FULL-TEXT: Nursing Research Test Bank (60 Questions)

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Nursing Research NCLEX Practice Quiz #1 (20 Questions)

Nurseslabs-Question-01-001

What should be included in a “scholarly literature”? Select all that apply.

  • A. Primary and secondary sources.
  • B. Conceptual and theoretical literature from primary sources only.
  • C. Published and unpublished reports of research.
  • D. Research reports reported in primary sources only.
  • E. Sources relevant to the research questions.

Correct Answers: A, C, & E

A literature review is a survey of scholarly sources on a specific topic. It provides an overview of current knowledge, allowing the researcher to identify relevant theories, methods, and gaps in the existing research.

  • Option A: Primary sources provide a first-hand account of an event or time period and are considered to be authoritative. They represent original thinking, reports on discoveries or events, or they can share new information. Often these sources are created at the time the events occurred but they can also include sources that are created later. They are usually the first formal appearance of original research. Secondary sources involve analysis, synthesis, interpretation, or evaluation of primary sources. They often attempt to describe or explain primary sources.
  • Option B: Secondary sources are good for gaining a full overview of the topic and understanding how other researchers have approached it. They often synthesize a large number of primary sources that would be difficult and time-consuming to gather alone. 
  • Option C: Secondary data is usually gathered from the published (printed) sources. A few major sources of published information are published articles of local bodies, and central and state governments; statistical synopses, census records, and other reports issued by the different departments of the government; magazines, journals, and periodicals, etc. Statistical data can be obtained from several unpublished references. Some of the major unpublished sources from which secondary data can be gathered are research works conducted by teachers, professors, and professionals or statistics maintained by different departments and agencies of the central and the state government, undertakings, corporations, etc.
  • Option D: Most research uses both primary and secondary sources. They complement each other to help build a convincing argument. Primary sources are more credible as evidence, but secondary sources show how the work relates to existing research.
  • Option E: If the researcher is writing the literature review section of a dissertation or research paper, he should search for literature related to the research problem and questions.

Nurseslabs-Question-01-002

Reviews of the literature are conducted for PURPOSES OF RESEARCH as well as for the CONSUMER OF RESEARCH. How are these reviews similar? Select all that apply.

  • A. Amount of literature required to be reviewed.
  • B. Degree of critical reading required.
  • C. Importance of conceptual literature.
  • D. Purpose of the review.
  • E. Knowledge of the research findings

Correct Answers: B, C 

The purpose of a literature review is to gain an understanding of the existing research and debates relevant to a particular topic or area of study, and to present that knowledge in the form of a written report.

  • Option A: A paper that has 10 pages of content (the body of the paper) needs at least 10 sources in its literature review. A thesis of 100 pages (in the body) includes at least 100 sources.
  • Option B: A literature review surveys books, scholarly articles, and any other sources relevant to a particular issue, area of research, or theory, and by so doing, provides a description, summary, and critical evaluation of these works in relation to the research problem being investigated.
  • Option C: Literature reviews are designed to provide an overview of sources the researcher has explored while researching a particular topic and to demonstrate to the readers how the research fits within a larger field of study.
  • Option D: A literature review establishes familiarity with and understanding of current research in a particular field before carrying out a new investigation. Conducting a literature review should enable the researcher to find out what research has already been done and identify what is unknown within the topic.
  • Option E: Being aware is in part a matter of being able to distinguish what the researcher does know based on the information provided by research findings from what he does not know. It is also a matter of having some awareness about what he can and cannot reasonably know as he encounters research findings.

Nurseslabs-Question-01-003

What are the characteristics of the literature review required for a quantitative research study? Select all that apply.

  • A. The review is exhaustive and must include all studies conducted in the area.
  • B. Doctoral dissertations and masters’ theses are excellent sources of information.
  • C. Computer-accessed materials are acceptable.
  • D. Primary sources are not as important as secondary sources.
  • E. Objective self-review of findings.

Correct Answers: B, C

Literature reviews provide important background information and details about a specific research topic. An effective literature review also provides a space to elaborate on future work to be done on a topic and allows an author to define where their work fits into a larger context.

  • Option A: An effective literature review details important research trends and also examines strengths and weaknesses of both specific studies and larger research contexts.
  • Option B: It is challenging to achieve a successful review on all these fronts. A solution can involve a set of complementary coauthors: some people are excellent at mapping what has been achieved, some others are very good at identifying dark clouds on the horizon, and some have instead a knack at predicting where solutions are going to come from.
  • Option C: Given the progressive acceleration in the publication of scientific papers, today’s reviews of the literature need awareness not just of the overall direction and achievements of a field of inquiry, but also of the latest studies, so as not to become out-of-date before they have been published.
  • Option D: Most research uses both primary and secondary sources. They complement each other to help the researcher build a convincing argument. Primary sources are more credible as evidence, but secondary sources show how the work relates to existing research.
  • Option E: In general, a review of the literature should neither be a public relations brochure nor an exercise in competitive self-denial. If a reviewer is up to the job of producing a well-organized and methodical review, which flows well and provides a service to the readership, then it should be possible to be objective in reviewing one’s own relevant findings.

Nurseslabs-Question-01-004

Which of the following is an example of a primary source in a research study?

  • A. A published commentary on the findings of another study.
  • B. A doctoral dissertation that critiques all research in the area of attention deficit disorder.
  • C. A textbook of medical-surgical nursing.
  • D. A journal article about a study that used large, previously unpublished databases generated by the United States census.

Correct Answer: D. A journal article about a study that used large, previously unpublished databases generated by the United States census

This is a report of an original study, so it is the primary source of the study. Primary sources provide raw information and first-hand evidence. Examples include interview transcripts, statistical data, and works of art. A primary source gives direct access to the subject of the research.

  • Option A: Secondary sources provide second-hand information and commentary from other researchers. Examples include journal articles, reviews, and academic books. A secondary source describes, interprets, or synthesizes primary sources.
  • Option B: When citing a secondary source, it’s usually not to analyze it directly. Instead, test its arguments against new evidence or use its ideas to help formulate a new one.
  • Option C: A secondary source is anything that describes, interprets, evaluates, or analyzes information from primary sources. Common examples include encyclopedias and textbooks that summarize information and ideas.

Nurseslabs-Question-01-005

What is the best source to use when conducting a level I systematic meta-analysis of the literature?

  • A. An electronic database
  • B. Doctoral dissertations
  • C. The Cochrane Statistical Methods
  • D. An electronic database and Doctoral dissertations

Correct Answer: C. The Cochrane Statistical Methods

Systematic reviews and meta-analyses are situated at the top of what is known as the “Evidence Pyramid”. Systematic reviews and meta-analyses are considered to be the highest-quality evidence on a research topic because their study design reduces bias and produces more reliable findings. The Statistical Methods Group (SMG) (Cochrane Methods Statistics) is a forum where all statistical issues related to the work of Cochrane are discussed.

  • Option A: A systematic review is a high-level overview of primary research on a particular research question that systematically identifies, selects, evaluates, and synthesizes all high-quality research evidence relevant to that question in order to answer it. In other words, it provides an exhaustive summary of scholarly literature related to a particular research topic or question.
  • Option B: A systematic review is often written by a panel of experts after reviewing all the information from both published and unpublished studies. The comprehensive nature of a systematic review distinguishes it from traditional literature reviews which typically examine a much smaller set of research evidence and present it from a single author’s perspective.
  • Option D: Not all systematic reviews include meta-analysis, but all meta-analyses are found in systematic reviews. Simply put, a systematic review refers to the entire process of selecting, evaluating, and synthesizing all available evidence, while the term meta-analysis refers to the statistical approach to combining the data derived from a systematic review.

Nurseslabs-Question-01-006

What is a characteristic of an audio recording of an unpublished research study reported at a professional conference?

  • A. Databased literature
  • B. Secondary Sources
  • C. Are more difficult to analyze than written reports.
  • D. Are not useful because they are not published.

Correct Answer: A. Databased literature

Audio and video recordings of research presentations are examples of data based literature. As the name suggests, data-based literature is based on empirical information collected by the researcher. Non-data-based writings, on the other hand, ‘reflect the writer’s experiences or opinions and can range from the highly theoretical to popular testimonials’ (Merriam 1988: 61).

  • Option B: Secondary sources were created by someone who did not experience first-hand or participate in the events or conditions you’re researching. For a historical research project, secondary sources are generally scholarly books and articles. A secondary source interprets and analyzes primary sources.
  • Option C: As the name suggests, an annotated bibliography contains a list of relevant studies relating to the research question or issue. These may range from brief research reports to books. Each entry contains a summary or abstract of the particular work.
  • Option D: A literature review differs from an annotated bibliography in that the researcher extracts and synthesizes the main points, issues, find­ings, and research methods that emerge from a critical review of the read­ings. Merriam (1988) suggests that, in carrying out a literature review, it is a good idea to differentiate between data-based research and non-data-based writings.

Nurseslabs-Question-01-007

What is the first step in the qualitative research process?

  • A. Data analysis
  • B. Sample
  • C. Review of literature
  • D. Study design

Correct Answer: C. Review of literature

Review of literature is the 1st step in the qualitative research process.  A literature review is a survey of scholarly sources on a specific topic. It provides an overview of current knowledge, allowing the researcher to identify relevant theories, methods, and gaps in the existing research.

  • Option A: Data analysis is the sixth step in the qualitative research process. Data Analysis is the process of systematically applying statistical and/or logical techniques to describe and illustrate, condense and recap, and evaluate data. An essential component of ensuring data integrity is the accurate and appropriate analysis of research findings.
  • Option B: Sampling is the third step in the qualitative research process. Sampling is a process used in statistical analysis in which a predetermined number of observations are taken from a larger population. The methodology used to sample from a larger population depends on the type of analysis being performed, but it may include simple random sampling or systematic sampling.
  • Option D: The study design is the second step in the qualitative research process. Study design is a process wherein the trial methodology and statistical analysis are organized to ensure that the null hypothesis is either accepted or rejected and the conclusions arrived at reflecting the truth.

Nurseslabs-Question-01-008

Which mode of clinical application for qualitative research is considered to be the sharing of qualitative findings with the patient?

  • A. Insight or empathy
  • B. Anticipatory guidance
  • C. Assessment of status or progress
  • D. Coaching

Correct Answer: B. Anticipatory guidance

Anticipatory guidance is the sharing of qualitative findings with the patient. Anticipatory guidance, specific to the age of the patient, includes information about the benefits of healthy lifestyles and practices that promote injury and disease prevention. Common examples of anticipatory guidance include reminding parents to have their children use bicycle helmets and to use sunscreen. Other options are not considered to be the sharing of qualitative findings with the patient.

  • Option A: There is no consensus in the general biomedical/clinical literature about disclosing research results to study participants. Fernandez and colleagues have advocated for offering a summary of research results to individual participants and including information in the consent form on the harms and benefits of receiving the results with options to decline all or any of the results (which they advocate for all human subjects research).
  • Option C: In contrast, there is a body of opinion that cautions against disclosures as a routine practice, even aggregated results, because of postulated potential harm to research participants. Those with this view believe the decision as to whether to provide research results should be based on various considerations, such as balancing harms and risks to the individual and the clinical significance of the findings.
  • Option D: Coaching was defined as a collaborative solution-focused result-orientated systematic process used with normal non-clinical populations in which the coach facilitates the self-directed learning, personal growth, and goal attainment of the coach.

Nurseslabs-Question-01-009

Which research process steps may be noted in an article’s abstract? Select all that apply.

  • A. Identifying the phenomenon
  • B. Research question study purpose
  • C. Literature review
  • D. Design
  • E. Sample
  • F. Legal-ethical issues
  • G. Data-collection procedure

Correct Answers: A, B, D

Scientific research involves a systematic process that focuses on being objective and gathering a multitude of information for analysis so that the researcher can come to a conclusion. This process is used in all research and evaluation projects, regardless of the research method (scientific method of inquiry, evaluation research, or action research). 

  • Option A: The first step in the process is to identify a problem or develop a research question. The research problem may be something the agency identifies as a problem, some knowledge or information that is needed by the agency, or the desire to identify a recreation trend nationally.
  • Option B: Many times the initial problem identified in the first step of the process is too large or broad in scope. In step 3 of the process, the researcher clarifies the problem and narrows the scope of the study. This can only be done after the literature has been reviewed.
  • Option C: This step provides foundational knowledge about the problem area. The review of literature also educates the researcher about what studies have been conducted in the past, how these studies were conducted, and the conclusions in the problem area.
  • Option D: The plan for the study is referred to as the instrumentation plan. The instrumentation plan serves as the road map for the entire study, specifying who will participate in the study; how, when, and where data will be collected; and the content of the program. 
  • Option E: Research projects can focus on a specific group of people, facilities, park development, employee evaluations, programs, financial status, marketing efforts, or the integration of technology into the operations. For example, if a researcher wants to examine a specific group of people in the community, the study could examine a specific age group, males or females, people living in a specific geographic area, or a specific ethnic group.
  • Option F: The main role of human participants in research is to serve as sources of data. Researchers have a duty to ‘protect the life, health, dignity, integrity, right to self-determination, privacy and confidentiality of personal information of research subjects’.
  • Option G: Once the instrumentation plan is completed, the actual study begins with the collection of data. The collection of data is a critical step in providing the information needed to answer the research question. Every study includes the collection of some type of data—whether it is from the literature or from subjects—to answer the research question.

Nurseslabs-Question-01-010

What does a level-of-evidence model use to evaluate the strength of a research study and its findings? Select all that apply.

  • A. Creativity
  • B. Quality
  • C. Quantity
  • D. Consistency
  • E. Efficiency

Correct Answer: B, C, D

Levels of evidence (sometimes called hierarchy of evidence) are assigned to studies based on the methodological quality of their design, validity, and applicability to patient care. These decisions give the “grade (or strength) of recommendation.”

  • Option A: Strength-of-evidence systems incorporate not only study design but also many other facets of the evidence, including study conduct, presence or absence of bias, quantity of evidence, directness (or indirectness) of evidence, consistency of evidence, and precision of estimates.
  • Option B: For systematic reviews, the quality of evidence reflects the extent of confidence that an estimate of effect is correct. Study design is important in determining the quality of evidence As with early systems of grading the quality of evidence, 4 GRADE’s approach begins with the study design.
  • Option C: If one considers other factors that influence the use of evidence, the quantity of accessible evidence and initiatives ensuring a wider understanding of it must be equally important. In consequence, improving the quality of research evidence alone will not necessarily lead to its greater use.
  • Option D: Confidence in the argument for or against a candidate cause is increased when many types of evidence consistently support or weaken it. A candidate cause is strongly supported if all available types of evidence are consistently supportive. It is greatly weakened if all available types of evidence are consistently weakening.
  • Option E: Although no one system for reporting results and grading the related strength of evidence is likely to suit all users, documentation and consistent reporting of the most important summary information about a body of literature will make reviews more useful to a broader range of potential audiences.

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Nurseslabs-Question-01-011

What are the critiquing criteria used to judge the worth of a research study? Select all that apply.

  • A. Measures
  • B. Objectives
  • C. Standards
  • D. Effectiveness
  • E. Evaluation guides
  • F. Questions

Correct Answers: A, C, E, F

Critiquing is a systematic process for evaluating research studies and the results reported. A research critique is an analysis of a research undertaking that focuses on its strengths and limitations.

  • Option A: Physiological measurement: Is a rationale given for why a particular instrument or method was selected? If so, what is it? What provision is made for maintaining the accuracy of the instrument and its use, if any?
  • Option B: Research objectives describe concisely what the research is trying to achieve. They summarize the accomplishments a researcher wishes to achieve through the project and provide direction to the study.
  • Option C: Academic research standards are ethical guidelines that researchers are expected to follow in the course of conducting and reporting research. They are moral principles that guide researchers on how to carry out research activities ethically, without causing harm to the integrity of science and to human or animal life.
  • Option D: Effectiveness is a measure of the extent to which a specific intervention, procedure, regimen, or service, when deployed in the field in routine circumstances, does what it is intended to do for a specified population.
  • Option E: Read the research article or report in its entirety to get a sense of the study and its contribution to knowledge development. Read the article or report again, paying attention to the questions appropriate to each stage of the critiquing process.
  • Option F: The current paper suggests that the following guidelines be used when a qualitative research paper is being examined: the topic must be appropriate for qualitative inquiry; the specific qualitative research method chosen must “fit”; the literature reviewed should be consistent with the method chosen.

Nurseslabs-Question-01-012

Which statement best describes qualitative research? Select all that apply.

  • A. Studies are conducted in natural settings.
  • B. Data is collected from a large number of subjects.
  • C. Data collected tends to be numeric.
  • D. The research design is systematic and subjective.

Correct Answers: A, D

Qualitative research involves collecting and analyzing non-numerical data (e.g., text, video, or audio) to understand concepts, opinions, or experiences. It can be used to gather in-depth insights into a problem or generate new ideas for research.

  • Option A: Qualitative research is used to understand how people experience the world. While there are many approaches to qualitative research, they tend to be flexible and focus on retaining rich meaning when interpreting data.
  • Option B: Qualitative researchers often consider themselves “instruments” in research because all observations, interpretations, and analyses are filtered through their own personal lens.
  • Option C: Qualitative research is the opposite of quantitative research, which involves collecting and analyzing numerical data for statistical analysis. Qualitative research is commonly used in the humanities and social sciences, in subjects such as anthropology, sociology, education, health sciences, history, etc.
  • Option D: Common approaches include grounded theory, ethnography, action research, phenomenological research, and narrative research. They share some similarities but emphasize different aims and perspectives.

Nurseslabs-Question-01-013

What does a critique of a research study always include? Select all that apply.

  • A. Determining its strengths and weaknesses.
  • B. Researching similar studies.
  • C. Using critical reading skills.
  • D. Explaining your own personal opinions.

Correct Answers: A, C

Reading a single article can act as a springboard into researching the topic more widely and aids in ensuring the nursing practice remains current and is supported by existing literature.

  • Option A: Similar to a recipe, the description of materials and methods will allow others to replicate the study elsewhere if needed. It should both contain and justify the exact specifications of selection criteria, sample size, response rate, and any statistics used. 
  • Option B: The discussion should use previous research work and theoretical concepts as the context in which the new study can be interpreted. Any limitations of the study, including bias, should be clearly presented.
  • Option C: Not all peer reviewers have expert knowledge on certain subject matters, which can introduce bias and sometimes a conflict of interest.
  • Option D: Publication bias can occur when editors only accept manuscripts that have a bearing on the direction of their own research or reject manuscripts with negative findings.

Nurseslabs-Question-01-014

For which of the following research questions would qualitative methods be most appropriate?

Correct Answer: B. What is the meaning of health for migrant farm-worker women?

This question seeks to explore a phenomenon (health) for a specific population. Qualitative research involves collecting and analyzing non-numerical data (e.g., text, video, or audio) to understand concepts, opinions, or experiences. It can be used to gather in-depth insights into a problem or generate new ideas for research.

  • Option A: Qualitative research is used to understand how people experience the world. While there are many approaches to qualitative research, they tend to be flexible and focus on retaining rich meaning when interpreting data.
  • Option C: Qualitative research often tries to preserve the voice and perspective of participants and can be adjusted as new research questions arise. Open-ended responses mean that researchers can uncover novel problems or opportunities that they wouldn’t have thought of otherwise.
  • Option D: Quantitative methods allow the researcher to test a hypothesis by systematically collecting and analyzing data, while qualitative methods allow you to explore ideas and experiences in depth.

Nurseslabs-Question-01-015

Which of the following phrases would be found in a report of a qualitative study?

  • A. “The hypothesis of this study is?”
  • B. “Perceived pain was measured using the Abbott pain scale?”
  • C. “The control group received no instruction?”
  • D. “Subjects were asked to relate their perceptions of pain?”

Correct Answer: D. “Subjects were asked to relate their perceptions of pain?”

Data collected were perceptions of pain, not numeric data. Other options are found in a report of a quantitative study. Qualitative research involves collecting and analyzing non-numerical data (e.g., text, video, or audio) to understand concepts, opinions, or experiences. It can be used to gather in-depth insights into a problem or generate new ideas for research.

  • Option A: Quantitative research is the process of collecting and analyzing numerical data. It can be used to find patterns and averages, make predictions, test causal relationships, and generalize results to wider populations.
  • Option B: Qualitative research is the opposite of quantitative research, which involves collecting and analyzing numerical data for statistical analysis. Quantitative research is widely used in the natural and social sciences: biology, chemistry, psychology, economics, sociology, marketing, etc.
  • Option C: To collect quantitative data, the researcher will often need to use operational definitions that translate abstract concepts (e.g., mood) into observable and quantifiable measures (e.g., self-ratings of feelings and energy levels).

Nurseslabs-Question-01-016

Which of the following phrases would be found in a report of a quantitative study?

  • A. “A convenience sample was chosen?”
  • B. “The phenomenon studied was?”
  • C. “Data were analyzed and interpreted?”
  • D. “Researchers sought to explore the meaning of the hospital experience?”

Correct Answer: A. “A convenience sample was chosen?”

When a sample of convenience is chosen, the study is a quantitative study. Data from large samples can be processed and analyzed using reliable and consistent procedures through quantitative data analysis. Quantitative research is often used to standardize data collection and generalize findings.

  • Option B: Qualitative studies explore phenomena. Researchers investigate a phenomenon or event by describing and interpreting participants’ lived experiences. Qualitative researchers often consider themselves “instruments” in research because all observations, interpretations and analyses are filtered through their own personal lens.
  • Option C: Data collected in qualitative studies are “interpreted.” Qualitative research is used to understand how people experience the world. While there are many approaches to qualitative research, they tend to be flexible and focus on retaining rich meaning when interpreting data.
  • Option D: Qualitative studies explore the meaning of human experience. Qualitative research involves collecting and analyzing non-numerical data (e.g., text, video, or audio) to understand concepts, opinions, or experiences. It can be used to gather in-depth insights into a problem or generate new ideas for research.

Nurseslabs-Question-01-017

Which of the following hypotheses are indicative of an experimental research design? Select all that apply.

  • A. Frequent irrigation of Foley catheters will be positively related to urinary tract infections.
  • B. The incidence of urinary tract infections will be greater in patients whose Foley catheters are irrigated frequently than in those whose Foley catheters are irrigated less frequently.
  • C. Frequent irrigation of Foley catheters is associated with urinary tract infections.
  • D. The incidence of urinary tract infections will not differ between patients with or without Foley catheters.
  • E. The perception of pain from patients who had catheters varies greatly.

Correct Answers: B, D

Experimental research, often considered to be the “gold standard” in research designs, is one of the most rigorous of all research designs. In this design, one or more independent variables are manipulated by the researcher (as treatments), subjects are randomly assigned to different treatment levels (random assignment), and the results of the treatments on outcomes (dependent variables) are observed.

  • Option A: In experimental research, some subjects are administered one or more experimental stimuli called a treatment (the treatment group ) while other subjects are not given such a stimulus (the control group ). The treatment may be considered successful if subjects in the treatment group rate more favorably on outcome variables than control group subjects.
  • Option B: The unique strength of experimental research is its internal validity (causality) due to its ability to link cause and effect through treatment manipulation while controlling for the spurious effect of extraneous variables.
  • Option C: Treatments are the unique feature of experimental research that sets this design apart from all other research methods. Treatment manipulation helps control for the “cause” in cause-effect relationships. 
  • Option D: Experimental research is best suited for explanatory research (rather than for descriptive or exploratory research), where the goal of the study is to examine cause-effect relationships. It also works well for research that involves a relatively limited and well-defined set of independent variables that can either be manipulated or controlled.
  • Option E: Random assignment is however a process of randomly assigning subjects to experimental or control groups. This is a standard practice in true experimental research to ensure that treatment groups are similar (equivalent) to each other and to the control group, prior to treatment administration.

Nurseslabs-Question-01-018

Which statements are part of the criteria used to judge the soundness of a stated research question? Select all that apply.

  • A. A relationship between two or more variables.
  • B. An operational definition of each variable.
  • C. The nature of the population being tested.
  • D. The possibility of empirical testing.
  • E. A guiding framework for research.

Correct Answers: A, C, D, E

A research question is a question that a study or research project aims to answer. This question often addresses an issue or a problem, which, through analysis and interpretation of data, is answered in the study’s conclusion.

  • Option A: Moreover, the research question has a domino effect on the rest of the study. These questions influence factors, such as the research methodology, sample size, data collection, and data analysis (Lipowski, 2008).
  • Option B: The primary importance of framing the research question is that it narrows down a broad topic of interest into a specific area of study (Creswell, 2014). Research questions can be classified into different categories, depending on the type of research to be done.
  • Option C: In most studies, the research question is written so that it outlines various aspects of the study, including the population and variables to be studied and the problem the study addresses.
  • Option D: As their name implies, research questions are often grounded on research. As a result, these questions are dynamic; this means researchers can change or refine the research question as they review related literature and develop a framework for the study.
  • Option E: Research questions, along with hypotheses, also serve as a guiding framework for research. These questions also specifically reveal the boundaries of the study, setting its limits, and ensuring cohesion.

Nurseslabs-Question-01-019

Which criteria are used to determine the testability of a hypothesis? Select all that apply.

  • A. Use of quantifiable words such as greater than or less than.
  • B. A hypothesis stated in such a way that it can be clearly supported or not supported.
  • C. The use of value-laden words in a hypothesis.
  • D. Data-collection efforts that prove the validity of the hypothesis.

Correct Answers:  A, B

Testability refers to the ability to run an experiment to test a hypothesis or theory. When designing a research hypothesis, the questions being asked by the researcher must be testable or the study becomes impossible to provide an answer to the inquiry. Testability refers not only to methods used for the investigation but also the constraints of the researcher.

  • Option A: Quantifiable words increase the testability of a hypothesis. Write the hypothesis in such a way that it can be proven or disprove it. In many cases, researchers might draw a hypothesis from a specific theory or build on previous research.
  • Option B: The more clearly the hypothesis is stated, the easier it will be to accept or reject it based on study findings. It must be possible to prove that the hypothesis is true or false. 
  • Option C: Hypotheses should not have value-laden words. A variable is a factor or element that can be changed and manipulated in ways that are observable and measurable. However, the researcher must also define how the variable will be manipulated and measured in the study.
  • Option D: Data-collection processes are not part of the criterion used to evaluate the testability of hypotheses. Identify the independent and dependent variables in the hypothesis. The independent variable is what the researcher is controlling or changing. The researcher measures the effect this has on the dependent variable.

Nurseslabs-Question-01-020

What are the advantages of using directional hypotheses? Select all that apply.

  • A. The indication of the use of a theory base to derive the hypothesis.
  • B. The provision of a specific theoretical frame of reference.
  • C. Ensurance that findings will be generalizable.
  • D. The indication of a non-biased selection of subjects.

Correct Answer: A, B

A directional (or one-tailed hypothesis) states which way the researcher thinks the results are going to go, for example in an experimental study we might say…”Participants who have been deprived of sleep for 24 hours will have more cold symptoms in the following week after exposure to a virus than participants who have not been sleep deprived.”

  • Option A: A decent hypothesis will contain two variables, in the case of an experimental hypothesis there will be an IV and a DV; in a correlational hypothesis there will be two co-variables.
  • Option B: A test of a nondirectional alternative hypothesis does not state the direction of the difference, it indicates only that a difference exists. In contrast, a directional alternative hypothesis specifies the direction of the tested relationship, stating that one variable is predicted to be larger or smaller than the null value.
  • Option C: A directional hypothesis is a prediction made by a researcher regarding a positive or negative change, relationship, or difference between two variables of a population.
  • Option D: A directional hypothesis is a one-tailed hypothesis that states the direction of the difference or relationship (e.g. boys are more helpful than girls).

Nursing Research NCLEX Practice Quiz #2 (20 Questions)

Nurseslabs-Question-02-001

Which one of the following statements about hypothesis is most accurate?

  • A. Hypotheses represent the main idea to be studied and are the foundations of research studies.
  • B. Hypotheses help frame a test of the validity of a theory.
  • C. Hypotheses provide the means to test nursing theory.
  • D. A hypothesis can also be called a problem statement.

Correct Answer: B. Hypotheses help frame a test of the validity of a theory.

Although theories cannot be tested directly, hypotheses provide a bridge between theory and the real world. A hypothesis is a predetermined declaration regarding the research question in which the investigator(s) makes a precise, educated guess about a study outcome. This is sometimes called the alternative hypothesis and ultimately allows the researcher to take a stance based on experience or insight from medical literature.

  • Option A: It is the research question that represents the main idea to be studied. Investigators conducting studies need research questions and hypotheses to guide analyses. Starting with broad research questions (RQs), investigators then identify a gap in current clinical practice or research. 
  • Option C: Theories cannot be tested directly. To test a hypothesis, researchers obtain data on a representative sample to determine whether to reject or fail to reject a null hypothesis. In most research studies, it is not feasible to obtain data for an entire population.
  • Option D: The research question is also called the problem statement. Any research problem or statement is grounded in a better understanding of relationships between two or more variables. Research questions do not directly imply specific guesses or predictions; the researcher must formulate research hypotheses.

Nurseslabs-Question-02-002

A nurse wants to study the effectiveness of meditation on people with anxiety disorder. Which variable would be most relevant to explore in the literature on this topic?

  • A. Use of meditation during childbirth.
  • B. Meditation techniques found to be effective.
  • C. Pain management for people with anxiety disorders.
  • D. Outcomes of meditation when used by elderly populations.

Correct Answer: B. Meditation techniques found to be effective.

Framing a study using variables is a common approach to organizing the elements of a social sciences research study in order to discover relevant and meaningful results. A variable in research simply refers to a person, place, thing, or phenomenon that the researcher is trying to measure in some way. The best way to understand the difference between a dependent and independent variable is that the meaning of each is implied by what the words tell us about the variable being used.

  • Option A: Dependent variable is the variable that depends on other factors that are measured. These variables are expected to change as a result of an experimental manipulation of the independent variable or variables. It is the presumed effect.
  • Option C: Independent variable the variable that is stable and unaffected by the other variables you are trying to measure. It refers to the condition of an experiment that is systematically manipulated by the investigator. It is the presumed cause.
  • Option D: Designation of the dependent and independent variable involves unpacking the research problem in a way that identifies a general cause and effect and classifying these variables as either independent or dependent.

Nurseslabs-Question-02-003

What is a characteristic of an independent variable?

  • A. It is the variable that is predicted to change.
  • B. It varies with a change in the dependent variable.
  • C. It is manipulated by the researcher.
  • D. It can be identified only by changes in the dependent variable.

Correct Answer: C. It is manipulated by the researcher.

The independent variable is manipulated by the researcher and has a presumed effect on the dependent variable. They are either manipulated by the researcher or are observed by the researcher so that their values can be related to that of the dependent variable. For example, in a research study on the relationship between mosquitoes and mosquito bites, the number of mosquitoes per acre of ground would be an independent variable” (Jaeger, 1990, p. 373).

  • Option A: It is the dependent variable that is predicted to change. The dependent variable is the outcome. In an experiment, it may be what was caused or what changed as a result of the study. In a comparison of groups, it is what they differ on.
  • Option B: The independent variable is presumed to change the dependent variable. In a research study, independent variables are antecedent conditions that are presumed to affect a dependent variable.
  • Option D: The independent variable is manipulated by the researcher and is identified at the beginning of the study. While the independent variable is often manipulated by the researcher, it can also be a classification where subjects are assigned to groups. In a study where one variable causes the other, the independent variable is the cause. In a study where groups are being compared, the independent variable is the group classification.

Nurseslabs-Question-02-004

Which statement is most accurate regarding hypotheses?

  • A. Hypothesis operationally defines the dependent variables.
  • B. Hypotheses are statements about the relationships among variables.
  • C. Hypotheses describe the effect of the dependent variable on the independent variable.
  • D. Hypotheses must include a definition of the treatment or intervention used.

Correct Answer: B. Hypotheses are statements about the relationships among variables.

Hypotheses are statements about the relationships between two or more variables that suggest an answer to the research question. A hypothesis is a tentative statement about the relationship between two or more variables. It is a specific, testable prediction about what the researcher expects to happen in a study.

  • Option A: Hypotheses are not concerned with operationally defining the variables involved in the study. In the scientific method, whether it involves research in psychology, biology, or some other area, a hypothesis represents what the researchers think will happen in an experiment.
  • Option C: The independent variable is not affected or changed by the dependent variable. A variable is a factor or element that can be changed and manipulated in ways that are observable and measurable. However, the researcher must also define how the variable will be manipulated and measured in the study.
  • Option D: Hypotheses are not concerned with operationally defining the variables involved in the study, including treatments or interventions. These precise descriptions are important because many things can be measured in a number of different ways. One of the basic principles of any type of scientific research is that the results must be replicable.

Nurseslabs-Question-02-005

What is a characteristic of a hypothesis?

  • A. It flows from interpretation of the data collected.
  • B. It operationally defines the variable to be studied.
  • C. It eliminates the need to designate a dependent variable.
  • D. It implies a causative or associative relationship.

Correct Answer: D. It implies a causative or associative relationship.

A hypothesis implies a causative or associative relationship. Investigators conducting studies need research questions and hypotheses to guide analyses. Starting with broad research questions (RQs), investigators then identify a gap in current clinical practice or research. Any research problem or statement is grounded in a better understanding of relationships between two or more variables.

  • Option A: A hypothesis guides the research design and collection of data. To test a hypothesis, researchers obtain data on a representative sample to determine whether to reject or fail to reject a null hypothesis. In most research studies, it is not feasible to obtain data for an entire population. Using a sampling procedure allows for statistical inference, though this involves a certain possibility of error.
  • Option B: Operational definitions are not included in the hypothesis. A hypothesis is a predetermined declaration regarding the research question in which the investigator(s) makes a precise, educated guess about a study outcome. This is sometimes called the alternative hypothesis and ultimately allows the researcher to take a stance based on experience or insight from medical literature.
  • Option C: The hypothesis indicates the dependent variable. A hypothesis states a presumed relationship between two variables in a way that can be tested with empirical data.  It may take the form of a cause-effect statement, or an “if x,…then y” statement.

Nurseslabs-Question-02-006

When should a hypothesis be developed by the researcher during the research process?

  • A. Before development of the research question.
  • B. After development of the research question.
  • C. After a research design is determined.
  • D. Before any statistical analysis.

Correct Answer: B. After development of the research question.

The hypothesis is developed after development of the research question. Writing a hypothesis begins with a research question that the researcher wants to answer. The question should be focused, specific, and researchable within the constraints of the project.

  • Option A: The initial answer to the question should be based on what is already known about the topic. The researcher should look for theories and previous studies to help form educated assumptions about what the research will find. At this stage, the researcher might construct a conceptual framework to identify which variables will be studied and what the relationships are between them.
  • Option C: A research design encompasses the methodology and procedure employed to conduct scientific research. Although procedures vary from one field of inquiry to another, identifiable features distinguish scientific inquiry from other methods of obtaining knowledge.
  • Option D: If the research involves statistical hypothesis testing, the researcher will also have to write a null hypothesis. The null hypothesis is the default position that there is no association between the variables. The null hypothesis is written as H0, while the alternative hypothesis is H1 or Ha.

Nurseslabs-Question-02-007

Which research hypothesis is most testable?

  • A. There is a relationship between meditation and anxiety disorders.
  • B. Patients with anxiety disorders who learn meditation techniques have less anxiety than those who do not.
  • C. Teaching one meditation technique to patients with anxiety disorders will be better than teaching multiple techniques.
  • D. The ability to meditate causes lower anxiety in patients with anxiety disorder than those who do not meditate.

Correct Answer: D. The ability to meditate causes lower anxiety in patients with anxiety disorder than those who do not meditate.

This hypothesis meets the criteria of testability. Hypotheses are testable explanations of a problem, phenomenon, or observation. While there is no single way to develop a hypothesis, a useful hypothesis will use deductive reasoning to make predictions that can be experimentally assessed. If results contradict the predictions, then the hypothesis under examination is incorrect or incomplete and must be revised or abandoned.

  • Option A: Hypothesis testing is an act in statistics whereby an analyst tests an assumption regarding a population parameter. The methodology employed by the analyst depends on the nature of the data used and the reason for the analysis.
  • Option B: The null hypothesis is usually a hypothesis of equality between population parameters; e.g. a null hypothesis may state that the population mean return is equal to zero. The alternative hypothesis is effectively the opposite of a null hypothesis (e.g., the population mean return is not equal to zero). Thus, they are mutually exclusive, and only one can be true. However, one of the two hypotheses will always be true.
  • Option C: Statistical analysts test a hypothesis by measuring and examining a random sample of the population being analyzed. All analysts use a random population sample to test two different hypotheses: the null hypothesis and the alternative hypothesis.

Nurseslabs-Question-02-008

What is a characteristic of a statistical hypothesis?

  • A. It is a null hypothesis.
  • B. It predicts a positive relationship among variables.
  • C. It is a complex hypothesis.
  • D. It describes data-analysis methods.

Correct Answer: A. It is a null hypothesis.

Statistical hypotheses, called null hypotheses, state that there is no relationship between the independent and dependent variables. Hypothesis testing is used to assess the plausibility of a hypothesis by using sample data. The test provides evidence concerning the plausibility of the hypothesis, given the data.

  • Option B: In hypothesis testing, an analyst tests a statistical sample, with the goal of providing evidence on the plausibility of the null hypothesis. Statistical analysts test a hypothesis by measuring and examining a random sample of the population being analyzed. All analysts use a random population sample to test two different hypotheses: the null hypothesis and the alternative hypothesis.
  • Option C: The null hypothesis is usually a hypothesis of equality between population parameters; e.g., a null hypothesis may state that the population mean return is equal to zero. 
  • Option D: The alternative hypothesis is effectively the opposite of a null hypothesis (e.g., the population mean return is not equal to zero). Thus, they are mutually exclusive, and only one can be true. However, one of the two hypotheses will always be true.

Nurseslabs-Question-02-009

When will a null hypothesis be rejected?

  • A. There is no association among variables.
  • B. There is evidence of significance.
  • C. The independent and dependent variables are related.
  • D. The research hypothesis is rejected.

Correct Answer: C. The independent and dependent variables are related.

Because the null hypothesis states that there is no relationship between the independent and dependent variables, it is rejected if they are related. H0 symbolizes the null hypothesis of no difference. It presumes to be true until evidence indicates otherwise. Analysts look to reject the null hypothesis because doing so is a strong conclusion. This requires strong evidence in the form of an observed difference that is too large to be explained solely by chance.

  • Option A: The null hypothesis is a characteristic arithmetic theory suggesting that no statistical relationship and significance exists in a set of given, single, observed variables between two sets of observed data and measured phenomena.
  • Option B: The alternative hypothesis proposes that there is a difference. A null hypothesis is a type of conjecture used in statistics that proposes that there is no difference between certain characteristics of a population or data-generating process.
  • Option D: Hypothesis testing provides a method to reject a null hypothesis within a certain confidence level. (Null hypotheses cannot be proven, though.) Failing to reject the null hypothesis—that the results are explainable by chance alone—is a weak conclusion because it allows that factors other than chance may be at work but may not be strong enough to be detectable by the statistical test used.

Nurseslabs-Question-02-010

Which level is characteristic of the strength of the evidence provided by the results of a quasi-experimental study?

  • A. Level I
  • B. Level II
  • C. Level III
  • D. Level IV

Correct Answer: C. Level III

Evidence provided by quasi-experimental studies is level III. Evidence obtained from well-designed controlled trials without randomization (i.e. quasi-experimental). Levels of evidence (sometimes called hierarchy of evidence) are assigned to studies based on the methodological quality of their design, validity, and applicability to patient care. These decisions give the “grade (or strength) of recommendation.”

  • Option A: Level I evidence is obtained from a systematic review of all randomized, controlled trials. Evidence is from a systematic review or meta-analysis of all relevant RCTs (randomized controlled trial) or evidence-based clinical practice guidelines based on systematic reviews of RCTs or three or more RCTs of good quality that have similar results.
  • Option B: Level II evidence is obtained from at least one well-designed randomized, controlled trial. Evidence is obtained from at least one well-designed RCT (e.g. large multi-site RCT).
  • Option D: Level IV evidence is obtained from nonexperimental studies. Evidence is from well-designed case-control or cohort studies. In level V, evidence is from systematic reviews of descriptive and qualitative studies (meta-synthesis). In level VI, evidence is from a single descriptive or qualitative study. Lastly, in level VII, evidence is from the opinion of authorities and/or reports of expert committees.

Nurseslabs-Question-02-011

A researcher wants to discover why patients of certain ethnic backgrounds are reluctant to ask for pain medication. Because there is little data in the literature on this topic, the researcher designs a study to explore the relationships between cultural belief systems, the experience of pain, and the effective use of medication to relieve pain. The researcher plans to use the findings of this study to formulate hypotheses for a future study. What is a characteristic of this study?

  • A. It is a quasi-experimental study.
  • B. It will lead to level II data.
  • C. It has a directional hypothesis.
  • D. It is a hypothesis-generating study.

Correct Answer: D. It is a hypothesis-generating study.

Not enough is known in this area at this time to formulate hypotheses, so the researcher will conduct this qualitative study and use the findings to generate hypotheses for future studies. In hypothesis-generating research, the researcher explores a set of data searching for relationships and patterns and then proposes hypotheses that may then be tested in some subsequent study.

  • Option A: This is a qualitative study, not a quasi-experimental study. Qualitative research involves collecting and analyzing non-numerical data (e.g., text, video, or audio) to understand concepts, opinions, or experiences. Qualitative research is the opposite of quantitative research, which involves collecting and analyzing numerical data for statistical analysis. 
  • Option B: Level II evidence is obtained from at least one well-designed randomized, controlled trial. Evidence is obtained from at least one well-designed RCT (e.g. large multi-site RCT). Levels of evidence (sometimes called hierarchy of evidence) are assigned to studies based on the methodological quality of their design, validity, and applicability to patient care. These decisions give the “grade (or strength) of recommendation.”
  • Option C: This study has no hypothesis. A directional hypothesis is a prediction made by a researcher regarding a positive or negative change, relationship, or difference between two variables of a population.

Nurseslabs-Question-02-012

The nurse develops the following hypothesis: Elderly women receive less aggressive treatment for breast cancer than do younger women. Which variable would be considered to be the dependent variable?

  • A. Degree of treatment received.
  • B. Age of the patient.
  • C. Type of cancer being treated.
  • D. Use of inpatient treatment.

Correct Answer: A. Degree of treatment received.

The degree of treatment received is considered the dependent variable. Dependent variable is the variable that depends on other factors that are measured. These variables are expected to change as a result of experimental manipulation of the independent variable or variables. It is the presumed effect.

  • Option B: The age of the patient is an independent variable. Independent variable is the variable that is stable and unaffected by the other variables the researcher is trying to measure. It refers to the condition of an experiment that is systematically manipulated by the investigator. It is the presumed cause.
  • Option C: The type of cancer being treated can be a predictor variable. Predictor variables can be used to predict the value of a dependent variable. Predictor variable is the name given to an independent variable used in regression analyses. The predictor variable provides information on an associated dependent variable regarding a particular outcome. At the most fundamental level, predictor variables are variables that are linked with particular outcomes.
  • Option D: The use of inpatient treatment is not specified. Researchers often use charts or graphs to visualize the results of their studies. The norm is to place the independent variable on the “x” or horizontal axis and the dependent variable on the “y” or vertical axis.

Nurseslabs-Question-02-013

The nurse develops the following hypothesis: Elderly women receive less aggressive treatment for breast cancer than do younger women. Which variable would be considered to be the independent variable?

  • A. Degree of treatment received.
  • B. Age of the patient.
  • C. Type of cancer being treated.
  • D. Use of inpatient treatment.

Correct Answer: B. Age of the patient.

The age of the patient would be the independent variable. Independent variable is the variable that is stable and unaffected by the other variables the researcher is trying to measure. It refers to the condition of an experiment that is systematically manipulated by the investigator. It is the presumed cause.

  • Option A: The degree of treatment received is considered the dependent variable. Dependent variable is the variable that depends on other factors that are measured. These variables are expected to change as a result of experimental manipulation of the independent variable or variables. It is the presumed effect.
  • Option C: The type of cancer being treated can be a predictor variable. Predictor variables can be used to predict the value of a dependent variable. Predictor variable is the name given to an independent variable used in regression analyses. The predictor variable provides information on an associated dependent variable regarding a particular outcome. At the most fundamental level, predictor variables are variables that are linked with particular outcomes.
  • Option D: The use of inpatient treatment is not specified. Researchers often use charts or graphs to visualize the results of their studies. The norm is to place the independent variable on the “x” or horizontal axis and the dependent variable on the “y” or vertical axis.

Nurseslabs-Question-02-014

The following are considered steps in the qualitative research process, except?

  • A. Literature review
  • B. Hypothesis
  • C. Sample
  • D. Data collection

Correct Answer: B. Hypothesis

A hypothesis is the tool of quantitative studies and is only found in such studies. A hypothesis states the predictions about what the research will find. It is a tentative answer to a research question that has not yet been tested. A hypothesis is not just a guess — it should be based on existing theories and knowledge. It also has to be testable, which means the researcher can support or refute it through scientific research methods (such as experiments, observations, and statistical analysis of data).

  • Option A: A literature review is a comprehensive summary of previous research on a topic. The literature review surveys scholarly articles, books, and other sources relevant to a particular area of research. The review should enumerate, describe, summarize, objectively evaluate and clarify this previous research.
  • Option C: In research terms, a sample is a group of people, objects, or items that are taken from a larger population for measurement. The sample should be representative of the population to ensure that we can generalize the findings from the research sample to the population as a whole.
  • Option D: This step revolves around obtaining the information that the researcher will need to solve the issue or problem identified.  Data collection involves a field force or staff that operates either in the field, as in the case of personal interviewing (in-home, mall intercept, or computer-assisted personal interviewing), from an office by telephone (telephone or computer-assisted telephone interviewing), or through the mail (traditional mail and mail panel surveys with recruited households).

Nurseslabs-Question-02-015

Which of the following could be considered the “context” of a study? Select all that apply.

  • A. Cultural understandings and beliefs of study participants.
  • B. The physical setting of the study.
  • C. The sample selected for the study.
  • D. The number of subjects in the study.
  • E. The research design used.

Correct Answers: A, B

Contextual perspective is an essential aspect of a research proposal and requires critical attention while writing the proposal. In the Introduction section of the proposal, the writer should try to create interest in the readers about the proposed research.

  • Option A: Contextual perspectives consider the relationship between individuals and their physical, cognitive, and social worlds. They also examine socio-cultural and environmental influences on development.
  • Option B: Simply put, a research setting is the physical, social, or experimental context within which research is conducted. In a research paper, describing this setting accurately is crucial since the results and their interpretation may depend heavily on it.
  • Option C: The sample is not included in the context of the study. Make sure to include relevant references and citations. If presented adequately, the contextual perspective effectively establishes not only the need for the proposed research but also indicates the expertise of the writer in that specific research area.
  • Option D: The number of subjects is not included in the context of the study. It is also called a sample. Establish context by providing a brief and balanced review of the pertinent published literature that is available on the subject. The key is to summarize for the reader what is known about the specific research problem before the researcher did an analysis. This part of the introduction should not represent a comprehensive literature review–that comes next.
  • Option E: The research design used is seen in the methodology. The context of the study consists of a general review of the important, foundational research literature [with citations] that establishes a foundation for understanding key elements of the research problem.

Nurseslabs-Question-02-016

Which beliefs guide the constructivist paradigm? Select all that apply.

  • A. There are multiple realities.
  • B. The truth is objective.
  • C. Context does not matter as much as truth.
  • D. The participant (subject) is an active part of the study.
  • E. Knowledge is gained through facts.

Correct Answer: A, D

Constructivism implies that reality is constructed through human interaction. Knowledge is a human product and is socially and culturally constructed. Individuals create meaning through their interactions with each other and with the environment in which they live. Social constructivism emphasizes the importance of culture and context in the process of knowledge construction and accumulation.

  • Option A: In social constructivism, human interests are important for research purposes and knowledge is constructed through social interaction. Such knowledge is shared rather than an individual experience. According to constructivists, reality is a subjective creation. There is no single reality. Race, for example, is a social construct. Claiming that people are different based on the skin of their color is a (subjective) social construct.
  • Option B: The aim of constructivist research is to understand particular situations or phenomena. Rich data is gathered from which ideas can be formed. The interaction of a number of people is researched, mostly to solve social problems of the target group.
  • Option C: Learners add to and reshape their mental models of reality through social collaboration, building new understandings as they actively engage in learning experiences. Scaffolding, i.e. guidance and support, play an important role in the learning process. Research is, of course, largely a learning process and researchers on any level can use it to gain knowledge and to structure their research.
  • Option D: Social constructivism is based on the principles of constructivism. Like positivism, social constructivism also uses observation to gather information. Different from positivism, the researcher is part of what is being observed in social constructivism.
  • Option E: Positivism and constructivism are not the same. Both are epistemologies that present a different idea of what constitutes knowledge. However, positivism is a philosophical stance that emphasizes that knowledge should be gained through observable and measurable facts, whereas constructivism states that reality is a social construct.

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Nurseslabs-Question-02-017

Which of the following are consistent with the constructivist paradigm? Select all that apply.

  • A. Subjectivism is valued.
  • B. Natural laws exist.
  • C. Time and place are important.
  • D. Generalizability is valued.
  • E. Knowledge is gained through observable facts.

Correct Answers: A, C

Constructivism implies that reality is constructed through human interaction. Knowledge is a human product and is socially and culturally constructed. Individuals create meaning through their interactions with each other and with the environment in which they live. Social constructivism emphasizes the importance of culture and context in the process of knowledge construction and accumulation.

  • Option A: In social constructivism, human interests are important for research purposes and knowledge is constructed through social interaction. Such knowledge is shared rather than an individual experience. According to constructivists, reality is a subjective creation. There is no single reality. Race, for example, is a social construct. Claiming that people are different based on the skin of their color is a (subjective) social construct.
  • Option B: Constructivist research programs specifically study the status of ‘knowledge’ (Tsoukas 2005), the relation to the ‘world’ (Goodman 1987), and the process of the scientific generation of knowledge (Knorr Cetina 2002), thus reflecting research as a construction process, which inherently implies epistemological considerations.
  • Option C: Constructivism implies that reality is constructed through human interaction. Knowledge is a human product and is socially and culturally constructed. Individuals create meaning through their interactions with each other and with the environment in which they live. Social constructivism emphasizes the importance of culture and context in the process of knowledge construction and accumulation.
  • Option D: The constructivist programs question a concept of ‘reality as something that is ‘objectively given’, instead of focusing on the construction processes implied in the creation, establishment, and stabilization of ‘reality. This explains why constructivist perspectives imply ontological considerations, as embedded in (social) practice itself.
  • Option E: Positivism and constructivism are not the same. Both are epistemologies that present a different idea of what constitutes knowledge. However, positivism is a philosophical stance that emphasizes that knowledge should be gained through observable and measurable facts, whereas constructivism states that reality is a social construct.

Nurseslabs-Question-02-018

Which paradigm provides the basis for qualitative research?

  • A. Empirical analytical research
  • B. Constructivism
  • C. Postpositivism
  • D. Naturalistic research

Correct Answer: B. Constructivism

The paradigm that provides the basis for qualitative research is constructivism. Constructivism implies that reality is constructed through human interaction. Knowledge is a human product and is socially and culturally constructed. Individuals create meaning through their interactions with each other and with the environment in which they live.

  • Option A: Empirical research is a type of research methodology that makes use of verifiable evidence in order to arrive at research outcomes. In other words, this type of research relies solely on evidence obtained through observation or scientific data collection methods. 
  • Option C: Postpositivism or postempiricism is a metatheoretical stance that critiques and amends positivism and has impacted theories and practices across philosophy, social sciences, and various models of scientific inquiry.
  • Option D: Naturalistic observation is a nonexperimental, primarily qualitative research method in which organisms are studied in their natural settings. Behaviors or other phenomena of interest are observed and recorded by the researcher, whose presence might be either known or unknown to the subjects.

Nurseslabs-Question-02-019

Which type of research allows researchers to be neutral observers?

  • A. Qualitative research
  • B. Ethnographic research
  • C. Quantitative research
  • D. Case studies

Correct Answer: C. Quantitative research

Quantitative research is the process of collecting and analyzing numerical data. It can be used to find patterns and averages, make predictions, test causal relationships, and generalize results to wider populations.

  • Option A: In qualitative research, researchers are never considered neutral. Qualitative research involves collecting and analyzing non-numerical data (e.g., text, video, or audio) to understand concepts, opinions, or experiences. It can be used to gather in-depth insights into a problem or generate new ideas for research. 
  • Option B: In ethnography, a type of qualitative research, researchers are never considered neutral. Researchers immerse themselves in groups or organizations to understand their cultures.
  • Option D: In case studies, a type of qualitative research, researchers are never considered neutral. A case study is a research approach that is used to generate an in-depth, multi-faceted understanding of a complex issue in its real-life context. It is an established research design that is used extensively in a wide variety of disciplines, particularly in the social sciences.

Nurseslabs-Question-02-020

Which type of research study can be affected by detracting values of the researcher?

  • A. Qualitative
  • B. Naturalistic
  • C. Ethnographic
  • D. Quantitative

Correct Answer: D. Quantitative

Quantitative research is the process of collecting and analyzing numerical data. It can be used to find patterns and averages, make predictions, test causal relationships, and generalize results to wider populations.

  • Option A: The values of the researcher must be acknowledged in qualitative research. Qualitative research involves collecting and analyzing non-numerical data (e.g., text, video, or audio) to understand concepts, opinions, or experiences. It can be used to gather in-depth insights into a problem or generate new ideas for research. 
  • Option B: The values of the researcher must be acknowledged in naturalistic research. Naturalistic observation is a nonexperimental, primarily qualitative research method in which organisms are studied in their natural settings. Behaviors or other phenomena of interest are observed and recorded by the researcher, whose presence might be either known or unknown to the subjects.
  • Option C: The values of the researcher must be acknowledged in qualitative research. In ethnography, a type of qualitative research, researchers are never considered neutral. Researchers immerse themselves in groups or organizations to understand their cultures. 

Nursing Research NCLEX Practice Quiz #3 (20 Questions)

Nurseslabs-Question-03-001

What is the purpose of grounded theory?

  • A. To support theoretical frameworks.
  • B. To generate theory from data.
  • C. To develop explanatory models.
  • D. To find significant differences among groups of people.

Correct Answer: B. To generate theory from data.

The grounded theory method refers to a qualitative approach of building theory about a phenomenon about which little is known. Grounded theory sets out to discover or construct theory from data, systematically obtained and analyzed using comparative analysis. While grounded theory is inherently flexible, it is a complex methodology.

  • Option A: A theoretical framework consists of concepts and, together with their definitions and reference to relevant scholarly literature, existing theory that is used for a particular study. The theoretical framework must demonstrate an understanding of theories and concepts that are relevant to the topic of the research paper and that relate to the broader areas of knowledge being considered.
  • Option C: An explanatory model is a useful description of why and how anything works or an explanation of why a phenomenon is the way it is. The explanatory model is used as a substitute for “the full explanation” of the thing in question: either because the full explanation is unavailable.
  • Option D: A significant difference between two groups or two points in time means that there is a measurable difference between the groups and that, statistically, the probability of obtaining that difference by chance is very small (usually less than 5%).

Nurseslabs-Question-03-002

Why is it important to understand the philosophy underlying each type of research?

  • A. Conclusions reached should be congruent with the research question.
  • B. The research method that best meets the intended purpose of the study should be used.
  • C. The paradigm of the method should be the same as that of the researcher.
  • D. The reader should understand the level of abstraction of the study.

Correct Answer: B. The research method that best meets the intended purpose of the study should be used.

Different research methods accomplish different goals and offer different types and levels of evidence that inform practice. Given these three points, the first point as proposed by Easterby-Smith et al (2012) understanding the research philosophies helps the researcher to highlight and specify the best suitable methods for the study at hand.

  • Option A: The point is focused on having insights into the research paradigm which helps the researcher to have the foreknowledge of possible research limitations pertaining to the research methodology employed. 
  • Option C: In any research process, it is very important for the researcher to understand the research philosophies or the paradigms that contribute and add to research quality and creativity (Easterby-Smith et al (2012).
  • Option D: The ontological and the epistemological positions of the researcher influence his or her choice of what data to collect, how to collect and analyze the data, the meanings to make the data, and the extent of the generalizability of research findings.

Nurseslabs-Question-03-003

Which conceptual analysis point of the framework for rigor used for interpretive phenomenology refers to how the study findings will continue to have meaning for the reader?

  • A. Resonance
  • B. Concreteness
  • C. Actualization
  • D. Openness

Correct Answer: C. Actualization

Actualization refers to how the study findings will continue to have meaning for the reader. IPA’s emphasis on sense-making by both participant and researcher means that it can be described as having cognition as a central analytic concern, and this suggests an interesting theoretical alliance with the cognitive paradigm that is dominant in contemporary psychology. 

  • Option A: Within an interpretive tradition of qualitative research, resonance refers to a researcher’s posture of openness and receptivity toward potential meanings embedded in text. It serves as an important ontological and epistemological counterpoint to the postpositivist stance of objective analysis of data.
  • Option B: In IPA, researchers gather qualitative data from research participants using techniques such as interviews, diaries, or focus groups. Typically, these are approached from a position of flexible and open-ended inquiry, and the interviewer adopts a stance that is curious and facilitative (rather than, say, challenging and interrogative). 
  • Option D: Usually, participants in an IPA study are expected to have certain experiences in common with one another: the small-scale nature of a basic IPA study shows how something is understood in a given context, and from a shared perspective, a method sometimes called homogeneous sampling.

Nurseslabs-Question-03-004

Which question will critique the sampling of a research project?

  • A. Is the strategy used for analysis compatible with the purpose of the study?
  • B. What is the projected significance of the work to nursing?
  • C. Are the informants who were chosen appropriate to inform the research?
  • D. What are the philosophical underpinnings of the research method?

Correct Answer: C. Are the informants who were chosen appropriate to inform the research?

A research critique is an analysis of a research undertaking that focuses on its strengths and limitations. Critiquing is a systematic process for evaluating research studies and the results reported. 

  • Option A: “The purpose of a research critique is to determine whether the findings are usable for you” (Brink & Wood, 2001, p. 57). Understand the purpose and problem, while determining if the design and methodology are consistent with the purpose.
  • Option B: Determine if the methodology is properly applied. Assess if outcomes and conclusions are believable and supported by findings. Reflect on overall quality, strengths, and limitations. 
  • Option D: Regardless of the type of critique, certain elements comprise a critique. Some general questions can be associated with the elements of a critique.

Nurseslabs-Question-03-005

Which question will critique the method of a research project?

  • A. Is the strategy used for analysis compatible with the purpose of the study?
  • B. What is the projected significance of the work to nursing?
  • C. Are the informants who were chosen appropriate to inform the research?
  • D. What are the philosophical underpinnings of the research method?

Correct Answer: A. Is the strategy used for analysis compatible with the purpose of the study?

A research critique is an analysis of a research undertaking that focuses on its strengths and limitations. Critiquing is a systematic process for evaluating research studies and the results reported. 

  • Option B: This question will critique the purpose of a research project. Read the research article or report in its entirety to get a sense of the study and its contribution to knowledge development.
  • Option C: This question will critique the sampling of a research project. Read the article or report again, paying attention to the questions appropriate to each stage of the critiquing process.
  • Option D: This question will critique the philosophy of a research project. “The necessary elements in a research critique can be compiled in a series of questions for the process of critiquing research” (Boswell & Cannon, 2009, p. 308).

Nurseslabs-Question-03-006

Which question will critique the purpose of a research project?

  • A. Is the strategy used for analysis compatible with the purpose of the study?
  • B. What is the projected significance of the work to nursing?
  • C. Are the informants who were chosen appropriate to inform the research?
  • D. What are the philosophical underpinnings of the research method?

Correct Answer: B. What is the projected significance of the work to nursing?

This question will critique the purpose of a research project. Read the research article or report in its entirety to get a sense of the study and its contribution to knowledge development.

  • Option A: A research critique is an analysis of a research undertaking that focuses on its strengths and limitations. Critiquing is a systematic process for evaluating research studies and the results reported.
  • Option C: This question will critique the sampling of a research project. Read the article or report again, paying attention to the questions appropriate to each stage of the critiquing process.
  • Option D: This question will critique the philosophy of a research project. “The necessary elements in a research critique can be compiled in a series of questions for the process of critiquing research” (Boswell & Cannon, 2009, p. 308).

Nurseslabs-Question-03-007

Which question will critique the credibility of a research project?

  • A. Is the strategy used for analysis compatible with the purpose of the study?
  • B. Does the researcher document the research process?
  • C. Are the researcher’s conceptualizations true to the data?
  • D. Has adequate time been allowed to fully understand the phenomenon?

Correct Answer: D. Has adequate time been allowed to fully understand the phenomenon?

This question will critique the credibility of a research project. “The necessary elements in a research critique can be compiled in a series of questions for the process of critiquing research” (Boswell & Cannon, 2009, p. 308). 

  • Option A: A research critique is an analysis of a research undertaking that focuses on its strengths and limitations. Critiquing is a systematic process for evaluating research studies and the results reported.
  • Option B: This question will critique the auditability of a research project. Understand the purpose and problem, while determining if the design and methodology are consistent with the purpose.  
  • Option C: This question will critique the significance of a research project. “The purpose of a research critique is to determine whether the findings are usable for you” (Brink & Wood, 2001, p. 57). 

Nurseslabs-Question-03-008

Which question will critique the auditability of a research project?

  • A. Is the strategy used for analysis compatible with the purpose of the study?
  • B. Does the researcher document the research process?
  • C. Are the researcher’s conceptualizations true to the data?
  • D. Has adequate time been allowed to fully understand the phenomenon?

Correct Answer: B. Does the researcher document the research process?

This question will critique the auditability of a research project. Understand the purpose and problem, while determining if the design and methodology are consistent with the purpose.

  • Option A: A research critique is an analysis of a research undertaking that focuses on its strengths and limitations. Critiquing is a systematic process for evaluating research studies and the results reported.
  • Option C: This question will critique the significance of a research project. “The purpose of a research critique is to determine whether the findings are usable for you” (Brink & Wood, 2001, p. 57).
  • Option D: This question will critique the credibility of a research project. “The necessary elements in a research critique can be compiled in a series of questions for the process of critiquing research” (Boswell & Cannon, 2009, p. 308). 

Nurseslabs-Question-03-009

Which question will critique the fittingness of a research project?

  • A. Is the strategy used for analysis compatible with the purpose of the study?
  • B. Does the researcher document the research process?
  • C. Are the researcher’s conceptualizations true to the data?
  • D. Has adequate time been allowed to fully understand the phenomenon?

Correct Answer: A. Is the strategy used for analysis compatible with the purpose of the study?

This question will critique the fittingness of a research project. A research critique is an analysis of a research undertaking that focuses on its strengths and limitations. Critiquing is a systematic process for evaluating research studies and the results reported.

  • Option B: This question will critique the auditability of a research project. Understand the purpose and problem, while determining if the design and methodology are consistent with the purpose.
  • Option C: This question will critique the significance of a research project. “The purpose of a research critique is to determine whether the findings are usable for you” (Brink & Wood, 2001, p. 57).
  • Option D: This question will critique the credibility of a research project. “The necessary elements in a research critique can be compiled in a series of questions for the process of critiquing research” (Boswell & Cannon, 2009, p. 308). 

Nurseslabs-Question-03-010

What are the uses of qualitative research methods? Select all that apply.

  • A. Guiding nursing practice.
  • B. Studying the effects of nursing care on an outcome variable.
  • C. Developing survey instruments.
  • D. Developing nursing theory.

Correct Answers: A, C, D

Qualitative research refers to a method of inquiry in which the researcher, acting as a data collection instrument, seeks to answer questions about how or why a particular phenomenon occurs. Questions regarding what a phenomenon is comprised may also guide qualitative research

  • Option A: The most fundamental assumption underlying qualitative research is that reality is something socially constructed on an individual basis. Varied methods of qualitative research exist. Examples of qualitative methods employed in nursing research include grounded theory, phenomenology, ethnography, and qualitative description.
  • Option B: Regardless of method, participants are purposefully enrolled based on their familiarity with the phenomenon. Data are generally collected via one or a combination of three mechanisms: interviews, observation, or document/photograph review.
  • Option C: Qualitative findings provide idiographic knowledge about human experiences to readers, who can apply qualitative findings to the care of individuals who are in situations similar to that of those in the sample from which findings came
  • Option D: Qualitative findings are not generalizable in the prevalent sense of the word—they do not provide laws or relationships that can be taken from a single sample and applied to entire populations. Rather, they are generalizable in a way that is particularly pertinent to nursing practice, in which there is an expectation that scientific findings, and nursing care itself, be tailored to unique individuals in their distinct contexts.

Nurseslabs-Question-03-011

What are scientific criteria appropriate for qualitative research? Select all that apply.

  • A. Auditability
  • B. Credibility
  • C. Fittingness
  • D. Reliability

Correct Answers: A, B, C

The rigor of qualitative research is judged by these criteria. They are the criteria by which qualitative research is evaluated for validity and reliability. In qualitative research, the researcher is the study instrument collecting the data, and doing the interpretation bias for inclusion and risk for harm is the researcher’s responsibility; they must constantly check with the subject.

  • Option A: Auditability is established by the reader being able to follow the steps of the research form, the research questions, to the data collection, to the data, and then to the findings (categories, themes, model) By the steps for interpretation and synthesis and data examples provided, the reader should be able to follow the researcher’s thinking.
  • Option B: Credibility is the truth of findings as judged by the participants themselves and others. To help establish, the researcher should return to the original participants and get them to validate the findings. Others within the discipline may also help establish by review of the data and findings.
  • Option C: Fittingness is the meaningfulness of the everyday findings to the everyday reality of that situation. Are the results described in enough detail so that one may evaluate them for their own practice?
  • Option D: A way to more fully address the nature of the human experience is to come at it from one in one fashion. Triangulation tries to address the problem using both quantitative and qualitative or multiple qualitative methods in one study.

Nurseslabs-Question-03-012

What are ethical concerns for qualitative researchers? Select all that apply.

  • A. Because the study emerges over time, the researcher may not anticipate and inform the participants of a potential threat.
  • B. To maintain a naturalistic environment for interviews, formal documents such as consent forms are not used.
  • C. Because there are so few participants in a qualitative study, no participant can opt-out of the study.
  • D. Because the researcher and participant interact over a period of time, relationships developed between them may change the focus of the interaction.

Correct Answers: A, D

In qualitative studies, researchers have a great responsibility and play many different roles. It is argued that qualitative research that deals with sensitive topics in depth can pose emotional and other risks to both participants and researchers.

  • Option A: The principle of ‘no harm’ to participants ought to be considered by researchers, who should be aware of the potential harms that might be inflicted upon study subjects. Obviously, sometimes a conflict between the right to know (defended on the basis of benefits to the society) and the right of privacy (advocated based on the rights of the individual) may happen.
  • Option B: Informed consent has been recognized as an integral part of ethics in research carried out in different fields. For qualitative researchers, it is of the utmost importance to specify in advance which data will be collected and how they are to be used.
  • Option C: Clear protocols for dealing with distress should be in place so that both parties involved in research can use them if necessary. It is not usually easy to predict what topics are likely to lead to distress, and researchers should therefore receive sufficient training in predicting traumatic situations.
  • Option D: The relationship and intimacy that is established between the researchers and participants in qualitative studies can raise a range of different ethical concerns, and qualitative researchers face dilemmas such as respect for privacy, establishment of honest and open interactions, and avoiding misrepresentations.

Nurseslabs-Question-03-013

Which of the following is most accurate regarding the grounded-theory method?

  • A. Data is collected using an etic perspective.
  • B. It is a process of constructing human experience.
  • C. Secondary sources are sometimes used.
  • D. It is an inductive approach.

Correct Answer: D. It is an inductive approach.

Grounded theory (GT) is a structured, yet flexible methodology. This methodology is appropriate when little is known about a phenomenon; the aim being to produce or construct an explanatory theory that uncovers a process inherent to the substantive area of inquiry. One of the defining characteristics of GT is that it aims to generate a theory that is grounded in the data.

  • Option A: Data is collected using the emic perspective. A hallmark of GT is concurrent data generation/collection and analysis. In GT, researchers may utilize both qualitative and quantitative data as espoused by Glaser’s dictum; ‘all is data’.
  • Option B: The grounded-theory method is a process of constructing theory from human experience. Constructivist GT’s methodological underpinnings focus on how participants construct meaning in relation to the area of inquiry. A constructivist co-constructs experience and meanings with participants.
  • Option C: In grounded theory, only primary sources (the participants) are used. Elicited data are produced by participants in response to, or directed by, the researcher whereas extant data includes data that is already available such as documents and published literature.

Nurseslabs-Question-03-014

What is the term used for the coding and clustering of data to form categories in the grounded-theory method?

  • A. Theoretical sampling
  • B. Constant-comparative method
  • C. Emic method
  • D. Metasynthesis

Correct Answer: B. Constant-comparative method

Constant comparative analysis is an analytical process used in GT for coding and category development. The constant comparative technique is used to find consistencies and differences, with the aim of continually refining concepts and theoretically relevant categories.

  • Option A: The purpose of theoretical sampling is to allow the researcher to follow leads in the data by sampling new participants or material that provides relevant information. Theoretical sampling in GT is for the development of a theoretical category, as opposed to sampling for population representation. 
  • Option C: The emic approach to studying human culture focuses on the members of the culture being studied. Their words, perceptions, and beliefs are the main sources of information used to understand the culture. For this reason, the emic approach is often referred to as the ‘insider approach.
  • Option D: Qualitative metasynthesis is an intentional and coherent approach to analyzing data across qualitative studies. It is a process that enables researchers to identify a specific research question and then search for, select, appraise, summarize, and combine qualitative evidence to address the research question.

Nurseslabs-Question-03-015

What is a characteristic of an intrinsic case study?

  • A. It yields a better understanding of each case.
  • B. It provides a foundation to challenge a generalization.
  • C. It does not include quantitative data.
  • D. It can scrutinize only uncomplicated phenomena.

Correct Answer: A. It yields a better understanding of each case.

An intrinsic case study is undertaken to have a better understanding of the case. An intrinsic case study is the study of a case (e.g., person, specific group, occupation, department, organization) where the case itself is of primary interest in the exploration.

  • Option B: An intrinsic case study is typically undertaken to learn about a unique phenomenon. The researcher should define the uniqueness of the phenomenon, which distinguishes it from all others.
  • Option C: The case study approach can offer additional insights into what gaps exist in its delivery or why one implementation strategy might be chosen over another. This in turn can help develop or refine theory.
  • Option D: In an intrinsic case study, the case is selected on its own merits. The case is selected not because it is representative of other cases, but because of its uniqueness, which is of genuine interest to the researchers.

Nurseslabs-Question-03-016

What is a characteristic of metasynthesis?

  • A. It is useful for triangulating research.
  • B. It synthesizes critical masses of qualitative findings.
  • C. It leads to higher reliability of research findings.
  • D. It cannot be conducted on historical or case study findings.

Correct Answer: B. It synthesizes critical masses of qualitative findings.

Qualitative synthesis refers to a collection of different methods for systematically reviewing and integrating findings from qualitative studies. The aims of such methods are to capture the increasing volume of qualitative research, to facilitate the transfer of knowledge to improve healthcare and to bring together a broad range of participants and descriptions.

  • Option A: Qualitative synthesis requires not only a systematic approach to collecting, analyzing, and interpreting results across multiple studies, but also to develop overarching interpretation emerging from the joint interpretation of the primary studies included in the synthesis.
  • Option C: It involves going beyond the findings of any individual study to make the “whole into something more than the parts alone imply” They have been shown to be particularly useful to identify research gaps, to inform the development of primary studies, and to provide evidence for the development, implementation, and evaluation of health interventions
  • Option D: Qualitative research sheds new light on scientific questions by emphasizing the participants’ subjective understanding and experience. Metasynthesis proposes a third level of comprehension and interpretation that brings original insights.

Nurseslabs-Question-03-017

What is meant by the “fittingness” of a research study?

  • A. Truth of findings as judged by the participants.
  • B. The appropriateness of the interview questions posed.
  • C. Faithfulness to everyday reality of the participants.
  • D. The adequacy of the coding system used.

Correct Answer: C. Faithfulness to everyday reality of the participants.

Fittingness is the meaningfulness of the everyday findings to everyday reality of that situation. Are the results described in enough detail so that one may evaluate them for their own practice?

  • Option A: Credibility is the truth of findings as judged by the participants. To help establish, the researcher should return to the original participants and get them to validate the findings. Others within the discipline may also help establish by review of the data and findings.
  • Option B: Auditability assists the reader to judge the appropriateness of the interview questions posed. Auditability is established by the reader being able to follow the steps of the research from the research questions, to the data collection, to the data, and then to the findings (categories, themes, model). 
  • Option D: Auditability assists the reader to judge the adequacy of the coding system used. By the steps for interpretation and synthesis and data examples provided, the reader should be able to follow the researcher’s thinking. 

Nurseslabs-Question-03-018

How can qualitative outcome analysis be used? Select all that apply.

  • A. To determine the reliability of intervention outcomes in a study.
  • B. To confirm the applicability of clinical strategies.
  • C. To develop interventions and then test those selected.
  • D. To build theory.

Correct Answers: B, C, D

Qualitative Outcome Analysis (QOA) enhances the identification of meaningful intervention strategies and plans for utilization. The researcher identifies the type of qualitative data that will enable the interpretation and evaluation of interventions, devises a means of data recording and analysis, and finally, disseminates the findings.

  • Option A: QOA is a systematic means to confirm the applicability of clinical strategies developed from a single qualitative project, to extend the repertoire of clinical interventions, and to evaluate clinical outcomes.
  • Option B: QOA also provides a way to describe interventions that cannot be easily measured or interventions that are more usefully communicated by description.
  • Option C: Qualitative Outcome Analysis provides a way to identify and evaluate these interventions and to systematically and descriptively analyze alternative or new interventions.
  • Option D: This method is used to confirm the efficacy of nursing interventions when experience changes over time, to extend the repertoire of intervention strategies, and to further clinicians’ understanding of possible outcomes.

Nurseslabs-Question-03-019

When critiquing a qualitative study, which of the following questions are helpful in determining the study’s auditability? Select all that apply.

  • A. Has adequate time been allowed to understand the phenomenon fully?
  • B. Can the reader follow the researcher’s thinking?
  • C. Are the results meaningful to individuals not involved in the research?
  • D. Does the researcher document the research process?

Correct Answer: B, C

Auditability assists the reader to judge the appropriateness of the interview questions posed. Auditability is established by the reader being able to follow the steps of the research from the research questions, to the data collection, to the data, and then to the findings (categories, themes, model).

  • Option A: This question will critique the significance of a research project. “The purpose of a research critique is to determine whether the findings are usable for you” (Brink & Wood, 2001, p. 57).
  • Option B: This question will critique the auditability of a research project. Understand the purpose and problem, while determining if the design and methodology are consistent with the purpose. 
  • Option C: Auditability assists the reader to judge the adequacy of the coding system used. By the steps for interpretation and synthesis and data examples provided, the reader should be able to follow the researcher’s thinking.
  • Option D: This question will critique the auditability of a research project. Understand the purpose and problem, while determining if the design and methodology are consistent with the purpose.

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Nurseslabs-Question-03-020

Which question is helpful in determining the study’s credibility?

  • A. Do the participants recognize the experience as their own?
  • B. What strategies were used to analyze the data?
  • C. How were human subjects protected?
  • D. Are the findings applicable outside the study situation?

Correct Answer: A. Do the participants recognize the experience as their own?

Credibility is the truth of findings as judged by the participants. To help establish, the researcher should return to the original participants and get them to validate the findings. Others within the discipline may also help establish by review of the data and findings.

  • Option B: Auditability assists the reader to judge the appropriateness of the interview questions posed. Auditability is established by the reader being able to follow the steps of the research from the research questions, to the data collection, to the data, and then to the findings (categories, themes, model). 
  • Option C: Fittingness is the meaningfulness of the everyday findings to everyday reality of that situation. Are the results described in enough detail so that one may evaluate them for their own practice?
  • Option D: This question will critique the auditability of a research project. Understand the purpose and problem, while determining if the design and methodology are consistent with the purpose.
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