Chapter 18: Appraising Quantitative Research

Chapter 18: Appraising Quantitative Research

 

Complete Chapter Questions With Answers

 

Sample Questions Are Posted Below

 

MULTIPLE CHOICE

 

1. The critique of a quantitative research report should include what?

a.	Applying the findings in clinical practice
b.	Summarizing the major steps of the research process
c.	Constructively evaluating a study for its strengths and weaknesses
d.	Determining whether the phenomenon studied by participants can be recognized as their own

 

 

ANS:  C

 

	Feedback
A	Applying findings in clinical practice is performed after critiquing a study’s strengths.
B	Summarizing the steps of the research process is not equivalent to constructive evaluation.
C	Research critique is constructive evaluation of a study’s strengths and limitations.
D	Research critique is performed by an objective reviewer, not by participants.

 

 

DIF:    Cognitive Level: Understanding (Comprehension)             REF:   Page 350

 

2. Which statement most accurately evaluates a quantitative research study report’s scientific merit?

a.	The sample size was appropriate for the statistical tests used.
b.	The study had one independent variable and two dependent variables.
c.	Data described in narrative form within the text could have been more concise in a table.
d.	The discussion was excessive in length.

 

 

ANS:  A

 

	Feedback
A	Describing appropriate use of sample size for pertinent statistical tests is an example of scientific merit.
B	Explaining the number of variables is not an example of scientific critique.
C	The critique of narrative display is an example of stylistic comment.
D	The comment about length of discussion is an example of stylistic critique.

 

 

DIF:    Cognitive Level: Understanding (Comprehension)             REF:   Page 348

 

3. Both the problem statement and the purpose of a quantitative research study report should address what?

a.	Generalizability
b.	Sampling procedure
c.	Implications for future research
d.	Relationship between the variables

 

 

ANS:  D

 

	Feedback
A	Generalizability would be addressed by research design and sampling procedures.
B	The sampling procedure is usually described in the methods section.
C	Implications for future research are developed after study findings are obtained.
D	The problem statement and the purpose both specify relationships between study variables.

 

 

DIF:    Cognitive Level: Understanding (Comprehension)             REF:   Page 348

 

4. Where in a report of a quantitative research study would a nurse researcher expect the gaps or conflicts about the phenomenon studied to be identified?

a.	Analysis of data
b.	Research design
c.	Problem statement
d.	Review of the literature

 

 

ANS:  D

 

	Feedback
A	The data analysis section describes how obtained data were organized and analyzed.
B	The research design section explains the design chosen by the researcher and how it will be used.
C	The problem statement specifies the focus of the study and the significance of the problem.
D	A literature review describes what is known, as well as what is not known about a phenomenon being studied.

 

 

DIF:    Cognitive Level: Remembering (Knowledge)                    REF:   Page 388-389

 

5. A study abstract includes the following statement: “There was a negative relationship between infants with difficult behavioral styles and maternal involvement.” The most accurate interpretation of the statement is what?

a.	The more difficult the infant was, the more involved the mother was.
b.	The more difficult the infant was, the less involved the mother was.
c.	The less difficult the infant was, the less involved the mother was.
d.	There was no relationship between infant behavior and maternal involvement.

 

 

ANS:  B

 

	Feedback
A	This is a positive variable relationship and does not match the abstract statement.
B	The statement involves an inverse relationship; more infant difficulty, less maternal involvement.
C	This is a positive variable relationship and does not match the abstract statement.
D	This is a statement of no relationship between variables and does not match the abstract statement.

 

 

DIF:    Cognitive Level: Analyzing (Analysis)                              REF:   Page 378