Chapter 14: Data Collection Methods

Chapter 14: Data Collection Methods

 

Complete Chapter Questions With Answers

 

Sample Questions Are Posted Below

 

MULTIPLE CHOICE

 

1. What should the nurse researcher expect to be the difference between data collection for patient care and data collection for the purposes of research?

a.	For patient care, data are obtained from the patient and medical record; for research, data are obtained only from the patient.
b.	Data collection for research may include direct patient quotations; in patient care, recording of direct quotations is avoided.
c.	During research data collection, there is no direct interaction between the nurse and the patient.
d.	Data collection for research purposes must be objective and systematic.

 

 

ANS:  D

 

	Feedback
A	In research, data may be collected from patients, medical records, and many other sources.
B	Quotations may be used in either research or patient care.
C	Research data collection may involve direct nurse contact, depending on design.
D	The major difference between data collection for patient care and research purposes is that data collection for research purposes must be free from the researchers’ personal biases, beliefs, values, or attitudes and collected in a uniform, consistent, or standard way from each subject by everyone who is involved in the data collection process.

 

 

DIF:    Cognitive Level: Understanding (Comprehension)             REF:   Page 274

 

2. The nurse researcher is attempting to answer specific questions about families’ perceptions of caring for elderly parents with dementia. What would be the most appropriate method of data collection for this study?

a.	Field notes
b.	Structured interview
c.	Unstructured interview
d.	Physiologic instrumentation

 

 

ANS:  B

 

	Feedback
A	Field notes are comments made by researchers and may not target critical areas of focus.
B	A structured interview would allow the researcher to ask specific questions about families’ perceptions and attitudes.
C	Unstructured interviews may not permit coverage of critical topics to be addressed.
D	Physiologic instrumentation would not be useful in collecting data about families’ perceptions and feelings.

 

 

DIF:    Cognitive Level: Creating (Evaluation)                             REF:   Page 275

 

3. Which data collection method would be most appropriate in studying bullying behavior in elementary school–aged girls?

a.	An unstructured interview
b.	Asking parents about their children’s experience with bullying
c.	Responses of the children on a paper-and-pencil bullying scale
d.	Concealment of the researcher without intervention in children’s behavior

 

 

ANS:  D

 

	Feedback
A	Children may be unable to answer unstructured questions and stay focused on the topic of interest.
B	Parents’ opinions would not give the best data for children’s views on bullying.
C	Children may not give accurate responses to such a scale.
D	This method is often used in developmental research and allows for observational studies.

 

 

DIF:    Cognitive Level: Creating (Evaluation)                             REF:   Page 277

 

4. What is the nurse researcher’s primary concern in data collection for research?

a.	Flexibility in data collection
b.	Consistency in data collection
c.	Accurate interpretation of data collected
d.	Averaging of numerical scores to reduce the effect of outliers

 

 

ANS:  B

 

	Feedback
A	Flexibility does not necessarily support integrity in data collection.
B	Consistency is the most critical issue in the data collection phase.
C	Interpretation of data occurs in the data analysis phase.
D	Arithmetic activities and statistical approaches are part of the data analysis phase.

 

 

DIF:    Cognitive Level: Understanding (Comprehension)             REF:   Page 274

 

5. The training of data collectors to adhere strictly to a standard protocol for a research project will affect the ultimate outcome of the study by doing what?

a.	Reducing risks to human subjects
b.	Reducing cost of data collection
c.	Increasing consistency in data collection
d.	Increasing risk of introducing researcher bias into the study

 

 

ANS:  C

 

	Feedback
A	Reducing risks to human subjects is best controlled by institutional review board clearance and informed consent.
B	Data collector training may actually increase costs in a research study.
C	Training of data collectors increases consistency in data collection.
D	Data collector training does not increase risk of researcher bias.

 

 

DIF:    Cognitive Level: Understanding (Comprehension)             REF:   Page 276