A nurse researcher has made a generalization on the basis of the experience of a small number of participants. What will the result of this be?
A) The small sample will invalidate the hypotheses.
B) The researcher will be unable to eliminate his or her bias.
C) The data obtained from a small number will inadequately represent the phenomenon.
D) The small number of participants will increase the threat to internal validity influenced by history.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Generalizing on the basis of a small number of participants can lead to inadequate representation of the phenomenon under study. Small samples are more likely to be influenced by chance, individual differences, and extraneous variables, which can result in unreliable or biased conclusions. Therefore, it is important to use larger samples that are more representative of the population to increase the external validity of the study. Additionally, using a small sample size may limit the statistical power of the study, which could result in a failure to detect significant effects.

A Nurse Researcher Has Made a Generalization on the Basis