NUR 322 RESEARCH QUIZ 3 QUESTIONS ANSWERED CORRECTLY LATEST UPDATE 2026
When are non-experimental designs used? - Answers -To construct a picture of a phenomenon
-Explore events, people, or situations as they naturally occur
-Test relationships and differences among variables
Non-experimental designs - Answers -Independent variable not manipulated
-Subjects not randomized
-No control group
-Provides level IV evidence
What are examples of fact variables? - Answers Gender
Income level
Ethnicity
Occupation
Educational level
Surveys provide the basis for - Answers Program development and interventions
When are surveys called comparative? - Answers When used to determine differences between
variables
Do surveys attempt to determine causation? If not, what do they seek to do? - Answers No, they seek
to relate variables to each other
What are disadvantages of surveys? - Answers -Info obtained in a survey tends to be broad but
superficial
-Conducting a surgery requires expertise in several research areas
-Large scale surveys can be time consuming and costly
What does a correlational study examine? - Answers The association between two or more variables
What are some advantages of correlational studies? - Answers -Increased flexibility investigating
complex relationships
-Efficient method to collect a large amount of data
-Potential for evidence based application
-Potential foundation for future experimental studies
-A framework for exploring the relationship between variables that cannot be manipulated
What does a developmental study do? - Answers Concerned with the relationships and differences
among phenomena at one point in time but also with changes that result over time
What are the 3 types of developmental studies? - Answers 1. Cross-sectional
2. Longitudinal/prospective/cohort studies, also referred to as "repeated measures studies"
3. Retrospective/ex post facto/case control studies
What do cross sectional studies do? - Answers 1. Examine data at one point in time- data are
collected only one time
2. Explore relationships and correlations, or differences and comparisons, or both
Advantages of cross sectional studies - Answers -Less time consuming and expensive
-Large amounts of data can be collected at one point, making the results more readily available
-The confounding variable of maturation, resulting from the elapsed time, is not present
Disadvantage of cross sectional studies - Answers Difficult to establish an in-depth developmental
assessment of the interrelationships of the phenomenon
What do longitudinal/prospective/cohort studies (repeated measures study) do? - Answers -Collect
data from the same sample at different points in time
-Explore relationships and correlations, or differences and comparisons, or both
Advantages of longitudinal studies - Answers -Each subject is followed up separately and thereby
serves as his or her own control
-Increased depth of responses can be obtained
-Early trends in the data can be analyzed
-Assesses changes in the variables over time, and both relationships and differences can be explored
between variables
Disadvantages of longitudinal studies - Answers -Data collection may take a long time, increasing
costs in time, effort, and money
-Testing effects may be a threat
-Mortality is a significant threat owing to the increased potential for attrition
, What do retrospective/ex post facto/ case control studies do? - Answers -Look backward in time and
usually examines exposure to the independent variable
-Attempt to link present events to events that have occurred in the past
Advantages of retrospective studies - Answers Higher level of control is possible than with
correlational studies- more confident findings
Disadvantages of retrospective studies - Answers -Causality cannot be inferred, only
relationships/associations
-Extraneous variables are a major threat because groups may vary for reasons other than
independent variable
Differences between retrospective and prospective studies - Answers Retro: common, fast and
cheaper, weaker evidence, less control of extraneous variables
Prospective: less common, slow and expensive, stronger evidence, better control of extraneous
variables
Similarities between retrospective and prospective studies? - Answers -Findings suggest associations
or relationships
-Neither study establishes causality
A model is tested to assess what? - Answers Which independent variables can best explain the
dependent variables
Methodologic Studies - Answers -Development and evaluation of data collection instruments, scales,
or techniques
Psychometrics - Answers -The theory and development of measurement instruments (like
questionnaires) or measurement techniques (like observational techniques)
-Measures concepts, such as anxiety or quality of life
Steps in methodologic research - Answers 1. Defining the construct-concept or behavior to be
measured-lit review
2. Formula the tool's items (questions)
3. Develop instructions for users and respondents
4. Test the tool's reliability and validity
Secondary Analysis - Answers -Not a design but rather a research method
-Researcher takes previously collected and analyzed data from one study and reanalyzes the data or a
subset of the data for a secondary purpose
-Original study may be either an experimental or non experimental design
Systematic reviews, meta-analysis, integrative reviews - Answers -Examine the results of many
studies in a specific area, assess the studies critically for reliability and validity, and then synthesize
the findings
Systematic reviews
Meta-analysis - Answers -Review of quantitative research that used similar designs and focuses on a
particular clinical question
-Uses rigorous inclusion and exclusion criteria; assesses for sampling issues, threats to internal and
external validity, and results
-Report current and valid research on intervention effectiveness and clinical knowledge to develop
evidence-based practice
Meta-analysis - Answers -Offers stronger evidence bc it is a rigorous process of evidence
summarization
-Provide the most powerful and useful evidence available to guide practice, level I evidence
Integrative reviews - Answers -Critically appraise the literature in an area w/o a stat analysis
-Can include wither both theoretical and research literature
What is the broadest category of review? - Answers Integrative review
What is the primary difference in experimental and non experimental designs? - Answers
Manipulation of an independent variable
Which type of design or technique best identifies causation? - Answers After only design
In the following scenario, which type of research design should the researcher use?
"A researcher wants to collect detailed info about a phenomena and use the data to make more
intelligent plans for improving them" - Answers Retrospective study
The most significant and critically important aspect go methodological research addressed in
measurement development is called what? - Answers Psychometrics
Which process will the researcher use in the following scenario?
When are non-experimental designs used? - Answers -To construct a picture of a phenomenon
-Explore events, people, or situations as they naturally occur
-Test relationships and differences among variables
Non-experimental designs - Answers -Independent variable not manipulated
-Subjects not randomized
-No control group
-Provides level IV evidence
What are examples of fact variables? - Answers Gender
Income level
Ethnicity
Occupation
Educational level
Surveys provide the basis for - Answers Program development and interventions
When are surveys called comparative? - Answers When used to determine differences between
variables
Do surveys attempt to determine causation? If not, what do they seek to do? - Answers No, they seek
to relate variables to each other
What are disadvantages of surveys? - Answers -Info obtained in a survey tends to be broad but
superficial
-Conducting a surgery requires expertise in several research areas
-Large scale surveys can be time consuming and costly
What does a correlational study examine? - Answers The association between two or more variables
What are some advantages of correlational studies? - Answers -Increased flexibility investigating
complex relationships
-Efficient method to collect a large amount of data
-Potential for evidence based application
-Potential foundation for future experimental studies
-A framework for exploring the relationship between variables that cannot be manipulated
What does a developmental study do? - Answers Concerned with the relationships and differences
among phenomena at one point in time but also with changes that result over time
What are the 3 types of developmental studies? - Answers 1. Cross-sectional
2. Longitudinal/prospective/cohort studies, also referred to as "repeated measures studies"
3. Retrospective/ex post facto/case control studies
What do cross sectional studies do? - Answers 1. Examine data at one point in time- data are
collected only one time
2. Explore relationships and correlations, or differences and comparisons, or both
Advantages of cross sectional studies - Answers -Less time consuming and expensive
-Large amounts of data can be collected at one point, making the results more readily available
-The confounding variable of maturation, resulting from the elapsed time, is not present
Disadvantage of cross sectional studies - Answers Difficult to establish an in-depth developmental
assessment of the interrelationships of the phenomenon
What do longitudinal/prospective/cohort studies (repeated measures study) do? - Answers -Collect
data from the same sample at different points in time
-Explore relationships and correlations, or differences and comparisons, or both
Advantages of longitudinal studies - Answers -Each subject is followed up separately and thereby
serves as his or her own control
-Increased depth of responses can be obtained
-Early trends in the data can be analyzed
-Assesses changes in the variables over time, and both relationships and differences can be explored
between variables
Disadvantages of longitudinal studies - Answers -Data collection may take a long time, increasing
costs in time, effort, and money
-Testing effects may be a threat
-Mortality is a significant threat owing to the increased potential for attrition
, What do retrospective/ex post facto/ case control studies do? - Answers -Look backward in time and
usually examines exposure to the independent variable
-Attempt to link present events to events that have occurred in the past
Advantages of retrospective studies - Answers Higher level of control is possible than with
correlational studies- more confident findings
Disadvantages of retrospective studies - Answers -Causality cannot be inferred, only
relationships/associations
-Extraneous variables are a major threat because groups may vary for reasons other than
independent variable
Differences between retrospective and prospective studies - Answers Retro: common, fast and
cheaper, weaker evidence, less control of extraneous variables
Prospective: less common, slow and expensive, stronger evidence, better control of extraneous
variables
Similarities between retrospective and prospective studies? - Answers -Findings suggest associations
or relationships
-Neither study establishes causality
A model is tested to assess what? - Answers Which independent variables can best explain the
dependent variables
Methodologic Studies - Answers -Development and evaluation of data collection instruments, scales,
or techniques
Psychometrics - Answers -The theory and development of measurement instruments (like
questionnaires) or measurement techniques (like observational techniques)
-Measures concepts, such as anxiety or quality of life
Steps in methodologic research - Answers 1. Defining the construct-concept or behavior to be
measured-lit review
2. Formula the tool's items (questions)
3. Develop instructions for users and respondents
4. Test the tool's reliability and validity
Secondary Analysis - Answers -Not a design but rather a research method
-Researcher takes previously collected and analyzed data from one study and reanalyzes the data or a
subset of the data for a secondary purpose
-Original study may be either an experimental or non experimental design
Systematic reviews, meta-analysis, integrative reviews - Answers -Examine the results of many
studies in a specific area, assess the studies critically for reliability and validity, and then synthesize
the findings
Systematic reviews
Meta-analysis - Answers -Review of quantitative research that used similar designs and focuses on a
particular clinical question
-Uses rigorous inclusion and exclusion criteria; assesses for sampling issues, threats to internal and
external validity, and results
-Report current and valid research on intervention effectiveness and clinical knowledge to develop
evidence-based practice
Meta-analysis - Answers -Offers stronger evidence bc it is a rigorous process of evidence
summarization
-Provide the most powerful and useful evidence available to guide practice, level I evidence
Integrative reviews - Answers -Critically appraise the literature in an area w/o a stat analysis
-Can include wither both theoretical and research literature
What is the broadest category of review? - Answers Integrative review
What is the primary difference in experimental and non experimental designs? - Answers
Manipulation of an independent variable
Which type of design or technique best identifies causation? - Answers After only design
In the following scenario, which type of research design should the researcher use?
"A researcher wants to collect detailed info about a phenomena and use the data to make more
intelligent plans for improving them" - Answers Retrospective study
The most significant and critically important aspect go methodological research addressed in
measurement development is called what? - Answers Psychometrics
Which process will the researcher use in the following scenario?
