If the accessible population is the same as the target population, then the entire target population will most likely be used as subjects and no sample is needed.

Accepted Answer

The answer of If the accessible population is the same...

Question 20

If a minor child refuses to give oral or written assent to participate in a study, the researcher can include the child in the sample if written consent is given by the parents.

Accepted Answer

In research involving minors, both parental consent and the child's assent are typically required. If a child refuses to assent, ethical guidelines generally prohibit their inclusion in the study, even if parental consent is obtained.

Quiz 11: Using Samples to Provide Evidence

What is the relationship between a population and a sample?

A researcher is studying post-polio syndrome in American polio survivors over the age 65. The researcher selects the sample subjects from the eligible subjects in a tristate area where the researcher is able to travel. Which group is the target population for this researcher?

Which of the following is an example of an accessible population?

When a study sample shows representativeness, what can be concluded about the study?

A researcher studying pain associated with complications of Lyme disease wants to make sure that other types of patient pain do not influence the research results. Which action would best address the researcher's concerns?

What is present when subjects in a study do not adequately represent the target population?

A study sample is made up of 70% female subjects and 30% male subjects, and the target population is made up of 55% female subjects and 45% male subjects. Which of the following statements about the study is true?

Which of the following methods will yield the most representative sample?

Which of the following statements explains why nonprobability sampling carries more risk of selection bias than probability sampling?

What is the primary disadvantage of nonprobability sampling as compared to probability sampling?

At which point in the sampling process would the researcher create a sampling frame?

A researcher who administers a questionnaire to 50 RN-to-BSN students attending the same nursing school is using which sampling method?

Which of the following statements best explains why the preferred method to obtain participants in qualitative research studies is purposive sampling?

A researcher who interviews subjects selected from the members of six health policy interest groups in the state of Alabama is most likely using which sampling method?

Which of the following actions would be most appropriate for a researcher who is concerned participant attrition will result in invalid study results?

A researcher who divides nursing staff at a hospital into categories of CNAs, LPNs, RNs, and nurse practitioners before randomly selecting participants from each group is using stratified random sampling.

The following groups are listed in size order from smallest to largest: accessible population, target population, population, sample.

The more heterogeneous the target population is, the larger the sample size needs to be.

If the accessible population is the same as the target population, then the entire target population will most likely be used as subjects and no sample is needed.

If a minor child refuses to give oral or written assent to participate in a study, the researcher can include the child in the sample if written consent is given by the parents.