7.

A human resources employee performs research focusing on the professional lifespan within
the institution of nurses, and trying to discover whether their choice of work area is connected
with the number of years they work in the institution. What type of research is this?
a. Descriptive research
b. Correlational research
c. Quasi-experimental research
d. Experimental research

ANS: B
The quantitative research methods are classified into four categories: (1) descriptive, which
defines the magnitude of a concept and its characteristics, (2) correlational, which determines
association between or among variables, (3) quasi-experimental, which tests an intervention
and lacks control in at least one of three areas, and (4) experimental, which tests an
intervention and includes both a control group and random assignment. This study
investigates the connection or association between work area and length of time worked.

DIF: Cognitive Level: Analysis REF: Page 26

8. In an attempt to assess whether selection of a same-gender psychiatrist leads to better mental

health outcomes, clients newly referred for mental health services are told they may choose
their mental health physicians. Later, measures of mental health are performed. What type of
research is this?
a. Descriptive research
b. Correlational research
c. Quasi-experimental research
d. Experimental research
ANS: C
The quantitative research methods are classified into four categories: (1) descriptive, which
defines the magnitude of a concept and its characteristics, (2) correlational, which determines
association between or among variables, (3) quasi-experimental, which tests an intervention
and lacks control in at least one of three areas, and (4) experimental, which tests an
intervention and includes both a control group and random assignment. This research study is
designed to test an intervention but does not include random assignment.

DIF: Cognitive Level: Analysis REF: Page 26

9. In a rehabilitation unit, patients are randomly assigned to high fiber diets versus ordinary fiber
diets, in order to measure the effect on constipation. What type of research is this?
a. Descriptive research
b. Correlational research
c. Quasi-experimental research
d. Experimental research
ANS: D
 The quantitative research methods are classified into four categories: (1) descriptive, which
defines the magnitude of a concept and its characteristics, (2) correlational, which determines
association between or among variables, (3) quasi-experimental, which tests an intervention
and lacks either a control group or random assignment, and (4) experimental, which tests an
intervention and includes both a control group and random assignment. This research study
tests an intervention and includes both a control group and random assignment.

DIF: Cognitive Level: Analysis REF: Page 26

10. A researcher uses interviews with two or three open-ended questions to study women in the
staging phase of breast cancer treatment, in order to understand their experiences and the
meanings they attribute to those experiences. What type of research is this?
a. Phenomenologic research
b. Grounded theory research
c. Ethnographic research
d. Historicism
ANS: A
Phenomenologic research examines the lived experiences of participants and the meanings
those experiences hold for them, drawing its results only from the participants’ views.
Grounded theory research defines under-researched concepts and explains them within a
social framework, building on both observation and the perceptions of the persons who are
familiar with the concepts, and sometimes generating theory; it emphasizes interaction,
observation, and development of relationships among concepts. Ethnography defines shared
characteristics of members of a culture or participants who share in a common characteristic,
and explains commonalities, often within a cultural framework, using observation, interview,
and other data collection strategies; through the use of ethnographic research, different
cultures are described, compared, and contrasted to add to our understanding of the impact of
culture on the human experience. Historicism tells the story of past events, reconstructing
these from other historical references, interviews, artifacts, art, and other sources that reflect
the time of interest.

DIF: Cognitive Level: Analysis REF: Page 27

11. A researcher uses interviews with eight open-ended questions to study women in a new
staging phase of breast cancer treatment, which includes serial biopsies and necessitates
weekly closed biopsy, in order to understand more about social factors that impinge upon their
experience. What type of research is this?
a. Phenomenologic research
b. Grounded theory research
c. Ethnographic research
d. Historicism
ANS: B
 Grounded theory research defines under-researched concepts and explains them within a
social framework, building on both observation and the perceptions of the persons who are
familiar with the concepts, and sometimes generating theory; it emphasizes interaction,
observation, and development of relationships among concepts. Phenomenologic research
examines the lived experiences of participants and the meanings those experiences hold for
them, drawing its results only from the participants’ views. Ethnography defines shared
characteristics of members of a culture or participants who share in a common characteristic,
and explains commonalities, often within a cultural framework, using observation, interview,
and other data collection strategies; through the use of ethnographic research, different
cultures are described, compared, and contrasted to add to our understanding of the impact of
culture on the human experience. Historicism tells the story of past events, reconstructing
these from other historical references, interviews, artifacts, art, and other sources that reflect
the time of interest.

DIF: Cognitive Level: Analysis REF: Page 27

12. A researcher conducts many interviews, over a one-year period, with women in the treatment
phase of breast cancer, all of whom are attending a breast cancer support group, in order to
understand what happens in the support group, how the members are affected by membership,
and how the members contribute to the group. The researcher herself is also in treatment for
breast cancer and is a member of the group. What type of research is this?
a. Phenomenologic research
b. Grounded theory research
c. Ethnographic research
d. Historicism

ANS: C
Ethnography defines shared characteristics of members of a culture or participants who share
in a common characteristic, and explains commonalities, often within a cultural framework,
using observation, interview, and other data collection strategies; through the use of
ethnographic research, different cultures are described, compared, and contrasted to add to our
understanding of the impact of culture on the human experience. Phenomenologic research
examines the lived experiences of participants and the meanings those experiences hold for
them, drawing its results only from the participants’ views. Grounded theory research defines
under-researched concepts and explains them within a social framework, building on both
observation and the perceptions of the persons who are familiar with the concepts, and
sometimes generating theory; it emphasizes interaction, observation, and development of
relationships among concepts. Historicism tells the story of past events, reconstructing these
from other historical references, interviews, artifacts, art, and other sources that reflect the
time of interest.

DIF: Cognitive Level: Analysis REF: Page 27

13. A researcher reviews the twenty years that a breast cancer clinic has been in operation in a
small Midwestern city. The researcher interviews many of the women who have been treated
in the clinic during this period and reviews the records of the clinic, along with its survival
rates and the emergence of several of its innovative support programs for women and their
families. The researcher ultimately writes a story of the clinic over those twenty years. What
type of research is this?
a. Phenomenologic research
 b. Grounded theory research
c. Ethnographic research
d. Historicism
ANS: D
Phenomenologic research examines the lived experiences of participants and the meanings
those experiences hold for them, drawing its results only from the participants’ views.
Grounded theory research defines under-researched concepts and explains them within a
social framework, building on both observation and the perceptions of the persons who are
familiar with the concepts, and sometimes generating theory; it emphasizes interaction,
observation, and development of relationships among concepts. Ethnography defines shared
characteristics of members of a culture or participants who share in a common characteristic,
and explains commonalities, often within a cultural framework, using observation, interview,
and other data collection strategies; through the use of ethnographic research, different
cultures are described, compared, and contrasted to add to our understanding of the impact of
culture on the human experience. Historicism tells the story of past events, reconstructing
these from other historical references, interviews, artifacts, art, and other sources that reflect
the time of interest.

DIF: Cognitive Level: Analysis REF: Page 27

MULTIPLE RESPONSE

1. Florence Nightingale researched mortality and morbidity rates in soldiers during the Crimean
War and investigated various factors that influenced both, presenting her results as pie charts
and graphs. Consequently, it is known that she conducted which types of research? (Select all
that apply.)
a. Phenomenologic research
b. Causational research
c. Descriptive research
d. Correlational research
e. Ethnographic research

ANS: C, D
Nightingale is noted for her data collection and statistical analyses during the Crimean War.
She gathered data on soldier morbidity and mortality rates and the factors influencing them
and presented her results in tables and pie charts, a sophisticated type of data presentation for
the period. There is no evidence that she designed causational (experimental or quasi-
experimental) research or any type of qualitative research.

DIF: Cognitive Level: Analysis REF: Page 17

2. Which of the following statements about quantitative research is accurate? (Select all that
apply.)
a. The results of quantitative research should be generalized back to the population
from which the sample was drawn.
b. Quantitative research is always easy and straightforward to read and understand.
c. Quantitative research addresses quantities, connections, and causes.
d. Quantitative research predominates in the nursing research literature.
e. Quantitative research is always experimental.
 f. Quantitative research provides answers to “What?” and “Who?” questions.
ANS: A, C, D, F
The quantitative approach to scientific inquiry emerged from a branch of philosophy called
logical positivism, which operates on strict rules of logic, truth, laws, axioms, and predictions.
Quantitative research requires the use of structured interviews, questionnaires, or
observations, scales, or physiological measures that generate numerical data. Statistical
analyses are conducted to reduce and organize data, describe variables, examine relationships,
and determine differences among groups. Control, instruments, and statistical analyses are
used to ensure that the research findings accurately reflect reality so that the study findings
can be generalized. Generalization involves the application of trends or general tendencies
(which are identified by studying a sample) to the population from which the research sample
was drawn. Researchers must be cautious in making generalizations, because a sound
generalization requires the support of many studies with a variety of samples.

DIF: Cognitive Level: Analysis REF: Page 24

3. Which of the following statements about qualitative research is accurate? (Select all that
apply.)
a. Qualitative research deals exclusively with humans.
b. Qualitative research’s principal purpose is to inform the reader.
c. Qualitative research yields data that are not numbers-based, such as audiotapes,
videotapes, and field notes.
d. Qualitative research is not systematic.
e. Qualitative research does not contain or imply a research question.
f. Qualitative research is ill-defined and vague.
g. Qualitative research has no practical use.
ANS: B, C
Qualitative researchers use observations, interviews, and focus groups to gather data. The
interactions are guided but not controlled in the way that quantitative data collection is
controlled. For example, the researcher may ask subjects to share their experiences of
powerlessness in the health care system. Qualitative researchers would begin interpreting the
subjective data during data collection, recognizing that their interpretation is influenced by
their own perceptions and beliefs. Qualitative data take the form of words and are analyzed
according to the qualitative approach that is being used. The intent of the analysis is to
organize the data into a meaningful, individualized interpretation, framework, or theory that
describes the phenomenon studied. The findings from a qualitative study are unique to that
study, and it is not the researcher’s intent to generalize the findings to a larger population.
Qualitative researchers are encouraged to question generalizations and to interpret meaning
based on individual study participants’ perceptions and realities.

DIF: Cognitive Level: Analysis REF: Page 25

4. Which is true of quantitative research? (Select all that apply.)

a. It addresses human responses by measuring or counting them.
b. It presents information by clustering it or counting it.
c. It yields a data set that can be analyzed by statistics.
d. It operates systematically.
e. It states or implies a research question.
f. It operates in a concrete realm.