Question 1

When documenting reports that previous research has demonstrated the accuracy of a physiological measure,the researcher is addressing the measure's
A) equivalence.
B) homogeneity.
C) reliability.
D) validity.

Accepted Answer

Validity refers to the fact that the instrument measures what it says it will measure.Accuracy is comparable to validity,addressing the extent to which the instrument measures what it is supposed to measure.Equivalence focuses on consistency between two or more observers measuring the same event.Homogeneity examines the extent to which all items in an instrument consistently measure the construct of interest.Reliability is concerned with the consistency of a measurement method.

Question 2

An instrument that detects the presence of streptococcal antibodies is negative.Before reporting the absence of disease,the researcher must determine whether this result might be a
A) false negative.
B) false positive.
C) gold standard.
D) true positive.

Accepted Answer

A false negative may indicate that a disease is not present when it is.If a test report is negative,the researcher must ensure that the test does not have a high likelihood of false negative results.A false positive means that a disease may not be present when the test result is positive.The gold standard is the most accurate means of currently diagnosing a disease and serves as the basis for comparison for other tests.A true positive means that a positive test result means that the result indicates a positive diagnosis.

Question 3

A researcher evaluates whether a tool addresses the major elements of the construct being studied.This helps to ensure
A) content validity.
B) equivalence.
C) internal consistency.
D) readability level.

Accepted Answer

Content validity measures the extent to which the measurement method includes all the major elements relevant to the construct being measured.Equivalence and internal consistency are both measures of reliability.Readability focuses on the study participants' ability to read and comprehend the content of an instrument.

Question 4

A researcher administers two instruments known to measure opposite concepts and performs correlational analyses on the results.The original measure has a negative correlation of -0.6 with the new measure.This indicates
A) both measures are valid.
B) neither measure is valid.
C) only the first measure is valid.
D) only the second measure is valid.

Accepted Answer

If a divergent measure is negatively correlated with an opposite scale,the validity for each of the instruments is strengthened.A divergent measure that is negatively correlated with an opposite scale strengthens the validity of both measures and does not negate their validity.

Question 5

Which is true about a test that is highly sensitive for detecting a disease?
A) There is a high probability of having a false negative result.
B) There is a high probability of having a false positive result.
C) There is a low probability of having a false negative result.
D) There is a low probability of having a false positive result.

Accepted Answer

A test that is highly sensitive is very good at identifying the presence of disease and has a low percentage of false negatives.Tests that are highly specific have a low percentage of false positives.Tests that are highly sensitive have a low percentage of false positives.Tests that are highly specific have a low percentage of false positives.

Question 6

Which type of scale is most commonly used in a survey of patient satisfaction?
A) Likert scale
B) Numeric rating scale
C) Rating scale
D) Visual analog scale

Accepted Answer

The Likert scale is designed to determine the opinions or attitudes of study subjects and is the most commonly used of the various scales.A numeric rating scale is used to measure the degree of a concept on a continuum,such as pain on a scale from 1 to 10.A rating scale is like a numeric rating scale.A visual analog scale measures the strength,magnitude,or intensity of subjective feelings,sensations,or attitudes along a continuum and may be used to assess patient satisfaction,but it is not the most commonly used type of scale.

Question 7

Which is true about a test that is highly specific?
A) It is good at identifying patients who do not have a disease.
B) It is good at identifying patients who have a disease.
C) It results in an increased number of false negatives.
D) It results in an increased number of false positives.

Accepted Answer

A test that is highly sensitive is very good at identifying patients who do not have a disease.A test that is highly sensitive is very good at identifying the presence of disease.Tests that are highly specific have a low percentage of false negatives.Tests that are highly specific have a low percentage of false positives.

Question 8

In a study evaluating pulse oximetry measures in infants,a researcher notes that the pulse oximeter probes are attached to infants' feet in different ways.This represents which type of measurement error?
A) Environmental
B) Equipment
C) Subject
D) User

Accepted Answer

User errors are caused by the person using the equipment and can include variations by the same user,different users,or changes in supplies used to operate the equipment.Environmental error includes things such as temperature,barometric pressure,or static electricity that might affect how well the equipment works or how the subject responds.Equipment error may be related to calibration or the stability of the equipment.Subject error occurs if the subject alters the equipment or the equipment alters the subject.

Question 9

A researcher tests a measurement tool's validity by administering it to a group of subjects who don't have health insurance and a group who have health insurance to examine attitudes about access to health care.The researcher is looking for evidence of validity from
A) contrasting groups.
B) convergence.
C) divergence.
D) readability.

Accepted Answer

Evidence of validity from contrasting groups can be tested by identifying groups that are expected or known to have contrasting scores on an instrument.Evidence of validity from convergence is determined when a relatively new instrument is compared with an existing instrument that measures the same construct.Evidence of validity from divergence is determined by asking subjects to complete tools that measure opposite concepts.Readability level focuses on the subjects' ability to read and comprehend the content of an instrument.

Question 10

In a study measuring oxygen saturation levels in infants,the researcher notes that data collectors record low saturation levels that occur when the heart rate is erratic and the infants are irritable and actively moving around.This will likely result in which type of measurement error?
A) Environmental
B) Equipment
C) Interpretation
D) User

Accepted Answer

Interpretation error occurs when signals transmitted from the equipment can result in misinterpretation,such as low saturation levels that occur when the equipment is not getting an accurate reading.User errors are caused by the person using the equipment and can include variations by the same user,different users,or changes in supplies used to operate the equipment.Environmental error includes things such as temperature,barometric pressure,or static electricity that might affect how well the equipment works or how the subject responds.Equipment error may be related to calibration or the stability of the equipment.

Question 11

A researcher reports that a measure is highly sensitive when diagnosing patients.The reviewer understands that this test
A) has a low percentage of false negatives.
B) has a low percentage of false positives.
C) has a high percentage of false negatives.
D) has a high percentage of false positives.

Accepted Answer

Tests that are highly sensitive have a low percentage of false negatives.A test that is highly specific has a low percentage of false positives.

Question 12

Which possible outcome of a screening test for a disease indicates accurately that a disease is not present?
A) True positive
B) False positive
C) True negative
D) False negative

Accepted Answer

True negative indicates accurately that a disease is not present.True positive is an accurate identification of the presence of a disease.False positive indicates that a disease is present when it is not.False negative indicates that a disease is not present when it is.

Question 13

A researcher administers a scale measuring self-confidence and one measuring self-doubt to a group of subjects and performs a correlational analysis of the results.This is a test of validity from
A) contrasting groups.
B) convergence.
C) divergence.
D) readability.

Accepted Answer

Evidence of validity from divergence is determined by asking subjects to complete tools that measure opposite concepts.Evidence of validity from contrasting groups can be tested by identifying groups that are expected or known to have contrasting scores on an instrument.Evidence of validity from convergence is determined when a relatively new instrument is compared with an existing instrument that measures the same construct.Readability level focuses on the subjects' ability to read and comprehend the content of an instrument.

Question 14

A researcher develops a new instrument to measure coping skills and conducts a pilot study to compare the new tool with an existing tool that measures this concept.This is an example of evidence of validity from
A) contrasting groups.
B) convergence.
C) divergence.
D) readability.

Accepted Answer

Evidence of validity from convergence is determined when a relatively new instrument is compared with an existing instrument that measures the same construct.Evidence of validity from contrasting groups can be tested by identifying groups that are expected or known to have contrasting scores on an instrument.Evidence of validity from divergence is determined by asking subjects to complete tools that measure opposite concepts.Readability level focuses on the subjects' ability to read and comprehend the content of an instrument.

Question 15

Which statement is true about using a questionnaire to collect data?
A) Questions are presented consistently with less chance for bias than with an interview.
B) Questionnaires are generally more expensive than interviewing techniques.
C) Subjects usually give more in-depth answers when responding to questionnaires.
D) The response rate is generally higher than when using interviews to collect data.

Accepted Answer

Questionnaires contain the same questions,so there is increased consistency and less interviewer bias than with interviews,in which the questions may vary and there may be interviewer bias.Questionnaires are less costly to administer than interviews.Subjects tend to give answers that are not as in depth as those they give when being interviewed.Questionnaires generally have a lower response rate than interviews.

Question 16

A researcher uses a checklist of questions to ask participants while collecting data for a study.This represents which type of data collection?
A) Structured interview
B) Structured questionnaire
C) Unstructured interview
D) Unstructured questionnaire

Accepted Answer

A structured interview occurs when the data collector uses a checklist or list of specific questions while interviewing the subject.A structured questionnaire is a tool that the subject completes that uses a checklist or list of specific questions.An unstructured interview occurs when the data collector does not use a checklist or list of specific questions while interviewing the subject.An unstructured questionnaire is a tool that the subject completes that does not use a checklist or list of specific questions.

Question 17

Which is important when using observational measurement to produce reliable data?
A) Data collectors will record observations in their own words.
B) Each subject should have different observers to record responses.
C) Observations will be spontaneously recorded as they occur.
D) Researchers will develop checklists of notable behaviors for observers to use.

Accepted Answer

Checklists of behaviors help to indicate whether specific behaviors occur and help to structure observations.Data collectors must be trained to observe specific behaviors and in how to describe and code those behaviors.Increasing the number of data collectors increases the risk for error.Unstructured observation allows for spontaneous recording of observations but is less reliable than structured observation.

Question 18

A screening test has a specificity of 92%.This means that there is a(n)
A) 92% chance of a true positive.
B) 92% chance of a false positive.
C) 8% chance of a false positive.
D) 8% chance of a true positive.

Accepted Answer

A test with a specificity rating of 92% is very good at identifying patients who do not have a disease.If the test is very specific,there is a low chance of false positives.In this case the chance of a false positive is 8%.A 92% specificity rating indicates a 92% chance that the test is negative and the patient does not have the disease.

Question 19

A researcher evaluating the weight of subjects who are obese ensures that the scales used are maintained and calibrated according to the manufacturer's recommendations.This is to ensure
A) accuracy.
B) convergence.
C) precision.
D) validity.

Accepted Answer

Precision is the degree of consistency or reproducibility of measurements made with physiological instruments and is comparable to reliability in psychosocial measures.Accuracy is comparable to validity,addressing the extent to which the instrument measures what it is supposed to measure.Evidence of validity from convergence is determined when a relatively new instrument is compared with an existing instrument that measures the same construct.Validity addresses the extent to which the instrument measures what it is supposed to measure.

Question 20

The type of validity that focuses on the extent to which an individual's score on an instrument or scale can be used to estimate his or her present or concurrent performance on another variable or criterion is known as
A) concurrent validity.
B) content validity.
C) construct validity.
D) predictive validity.

Accepted Answer

Concurrent validity focuses on the extent to which an individual's score on an instrument or scale can be used to estimate his or her present or concurrent performance on another variable or criterion.Content validity measures the extent to which the measurement method includes all the major elements relevant to the construct being measured.Construct validity focuses on determining whether the instrument actually measures the theoretical construct that it purports to measure,which involves examining the fit between the conceptual and operational definitions of a variable.Predictive validity is the extent to which an individual's score on a scale or instrument can be used to predict future performance or behavior on a criterion.

Quiz 10: Clarifying Measurement and Data Collection in Quantitative Research

When documenting reports that previous research has demonstrated the accuracy of a physiological measure,the researcher is addressing the measure's

An instrument that detects the presence of streptococcal antibodies is negative.Before reporting the absence of disease,the researcher must determine whether this result might be a

A researcher evaluates whether a tool addresses the major elements of the construct being studied.This helps to ensure

A researcher administers two instruments known to measure opposite concepts and performs correlational analyses on the results.The original measure has a negative correlation of -0.6 with the new measure.This indicates

Which is true about a test that is highly sensitive for detecting a disease?

Which type of scale is most commonly used in a survey of patient satisfaction?

Which is true about a test that is highly specific?

In a study evaluating pulse oximetry measures in infants,a researcher notes that the pulse oximeter probes are attached to infants' feet in different ways.This represents which type of measurement error?

A researcher tests a measurement tool's validity by administering it to a group of subjects who don't have health insurance and a group who have health insurance to examine attitudes about access to health care.The researcher is looking for evidence of validity from

In a study measuring oxygen saturation levels in infants,the researcher notes that data collectors record low saturation levels that occur when the heart rate is erratic and the infants are irritable and actively moving around.This will likely result in which type of measurement error?

A researcher reports that a measure is highly sensitive when diagnosing patients.The reviewer understands that this test

Which possible outcome of a screening test for a disease indicates accurately that a disease is not present?

A researcher administers a scale measuring self-confidence and one measuring self-doubt to a group of subjects and performs a correlational analysis of the results.This is a test of validity from

A researcher develops a new instrument to measure coping skills and conducts a pilot study to compare the new tool with an existing tool that measures this concept.This is an example of evidence of validity from

Which statement is true about using a questionnaire to collect data?

A researcher uses a checklist of questions to ask participants while collecting data for a study.This represents which type of data collection?

Which is important when using observational measurement to produce reliable data?

A screening test has a specificity of 92%.This means that there is a(n)

A researcher evaluating the weight of subjects who are obese ensures that the scales used are maintained and calibrated according to the manufacturer's recommendations.This is to ensure

The type of validity that focuses on the extent to which an individual's score on an instrument or scale can be used to estimate his or her present or concurrent performance on another variable or criterion is known as