How would a nurse researcher ensure that the sample used in a quantitative study is homogeneous?
A) Use eligibility criteria to limit extraneous variables relevant to the study.
B) Randomly assign subjects to either the experimental or the control group.
C) Assign one research assistant to collect data from all subjects.
D) Collect data from all subjects at the same time of day.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Homogeneity refers to the similarity of the study participants in terms of the variables that are relevant to the research question being asked. In a quantitative study, homogeneity of the sample is important to ensure that the results are valid and can be generalizable to the population of interest.
One way to ensure homogeneity of the sample is to use eligibility criteria that limit extraneous variables that are relevant to the study. Eligibility criteria are the characteristics or conditions that participants must meet to be included in the study. By using eligibility criteria, the nurse researcher can ensure that the participants are similar in terms of the variables that are important for the study. For example, if the research question is about the effect of a medication on blood pressure, the eligibility criteria could include a specific range of blood pressure values. This would ensure that the participants are similar in terms of their blood pressure levels.
Random assignment (Option B) and collecting data at the same time of day (Option D) are not directly related to ensuring sample homogeneity. Random assignment is a method used to allocate participants to different treatment groups in a study and is not necessarily related to sample homogeneity. Collecting data at the same time of day may reduce the impact of diurnal variation, but it does not ensure that the sample is homogeneous in terms of the variables that are important to the study.
Assigning one research assistant to collect data from all subjects (Option C) is not a sufficient method to ensure sample homogeneity. It is important to use eligibility criteria to ensure homogeneity, as well as other sampling methods, such as stratified sampling, to ensure that the sample is representative of the population of interest.

How Would a Nurse Researcher Ensure That the Sample Used