Experimental And Quasi-experimental Designs

This question bank verified by Studydeets

All Questions

Question 1

Free

Multiple Choice

The nurse is critiquing a research study that used an experimental design. How can the nurse determine if the study's results are able to infer causality?

Choose correct answer/s

The relationship between independent and dependent variables must be reciprocal.

The relationship between independent and dependent variables must not be explainable by any other variable.

Both independent and dependent variables should be characterized by reactive effects.

Both independent and dependent variables should change as a result of the treatment.

Check answer

Question 2

Free

Multiple Choice

The nurse is critiquing a research study that involves subjects undergoing chemotherapy for breast cancer. Which finding would meet a criterion for inferring causality between performance of exercise and adaptive behavior of the subjects receiving chemotherapy?

Choose correct answer/s

Adaptive behavior began before the exercise program was initiated.

Adaptive behavior occurred in the control group over time.

The level of adaptive behavior increased in direct proportion to an increase in the intensity of the exercise.

No difference in adaptive behavior was observed between subjects in the experimental group and subjects in the control group.

Check answer

Question 3

Free

Multiple Choice

The experimental treatment initiated by a researcher can be described as what kind of variable?

Choose correct answer/s

Independent

Dependent

Extraneous

Outcome

Check answer

Question 4

Free

Multiple Choice

Which of these criteria is most important when evaluating the results of an experimental research study?

Choose correct answer/s

The size of the experimental group compared with the size of the control group.

The validity that the experimental treatment caused the desired effect on the outcome.

The congruence of research questions to the purpose and hypotheses.

The ability of the researcher to apply the findings to clinical or practice settings.

Check answer

Question 5

Free

Multiple Choice

Compared with a quasi-experimental design, which of these characteristics should a nurse expect to see only in a true experimental design?

Choose correct answer/s

Experimental treatment

Informed consent

Hypotheses

Random assignment

Check answer

Question 6

Multiple Choice

Which factor should be the primary consideration when determining the validity of experimental study findings?

Choose correct answer/s

The extent to which the researcher controlled intervening variables

The number of subjects who dropped out of the control and experimental groups

The credentials and previous experience of the researcher

The number of persons involved in the data collection process

To unlock the question

Question 7

Multiple Choice

In which way is the independent variable handled differently in a study with a true experimental design compared with a study with a quasi-experimental design?

Choose correct answer/s

An experimental design requires an independent variable, whereas a quasi-experimental design neither identifies nor requires an independent variable.

Although both designs identify an independent variable, the nature of the groups (randomized versus nonrandomized) means that manipulation may result in different results.

Experimental designs demonstrate that the independent variable is related to the outcome, and quasi-experimental studies allow for independent variables that stand alone.

Although both designs identify an independent variable, experimental designs identify it before the research is initiated, whereas quasi-experimental designs identify it after the data are analyzed.

To unlock the question

Question 8

Multiple Choice

Random assignment of subjects to experimental and control groups has which of these effects?

Choose correct answer/s

Minimizes mortality within groups

Maximizes variance between groups

Decreases systematic bias

Increases selection bias

To unlock the question

Question 9

Multiple Choice

Randomization strengthens an experimental study in which of these ways?

Choose correct answer/s

It reduces the risk that a subject will be harmed by participation in the study.

It ensures that the experimental group and the control group have the same number of participants.

It allows the study to proceed without the researcher knowing which group is the experimental treatment group.

It increases the likelihood that the differences in outcomes between the groups are not related to chance alone.

To unlock the question

Question 10

Multiple Choice

Control is important in an experimental research study for which of these reasons?

Choose correct answer/s

It ensures maintenance of participant confidentiality.

It introduces one or more constants into the experimental situation.

It prevents data collection from extending beyond the original time specified for the study.

It ensures a cause-and-effect relationship between independent and dependent variables.

To unlock the question

Question 11

Multiple Choice

In a true experimental study, the control group is the group that does what?

Choose correct answer/s

Receives the experimental treatment

Receives the placebo treatment

Experiences the adverse results

Experiences the reactive effects

To unlock the question

Question 12

Multiple Choice

Which action would increase the control of an experimental study?

Choose correct answer/s

Establishing strict criteria for subject selection

Allowing participants to decide whether or not to be in the experimental group

Ensuring that subjects do not know the purpose of the experimental study

Increasing the number of assistants involved in data collection

To unlock the question

Question 13

Multiple Choice

A study of a program to help people quit cigarette smoking had three groups of subjects. The first group received one supportive phone call 10 days after attending a program on strategies to resist smoking. A second group received a supportive phone call every week for 6 weeks after attending the program. A third group received no supportive phone calls after attending the program. In the above scenario, which of these properties of experimental research is evident?

Choose correct answer/s

Quasi-experimental design with no control group

Random assignment to research groups

Manipulation of the treatment dose

Control of extraneous variables

To unlock the question

Question 14

Multiple Choice

A study of a program to help people quit cigarette smoking had three groups of subjects. The first group received one supportive phone call 10 days after attending a program on strategies to resist smoking. A second group received a supportive phone call every week for 6 weeks after attending the program. A third group received no supportive phone calls after attending the program. What is the dependent variable in the research scenario?

Choose correct answer/s

Program on strategies to resist smoking

Elimination of cigarette smoking

Weekly supportive phone call

No supportive phone call

To unlock the question

Question 15

Multiple Choice

What type of threat to validity is minimized by the use of a Solomon four-group design?

Choose correct answer/s

Mortality

Selection bias

Testing

Antecedent variable

To unlock the question

Question 16

Multiple Choice

An after-only nonequivalent control group design would be appropriate to study which of these research questions?

Choose correct answer/s

What is the effect of the cause of spousal death on widows' self-esteem?

What is the effect of preoperative teaching on vascular complications after orthopedic surgery?

What is the effect of a mentorship program on improvement of students' clinical performance in a baccalaureate nursing program?

What is the effect of a videotaped teaching method on knowledge of adolescent males about the warning signs of testicular cancer?

To unlock the question

Question 17

Multiple Choice

A quasi-experimental study design would be a better choice for a research study than an experimental study design in which of these situations?

Choose correct answer/s

The study is to be conducted in a laboratory setting.

An experimental treatment is not part of the study.

The researcher has not conducted research before.

Full experimental control is not possible.

To unlock the question

Question 18

Multiple Choice

The nurse researcher is planning a study in which subjects will not be randomly assigned to groups. Which type of design would be appropriate for this study?

Choose correct answer/s

Nonequivalent control group design

Posttest only control group design

Solomon four-group design

True experimental design

To unlock the question

Question 19

Multiple Choice

A planned quasi-experimental study using a nonequivalent control group design has several extraneous variables that threaten its internal validity. The nurse researcher's actions should be based on which understanding?

Choose correct answer/s

The results of the study will not be statistically significant.

The random assignment of subjects to groups will nullify the intervening variables.

The study should be strengthened by controlling intervening variables.

Because observation rather than causation is the purpose of the study, no action is necessary.

To unlock the question

Question 20

Multiple Choice

A quasi-experimental research design would be preferable to an experimental design in which of these situations?

Choose correct answer/s

A smaller sample size is sufficient to obtain significant results.

Demonstration of a cause-and-effect relationship is the desired outcome.

Descriptive statistics will be used to analyze the data.

Data will need to be collected in a real-world setting.

To unlock the question