Question 1

Which journal is most likely to publish a report on the findings of a recent study on patient compliance with low-sodium diets?

Accepted Answer

Applied Nursing Research is the most likely source of a report on the findings of a study on patient compliance.
American Journal of Nursing's focus is not publishing of nursing studies.
Research directly connected to the diabetic patient might be found in Diabetic Educator, but it is more likely that a study on compliance with a low-sodium diet would be in Applied Nursing Research.
Nursing 2010's focus is not on publishing nursing studies.

Question 2

Which of the following are true statements about quantitative research? (Choose all that apply.)

Accepted Answer

Quasi-experimental research is a useful option when controlled conditions are not possible.
Statistical tests are employed with quantitative research studies.
Correlational research is "True" research, just a different kind.
Experiments are only one form of quantitative research.

Question 3

How does a study framework differ from a theory? A framework:

Accepted Answer

A framework is defined as a testable theory used by the researcher.
Both theories and frameworks can be conveyed through diagrams or maps.
Both applied and basic research types can contain frameworks in their designs.
A framework may or may not need more explanation than a theory.

Question 4

Which of the following items is not typically included in the purpose statement of a research study?

Accepted Answer

The methodology describes how the study will be conducted, and is not considered a component of the purpose statement.
The purpose includes the variables, population, and often the setting for the study.
The purpose includes the variables, population, and often the setting for the study.
The purpose includes the variables, population, and often the setting for the study.

Question 5

A nurse reads a research report published in a professional journal. The nurse notes that a convenience sample was used, and data were gathered from several clinical sites. Overall the nurse was impressed with the quality and credibility of the study. The nurse demonstrated which critical thinking skill related to reading research reports?

Accepted Answer

Analyzing a research report involves examining the report for characteristics, such as accuracy, completeness, and logical links, to determine if the findings should be incorporated in practice.
Highlighting key components of the research report is part of comprehending the report.
Quickly reading the report is "skimming" the report.
Reading the entire study through carefully to focus on major concepts describes comprehending a report.

Question 6

Which of the following are true statements about basic research? (Choose all that apply.) Basic research:

Accepted Answer

Animals are often used in basic research.
Basic research pursues knowledge for its own sake.
Basic research can be generalized to appropriate populations if it has been conducted correctly.
There are implications for practice coming out of basic research; they are just not directly applied.

Question 7

In critiquing a research study, what would indicate that the researcher minimized the limitations of the study? The

Accepted Answer

Typical methods of minimizing limitations of a study include developing clear relationships among the concepts used in the study, appropriate generalization of the study findings, using a representative sample of the population under study, and developing logical operational definitions of the variables under study.
Generalizing findings beyond the scope of the study broadens the limitations of a study instead of minimizing them.
In minimizing study limitations, the sample should be more controlled than drawing from a convenient group of patients from nearby facilities.
Variables in a well-limited study should be clearly defined and described, not using vague and conflicting terms.

Question 8

Which answer has terms that come from all three of the following: the problem-solving process, nursing process, and the research process, rather than just one?

Accepted Answer

Data collection, methodology, and evaluation are terms come from all three processes: data collection from the problem-solving process, methodology from the research process, and evaluation from both problem-solving and nursing processes.
Assessment, nursing diagnosis, and evaluation are terms from the nursing process.
Data collection, problem identification and implementation are from the problem-solving process.
Literature review, design, and outcomes are terms from the research process.

Question 9

Which statements are true about a literature review? The literature review:

Accepted Answer

Literature reviews provide a picture or describe what is known and not known, or also stated as gaps in the knowledge of the subject or phenomenon under study.
Studies considered classic in a field are often included, even if they are more than 5 years old.
Literature reviews present only relevant studies from credible sources.
The research question drives the researcher in developing the study, including determining the type of analysis that will be used.

Question 10

Which of the following best describes how to handle extraneous variables? (Choose all that apply.) The researcher:

Accepted Answer

When contemplating the study design, it is helpful for the researcher to think of things that might influence the study, but are not part of the study. Sometimes there is not much the researcher can do about them. Other times the researcher can set up the study to eliminate them, making the sample as homogeneous as possible with the exception of what the researcher wants to explore.
The researcher needs to identify as many extraneous variables and control for them to reduce their effects on the results of the study.
There is no way to control for all extraneous variables.
Including extraneous variables in data analysis may actually increase their influence in the study.

Question 11

The researcher uses which portion of the research report to capture the reader's attention?

Accepted Answer

The research report usually begins with an abstract: a clear, concise summary of a study. Researchers hope their abstracts will concisely convey the findings from their study and capture the reader's attention so he or she will read the entire report.
Conclusions are presented at the end of the report. The research report usually begins with an abstract: a clear, concise summary of a study. Researchers hope that their abstracts will concisely convey the findings from their study and capture the reader's attention so he or she will read the entire report.
The framework is present later in the study report and tells about the foundation of the study. The research report usually begins with an abstract: a clear, concise summary of a study. Researchers hope their abstracts will concisely convey the findings from their study and capture the reader's attention so he or she will read the entire report.
The methodology is in the middle part of the report. The research report usually begins with an abstract: a clear, concise summary of a study. Researchers hope their abstracts will concisely convey the findings from their study and capture the reader's attention so he or she will read the entire report.

Question 12

A researcher describes a study as correlational. Which of the following would not be typically found in a research report of the study?

Accepted Answer

The primary intent of correlational studies is to explain the nature of relationships in the real world, not to determine cause and effect.
As correlational studies explain the nature of relationships, a description of the variables would be included.
A correlational study would include a stated purpose of the study.
Correlational studies describe the nature of relationships in the real world, and so would work from a predicted hypothesis.

Question 13

Which of the following are true statements about what research means? (Choose all that apply.) Research:

Accepted Answer

Research has specific protocols and steps to follow.
Research helps us know about new situations and concepts.
Experiments are only one form of one kind of research (quantitative).
Although people tend to think research can "prove" something, it really only supports an idea or hypothesis.

Question 14

What is the correct order of the steps of the research process?
1)Establishing the methodology
2) Implementation
3) Problem and purpose identification
4) Search for knowledge
5) Synthesis of findings

Accepted Answer

The correct order is search for knowledge, problem and purpose identification, establishing the methodology, implementation, and synthesis of findings.

Question 15

If a researcher used an instrument to measure happiness and reports that in the past it has been used to determine degree of hardiness, what would a critique of the study focus on regarding this choice?

Accepted Answer

A good researcher needs to select an instrument with high validity and reliability. Although a study might determine that the one indicated here works well to measure happiness, that would need to be determined. In critiquing the study, this would be a major flaw unless the researcher reports on the validity of the instrument for this purpose. Questionnaires cannot be applied to different variables without testing.
The representativeness of the population is not of concern in regard to the instrument selected.
Scores on the instrument are not of concern if the instrument is not valid.
Items B and C are not correct, making this choice incorrect also.

Question 16

A researcher describes a study as a descriptive study. Which of the following would typically be part of the research methodology for the study?

Accepted Answer

A representative sample is part of a descriptive design.
The primary intent of a descriptive study is to describe or explain phenomena of interest.
A descriptive study has no control group or intervention.
A descriptive study has no control group or intervention.

Question 17

Which of the following best describe a researcher striving for rigor in a study? The researcher has:

Accepted Answer

A rigorously conducted quantitative study has precise measuring tools, a representative sample, and a tightly controlled study design.
Creating a tightly controlled design will help show causality between dependent and independent variables.
If it is a researcher-developed instrument, the validity and reliability are in question.
It does not say how the sample was selected, so it is not known if it is representative.

Question 18

When critiquing a research report, what would not be needed in the description of the sample to determine the validity of the sample? The

Accepted Answer

The mean age might be of interest, but may or may not relate to the study's purpose and, therefore is not a necessary component of the report.
A good research report would include the population represented, the number of subjects, and the method used to obtain the subjects.
A good research report would include the population represented, the number of subjects, and the method used to obtain the subjects.
A good research report would include the population represented, the number of subjects, and the method used to obtain the subjects.

Question 19

In selecting a research design, what would indicate that the researcher's choice was not the correct one? The

Accepted Answer

In a correctly designed research study, the methods of measurement match or are appropriate to the research purpose.
In a correctly designed research study, the research question can be addressed with the design chosen.
In a correctly designed research study, the researcher is capable of conducting the study.
In a correctly designed research study, the plans for data analysis are reasonable and match the study questions.

Question 20

The sentence, "The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between health beliefs and breast self-examination," would most likely be found in which section of a research report?

Accepted Answer

The introduction section of a research report identifies the nature and scope of the problem being investigated and justifies the conduct of the study.
The discussion section tells the reader what the researcher thinks about the results of the analysis. The introduction section of a research report identifies the nature and scope of the problem being investigated and justifies the conduct of the study.
The methods section informs the reader of how the study was carried out. The introduction section of a research report identifies the nature and scope of the problem being investigated and justifies the conduct of the study.
The results section gives the outcome of the statistical analysis. The introduction section of a research report identifies the nature and scope of the problem being investigated and justifies the conduct of the study.

Quiz 2: Introduction to the Quantitative Research Process