A nurse researcher is critically appraising a research report and asks the question "What provision is made for maintaining accuracy of the instrument and its use, if any?" Which data-collection methods and procedures would this question evaluate?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The question about maintaining the accuracy of the instrument and its use is relevant to data collection methods that involve direct measurement or observation, such as physiologic measurement and observation. In these methods, it is important to ensure that the instruments used are accurate and reliable and that the observers are properly trained and standardized to reduce measurement error.
Questionnaires and available data records do not typically require the same level of instrument accuracy and observer training, as they rely on self-reported or pre-existing data rather than direct measurement or observation. Therefore, these methods are less likely to be affected by issues of instrument accuracy and use.

A Nurse Researcher Is Critically Appraising a Research Report and Asks