Quantitative Research

Question 1

What are the types of probability sampling?

Answer 1

Simple random sampling
Stratified random sampling
Cluster sampling
Systematic sampling

Question 2

Which method of allocation is least likely to achieve balance of important patient characteristics between groups?

Answer 2

Simple randomisation

Question 3

What are the methods of randomisation used to allocate subjects to trial groups?

Answer 3

Simple randomisation
Block randomisation
Stratified randomisation

Question 4

What is null hypothesis testing?

Answer 4

Where a statement is made about there being no difference between the control group and intervention group

Question 5

What are the factors that should be considered when selecting an outcome for a trial?

Answer 5

That it is meaningful 
That the outcome is measurable 
That the outcome is responsive to any changes 
The validity of the outcome
The reliability of the outcome

Question 6

What does reliability address?

Answer 6

Whether repeated measurements provide a consistent result given the same initial circumstances

Question 7

What does validity address?

Answer 7

Whether the measurement tool measures what it is intended to measure

Question 8

What are the threats to internal validity in a trial?

Answer 8

History 
Maturation
Testing
Instrumentation 
Mortality
Selection bias

Question 9

What are the threats to external validity?

Answer 9

Selection effects
Reactive effects
Measurement effects

Question 10

What is the Hawthorne effect?

Answer 10

A participant’s response to being in a study

Question 11

What is the term used for ways of summarising and displaying data so that they can be easily understood?

Answer 11

Descriptive statistics

Question 12

What are the 4 levels of measurement?

Answer 12

Nominal
Ordinal
Interval
Ratio

Question 13

Which level of measurement has a fixed zero?

Answer 13

Ratio

Question 14

Which levels of measurement have equal distances between categories?

Answer 14

Interval and ratio

Question 15

What are the measures of central tendency?

Answer 15

Mean, median and mode

Question 16

What are the measures of dispersion?

Answer 16

Range, inter-quartile range, standard deviation and variance

Question 17

Which levels of measurement can be used with measures of dispersion?

Answer 17

Interval and ratio

Question 18

What type of statistics produce P values?

Answer 18

Inferential statistics

Question 19

Describe the stages involved in hypothesis testing

Answer 19

1. Set null hypothesis
2. Set alternative hypothesis
3. Carry out significance test
4. Obtain test statistic
5. Compare test statistic to hypothesised critical value
6. Obtain P value
7. Decide whether to accept or reject the null hypothesis based on the P value

Question 20

What is a type 1 error?

Answer 20

A false positive -the null hypothesis is rejected but it is actually true

Question 21

What is a type 2 error?

Answer 21

A false negative -the null hypothesis is accepted but it is actually false

Question 22

What is baseline data?

Answer 22

Data that is collected before the intervention but after recruitment