Week 8

Question 1

Quantitative research methodology emanates from which nursing research paradigm?

Answer 1

Positivism/post-positivism

Question 2

Define validity

Answer 2

Validity - the quality of being logically or factually sound; soundness or cogency.

Question 3

Define setting

Answer 3

Setting - the place or type of surroundings where an event takes place

Question 4

Define variable

Answer 4

Able to be changed or adapted. Measurable characteristic that varies among subjects (research is conducted because this variance occurs).

Question 5

What are the two purposes of research design?

Answer 5

1. To aid in the solution of research problems
2. Maintain ‘control’

Question 6

Which research methodology has been the predominant ‘biomedical’ focus?

Answer 6

Quantitative methodology

Question 7

Define quantitative research

Answer 7

Quantitative research is a research strategy that focuses on quantifying the collection and analysis of data. It is a formal, object, systematic process in which numerical (empirical) data are obtained to describe, compare, and predict phenomena.

Question 8

Describe characteristics of quantitative research

Answer 8

-Objective (etic)
-logical
-experimental/scientific processes to:
1. compare (variables, groups)
2. Infer causation (one thing causes another thing)
3. Predict outcomes

Question 9

Where are research designs located in a research paper?

Answer 9

The method section

Question 10

What are the types of variables?

Answer 10

• Independent variable (IV)
• Dependent variable (DV)
• Extraneous variable or covariate

Question 11

What is the independent variable?

Answer 11

a variable (often denoted by x ) whose variation does not depend on that of another.

Interventions or presumed cause (ex. salt intake or self-care symptom management).

Question 12

What is the dependent variable?

Answer 12

a variable (often denoted by y ) whose value depends on that of another.

Outcome or presumed effect (ex. blood pressure reading or quality of life).

Question 13

What is an extraneous variable or covariate?

Answer 13

Any variable that you’re not investigating that can potentially affect the outcomes of your research study. A variable that is not the independent or dependent; alternative or other possible causes (ex. severity of illness).

Question 14

Control refers to measures used to what?

Answer 14

• decrease error and the influence of unwanted “extraneous” variables
• increase probability that study findings are an accurate reflection of reality, and reflect true relationship among IVs & DVs.

Question 15

What is the first (and second) rule of quantitative research?

Answer 15

Do no run an uncontrolled study

Question 16

Define control

Answer 16

Control is defined as the measures that the researcher uses to hold the conditions of the study uniform and avoid possible influence of bias (distortion of the results) on the dependent variable or outcome.

Control - a group or individual used as a standard of comparison for checking the results of a survey or experiment.

Question 17

What are some ways to control for extraneous variables?

Answer 17

-Utilize a homogeneous sample (e.g., similar age, gender, length of time smoking, amount smokes).
-Random assignment to groups (randomization)
-Consistent data-collection procedure
-Minimize threats to internal validity
-Using experimental design (manipulation of independent variable)
-Statistical manipulation

Question 18

How does randomization help in research?

Answer 18

Randomization helps to equal bias and aids in attainment of a representative sample.

Question 19

What is a natural setting?

Answer 19

A setting that is uncontrolled; real life situation.

Question 20

What is a partially controlled setting?

Answer 20

A setting that is manipulated or modified in some way.

Question 21

What is a highly controlled setting?

Answer 21

An artificial environment for sole purpose of doing research.

Question 22

What are the 3 types of settings for research?

Answer 22

1. Natural setting
2. Partially controlled
3. Highly controlled

Question 23

Define internal validity

Answer 23

Internal validity is the degree of confidence that the causal relationship you are testing is not influenced by other factors or variables.

Are the changes in the outcome (dependent variable) due to a change in the exposure (independent variable). Goal: rule out other explanations.

Question 24

What is external validity?

Answer 24

External validity concerns the generalizability of an investigation’s findings to additional populations and to other environmental conditions and hence internal validity must be established prior to establishing external validity.

Are the findings generalizable to other populations/settings?
Goal: useful beyond participants/setting.

Question 25

Why is internal validity important?

Answer 25

• focus on accuracy and a strong research method
• controls extraneous variables
• eliminates alternative explanations

Question 26

If a study shows a ______ _____ of internal validity, then we can conclude we have ______ evidence of causality.

Answer 26

high degree; strong

Question 27

If there is a lack of internal validity, the study cannot have what?

Answer 27

external validity

Question 28

If a study has a low internal validity, then we must conclude that we have what?

Answer 28

little or no evidence of causality

Question 29

List the main threats to internal validity

Answer 29

• selection bias (if participants’ characteristics raise possible alternate explanation)
• instrumentation (inter-rater differences, failure of instrument)
• history (if event occurs simultaneously with intervention/situation that affects outcome)
• maturation (natural changes during study that affect outcome/DV)
• testing (act of being tested once affects outcome of next test)
• mortality (attrition; differential loss from groups)

Question 30

Define selection bias

Answer 30

Selection bias is the bias introduced by the selection of individuals, groups, or data for analysis in such a way that proper randomization is not achieved, thereby failing to ensure that the sample obtained is representative of the population intended to be analyzed.

Question 31

Threats to external validity compromise our confidence in what?

Answer 31

stating whether the study’s results are applicable to other groups

Question 32

List some of the main threats to external validity

Answer 32

• Selection effects (if study sample does not represent the population of interest)
• Reactivity (natural reactions to being studied; Hawthorne effect)
• Measurement effects (actual act of being tested affects outcome)

Question 33

What study designs control threats to validity?

Answer 33

1. experimental (eg., randomized control trial (RCT); gold standard; control most threats)
2. quasi-experimental (controls some threats)
3. non-experimental (may control some threats)
4. descriptive (may control some threats)

Question 34

Define mortality/attrition

Answer 34

Mortality or attrition is the loss of study participants from the first data-collection point (pretest) to the second data-collection point (posttest). If the participants who remain in the study are not similar to those who dropped out, the results could be affected.

Question 35

Summarize the threats to validity

Answer 35

INTERNAL VALIDITY
History threats
Maturation effects
Testing effects
Instrumentation threats
Mortality (attrition)
Selection bias

EXTERNAL VALIDITY
Selection effects
Reactive effects
Measurement effects

Question 36

What is randomization?

Answer 36

Random assignment to groups (internal validity issue) - equal extraneous variables in both groups

How?
- Random numbers table
- Computer generated randomized numbers
- Coin flipping