Deck 3: Ways of Knowing for Nursing Research

Question 1

A researcher's paradigm (philosophical perspective about what constitutes reality) is reflected in the study's

A) methodology.
B) problem statement.
C) sampling decisions.

Answer 1

methodology.

Question 2

Which of the following paradigms is founded on the belief that reality exists and is an objective phenomenon that can be observed?

A) Constructivism.
B) Naturalism.
C) Positivism.

Answer 2

Positivism.

Question 3

The paradigm of qualitative research is

A) naturalism.
B) positivism.
C) reductionism.

Answer 3

naturalism.

Question 4

Compared to a qualitative study, a quantitative study is more likely to be characterized by

A) data collection through interview.
B) design that is unstructured.
C) large sample size.

Question 5

The research question, "If I know X, to what extent can I predict Y?" is an example of a(n)

A) descriptive question.
B) qualitative question.
C) quantitative question.

Question 6

The qualitative research tradition of phenomenology examines

A) culturally defined ways of behavior.
B) evolving social experiences.
C) lived experiences.

Question 7

Compared to ethnographers and grounded theorists, phenomenologists are more likely to ask

A) descriptive questions.
B) meaning questions.
C) process questions.

Question 8

Which of the following is an example of data triangulation?

A) An ethnographer collects both observational and self-report data about the childbearing practices of a community.
B) An ethnographer interviews both pregnant women and midwives about the childbearing practices of a community.
C) Two ethnographers review and categorize data from interview transcripts.

Question 9

Which of the following qualitative traditions has its roots in anthropology?

A) Ethnography.
B) Grounded theory.
C) Phenomenology.

Question 10

Which of the following would be a research question for a grounded theory study?

A) What are sources of conflict among teen gang members whose parents are Russian immigrants?
B) What is the central process by which parents of teens who have committed suicide come to terms with their loss?
C) What is the meaning of gang membership to teens?

Question 11

Sample size in a qualitative study is determined by the occurrence of

A) exhaustion.
B) saturation.
C) variation.

Question 12

The qualitative concept of "saturation" refers to

A) informational redundancy.
B) representative sampling.
C) rich description of a phenomenon.

Question 13

Critical appraisal of the approach used in a research study centers around the issue of

A) fit.
B) time.
C) knowledge.

Question 14

What type of research articles are most likely to be found in medical and nursing research journals?

A) Grounded theory.
B) Qualitative.
C) Quantitative.

Question 15

The strengths and limitations of qualitative and quantitative research suggest that the two approaches are

A) complementary.
B) conflicting.
C) incongruent.

Question 16

A team of nurse researchers wants to compare the effectiveness of two different positioning regimens for preventing skin breakdown in long-term care patients. What is the best research approach to

A) Observational.
B) Qualitative.
C) Quantitative.

Question 17

Typically a research article will not identify the research approach. The reader needs to infer the research approach used on the basis of

A) the problem being investigated.
B) study procedures and presentation of study results.
C) timeframe of study and recommendations.