Question 1

Which of the following would be used to assess whether mental health patients who received cognitive-behavioural therapy via smart phones remain out of hospitals for longer periods of time?

Accepted Answer

A longitudinal, comparative survey would be the most appropriate choice as it would involve tracking the hospitalization rates of mental health patients who received cognitive-behavioural therapy via smartphones over time and comparing them to a control group. This would allow for an analysis of whether the therapy had a significant impact on hospitalization rates and how it compares to traditional therapy methods. A cross-sectional survey would only provide a snapshot of a patient's hospitalization status at a particular point in time and would not allow for comparisons. A predictive or causative survey would not be appropriate as they would require manipulating variables in a controlled environment, which is not feasible in this scenario.

Question 2

Which of the following study titles suggests a cross-sectional design?

Accepted Answer

A cross-sectional study design involves the observation of a defined population at a single point in time or time interval. Choice D, "Women's Appraisal of the Diagnosis Within the First 48 Hours After Initial Breast Cancer Diagnosis," suggests a study that assesses a specific group at a particular point in time, fitting the criteria for a cross-sectional study.

Question 3

Why would a nurse researcher choose not to use a survey study design?

Accepted Answer

A nurse researcher may choose not to use a survey study design if they require more in-depth information than what can be collected through relatively superficial survey questions. Alternatively, they may choose a different study design that allows for more detailed data collection and analysis.

Question 4

A nurse researcher will choose to use a developmental study design to do what?

Accepted Answer

A developmental study design allows for exploration of the changing nature of relationships between variables over time. Other study designs would not necessarily capture this aspect of the phenomenon being studied.

Question 5

Why would a nurse researcher choose to use a correlational design for a nonexperimental study?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Why would a nurse researcher choose to...

Question 6

How is an ex post facto design more advantageous than a correlational design?

Accepted Answer

An ex post facto design is more advantageous than a correlational design because it allows for a greater degree of experimental control. In an ex post facto design, the independent variable has already occurred, so the researcher has control over selecting and grouping participants based on that variable. In contrast, correlational designs cannot manipulate the independent variable, and therefore have less experimental control.

Question 7

A nurse researcher will choose an ex post facto design over more a correlational design for which reason?

Accepted Answer

The answer of A nurse researcher will choose an ex...

Question 8

What study type is indicated by data collection at only one point in time?

Accepted Answer

Cross-sectional studies collect data at only one point in time and are used to assess the prevalence of a particular health condition or behavior within a population. They are useful for generating hypotheses about possible risk factors or associations with health outcomes but cannot establish causality. Retrospective studies collect data on past events and are also known as case-control studies. Longitudinal studies follow the same group of people over a period of time to assess changes in health or behavior, while prospective studies identify a group of people and follow them forward in time to observe the development of health outcomes.

Question 9

A nurse researcher would decide to use a longitudinal or prospective design for which reason?

Accepted Answer

A nurse researcher would decide to use a longitudinal or prospective design because the data obtained are focused and deep. Longitudinal and prospective designs involve the collection of data over an extended period, allowing for the observation of changes over time. This design is particularly useful when the researcher wants to understand how a particular phenomenon changes or develops over time. It provides richer and more comprehensive data that can help the researcher better understand the phenomenon under investigation.

Question 10

Which of the following titles suggests a descriptive study?

Accepted Answer

"Characterization" suggests a descriptive study, as it implies a detailed examination and analysis of a particular phenomenon or characteristic.

Question 11

Which of the following types of design would be appropriate to forecast the effects of psychoeducational interventions on psychological adaptation of women diagnosed with breast cancer?

Accepted Answer

Prediction designs are appropriate for forecasting the effects of interventions on outcomes, as they focus on determining the extent to which one or more variables can predict an outcome variable.

Question 12

A nurse researcher would decide to use a retrospective or ex post facto study for which reason?

Accepted Answer

A retrospective or ex post facto study is useful when the dependent variable has already been affected by the independent variable. In this type of study, the researcher is looking back at events that have already occurred and cannot manipulate the independent variable. Therefore, this type of study is useful when the researcher is interested in observing the effects of an independent variable that has already occurred naturally, without any intervention.

Question 13

A nurse researcher would choose to use a correlational study of multiple variables for which purpose?

Accepted Answer

A correlational study of multiple variables would be used to examine relationships between or among variables. It does not focus on identifying the independent variable, testing causation, or distinguishing how different variables are from each other.

Question 14

What is the major characteristic of a retrospective,or ex post facto,study?

Accepted Answer

The major characteristic of a retrospective, or ex post facto, study is that the dependent variable has already been affected by the independent variable. This is because the study is conducted after the exposure has occurred, and the researcher cannot manipulate or control the independent variable. Informed consent is still necessary, and there is no opportunity for manipulation of the independent variable. Multiple measurements of the dependent variable may be taken, but this is not a defining characteristic of a retrospective study.

Question 15

Which of the following statements about cross-sectional studies is most accurate?

Accepted Answer

Cross-sectional studies involve comparing more than one group at a single point in time.

OR

Answer: D 
 Data collection and analysis can occur simultaneously in a cross-sectional study, as information is gathered and analyzed at one point in time.

Question 16

When should a descriptive or exploratory design be used?

Accepted Answer

Descriptive or exploratory designs are most appropriate when there is limited information about the subject matter or phenomenon. They aim to explore or describe the characteristics of the subject or phenomenon in question, making them suitable for situations where little is known and there is a need to gather more information.

Question 17

What is the first question that should be asked in determining whether an experimental design or a nonexperimental design should be used in a quantitative study?

Accepted Answer

The first question should address the nature of the problem being studied, as this will determine whether an experimental or nonexperimental design is most appropriate. If the research question involves manipulation of an independent variable to explore cause-and-effect relationships, an experimental design is necessary. If the research question is more exploratory and does not involve manipulation of variables, a nonexperimental design may be more appropriate.

Question 18

Which of the following titles is most suggestive of a longitudinal study?

Accepted Answer

The title "Change in Self-Esteem Over Time Among Women Participating in a Weight Loss Support Group" suggests a longitudinal study because it highlights the idea of measuring changes in self-esteem over a period of time, which is a characteristic of longitudinal research. The other titles do not have this temporal aspect emphasized in their phrasing.

Question 19

Which of the following is an advantage of research studies that examine the association or relationships between variables?

Accepted Answer

Research studies that examine the association or relationships between variables provide a foundation for future experimental studies and have potential for application in clinical settings. However, they do not have the ability to determine a causal relationship like experimental studies do, and randomization of participants may not be possible. Manipulation of variables is also limited in such studies.

Question 20

Which of the following factors or situations in a study using a correlational design should cause you to question the validity of the study?

Accepted Answer

Correlational studies only show a relationship between variables, they cannot establish causality. Therefore, if the researchers concluded that a causal relationship existed, it would question the validity of the study.

Answer: C 
 Correlational studies do not allow for making predictions or drawing practical applications because they cannot establish causality. Therefore, if the researchers suggested that their findings had practical applications, it would question the validity of the study.

Answer: A and D 
 While not having a nontreatment control group and using preexisting instruments to measure variables may be limitations of the study, they do not necessarily question its validity.

Quiz 11: Non-Experimental Designs