Exam 2 Practice Questions - Ch 8

Question 1

Which of the following statements about cause is incorrect?
A - The effect cannot occur unless the cause first occurs.
B - Most phenomena in nursing can be clearly pinned down to a single cause and a single effect.
C - The greater the proportion of causal factors that can be identified and explored, the clearer the understanding of the phenomenon.
D - The greater the understanding of cause, the greater the ability to predict and control the effect or outcome.

Answer 1

B - Most phenomena in nursing can be clearly pinned down to a single cause and a single effect.

Question 2

The nurse researcher is attempting to identify the characteristics of a factorial design. Which of the following would be included in this design?
A - Data from multiple studies
B - One dependent variable
C - Probability hypotheses
D - Two or more levels of a treatment

Answer 2

D - Two or more levels of a treatment

Question 3

The nurse researcher is explaining the purpose of control in a study design. This would include which of the following?
A - Establish the credibility of the researcher.
B - Highlight design flaws.
C - Increase the probability that the results are true to reality.
D - Interfere with the validity of the findings.

Answer 3

C - Increase the probability that the results are true to reality.

Question 4

The statement that heart disease is caused by stress, high cholesterol, gene expression, and dietary patterns reflects which perspective?
A - Causality
B - Effect
C - Multicausality
D - Probability

Answer 4

C - Multicausality

Question 5

The nurse researcher understands that bias is a serious problem in a study because of its effect is to which of the following?
A - Change the setting of the study
B - Control the study findings
C - Distort the study findings
D - Reduce change of error

Answer 5

C - Distort the study findings

Question 6

When the nurse is critiquing a study, it is important to identify which of the following possible sources of bias?
A - Establishing a control group
B - Purposive sampling
C - Random assignment
D - Timed intervention

Answer 6

B - Purposive sampling

Question 7

Which of the following can be inferred from design validity?
A - Presence of threats with serious biases
B - Study integrity
C - Whether the study design tests the framework propositions
D - All the above

Answer 7

D - All the above

Question 8

What type of design validity is concerned with the fit between the conceptual and operational definitions of variables and that the instrument measures what it is supposed to in the study?
A - External validity
B - Construct validity
C - Internal validity
D - Statistical conclusion validity

Answer 8

B - Construct validity

Question 9

The research study has a type I error that may occur when which of the following occurs?
A - Researcher concludes that there is no difference between groups when there is a difference.
B - Researcher concludes that there are differences between groups when there is no difference.
C - Sample size is large, thus increasing the applicability of the study.
D - Study contains multiple extraneous variables increasing the likelihood of error.

Answer 9

B - Researcher concludes that there are differences between groups when there is no difference.

Question 10

The research study has a threat to internal validity when which of the following occurs?
A - A valid rival hypothesis exists.
B - Findings are generalized beyond the target population.
C - The results of statistical analysis are incorrectly interpreted.
D - There is a mismatch between the conceptual and operational definitions.

Answer 10

A - A valid rival hypothesis exists.

Question 11

The nurse researcher understands that a type II error may occur because of which of the following?
A - A small sample
B - Recently developed scales
C - Minimal controls
D - All the above

Answer 11

D - All the above

Question 12

The purpose of a predictive correlation design is to predict the level of
A - the dependent variable versus the independent variables.
B - the independent variable versus the dependent variables.
C - no causal relationships among variables.
D - None of the above

Answer 12

A - the dependent variable versus the independent variables.

Question 13

Which intervention should be included in research designs that test causality?
A - An experimental test of the treatment as it is commonly provided
B - Carefully developed to provide the most effective treatment possible
C - Designed to minimize the differences between groups
D - Unknown to increase knowledge of its usefulness

Answer 13

B - Carefully developed to provide the most effective treatment possible

Question 14

In a comparison group intervention in a study focused on pain management of migraine headache sufferers, which of the following should be included?
A - A treatment designed to vary considerably from one subject to another
B - Complementary or alternative therapies
C - No treatment for any of the subjects
D - The standard treatment or protocol for migraine headaches

Answer 14

D - The standard treatment or protocol for migraine headaches

Question 15

What is the purpose of replication studies?
A -To decrease the acceptance of erroneous results
B -To establish the credibility of findings
C -To extend the generalizability of findings
D -All the above

Answer 15

D -All the above

Question 16

Which of the following is considered the most powerful design a researcher can use to examine causality?
A - Correlational
B - Descriptive
C - Experimental
D - Quasi-experimental

Answer 16

C - Experimental

Question 17

A researcher studying the strategies for breastfeeding mothers to use to reduce, prevent, and manage nipple pain is best described by which of the following types of design?
A - Descriptive
B - Ex post facto
C - Experimental
D - Quasi-experimental

Answer 17

A - Descriptive

Question 18

Control techniques are used in studies by researchers to increase which of the following?
A - Applicability
B - Generalizability
C - Reliability
D - Validity

Answer 18

D - Validity

Question 19

Which of the following elements would a researcher expect to find in an experimental study?
A - Absence of a control group
B - Manipulation of the independent variable
C - Broadly defined independent variable
D - Random selection of subjects for the study

Answer 19

B - Manipulation of the independent variable

Question 20

Identify the response that indicates the type of limitations, if any, on manipulation of the independent variable that might influence the researcher to select a nonexperimental research design based on the following research question: Does the use of certain tampons cause toxic shock syndrome?
A - Ethical constraints limit manipulation.
B - Independent variable cannot be manipulated.
C - Manipulation is possible.
D - Practical constraints limit manipulation.

Answer 20

A - Ethical constraints limit manipulation.

Question 21

Identify the response that indicates the type of limitations, if any, on manipulation of the independent variable that might influence the researcher to select a nonexperimental research design based on the following research question: Does assertiveness training affect psychiatric nurses’ job performance?
A - Ethical constraints limit manipulation.
B - An independent variable cannot be manipulated.
C - Manipulation is possible.
D - Practical constraints limit manipulation.

Answer 21

C - Manipulation is possible.

Question 22

Identify the response that indicates the type of limitations, if any, on manipulation of the independent variable that might influence the researcher to select a nonexperimental research design based on the following research question: Does a nurse’s gender affect salary and rate of promotion?
A - Ethical constraints limit manipulation.
B - Independent variable cannot be manipulated.
C - Manipulation is possible.
D - Practical constraints limit manipulation.

Answer 22

B - Independent variable cannot be manipulated.

Question 23

Which of the following are requirements for an experimental study? Select all that apply.
A - Random sampling
B - Control group
C - Repeated measures
D - Control of the intervention

Answer 23

A - Random sampling
B - Control group
and
D - Control of the intervention

Question 24

When evaluating a correlational design, which of the following would be included? Select all that apply.
A - Large sample
B - Low response rate of subjects
C - Sample representing all elements of the population
D - A wide range of values on each measure

Answer 24

A - Large sample
C - Sample representing all elements of the population
and
D - A wide range of values on each measure

Question 25

Identify the response that indicates the type of limitations, if any, on manipulation of the independent variable that might influence the researcher to select a nonexperimental research design based on the following research question: Does the use of procedural touch by nursing staff affect patient morale? Select all that apply.
A - Ethical constraints limit manipulation.
B - An independent variable cannot be manipulated.
C - Manipulation is possible.
D - Practical constraints limit manipulation.

Answer 25

C - Manipulation is possible.
and
D - Practical constraints limit manipulation.