NURS 5366 -Module 2 Quiz with Answers
( Spring 2026)
Question 1
A stimulus or activity that is measured to examine the effect created by the
independent variable best describes a(n) _____ variable.
• Independent
• Dependent
• Demographic
• Extraneous
Rationale: In quantitative research, the independent variable is manipulated to
cause an effect on the dependent variable. The dependent variable (response or
outcome variable) is measured to examine the effect created by the independent
variable .
Question 2
A study’s hypothesis that a new surgical approach produces safer outcomes in
immunosuppressed patients is tested in a fourteen-site research study across the
United States. Subjects at all sites are randomly selected and randomly assigned to
experimental versus control groups. What study design is used in this research
project?
• Model testing design
• Randomized controlled trial
• Quasi-experimental design
• Counterbalanced design
Rationale: A randomized clinical trial (RCT) contains random assignment to
experimental and control groups and is often multi-site. A fully randomized design
contains both random selection and random assignment .
,Question 3
The director of a major hospital conducts a study to discover the types of critical
incidents that have occurred in the hospital over the past 5 years. She compiles a
list of all the critical incidents that occurred during that time. In this study, critical
incidents serve as the ___________.
• dependent variable.
• study sample.
• extraneous variable.
• independent variable.
Rationale: The study sample consists of the cases or elements selected for the
study from a larger population. In this case, the compiled list of critical incidents
represents the elements being studied .
Question 4
How does a comparative descriptive design differ from a typical descriptive
design?
• It differs in name only; they are essentially the same design.
• It compares changes in phenomenon over time, whereas the typical
descriptive design focuses on only one time period.
• It examines the relationship between multiple variables, whereas a typical
descriptive design only evaluates the effect of one independent variable on
one dependent variable.
• It describes data from two different groups, whereas a typical
descriptive design focuses on a single group.
Rationale: The commonly used descriptive study design examines characteristics
of a single sample. The comparative descriptive design examines and describes
differences in variables in two or more groups that occur naturally .
Question 5
In the following hypothesis, what is the independent variable? "There is no
measurable difference in incidence of acne in 15-year-olds who are placed on a
chocolate-free diet."
, • Acne
• Chocolate-free diet
• Fifteen-year-olds
• Incidence
Rationale: An independent variable is a stimulus or activity that is manipulated or
varied by the researcher to create an effect on the dependent variable. In this
example, acne is the dependent variable and removal of chocolate from the diet
(chocolate-free diet) is the independent variable .
Question 6
In the following purpose statement, what kind of variable is number of days absent
from class? "The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of a generous
weekly allowance and twice-weekly text messages from parents on number of days
absent from class, in freshman college students."
• Dependent variable
• Extraneous variable
• Independent variable
• Demographic variable
Rationale: A dependent variable is the response behavior or outcome that the
researcher wants to predict or explain. In this example, number of days absent from
class is the outcome being measured .
Question 7
In the following research question, what is the independent variable? "Can
diabetics on oral antiglycemic medications achieve better control of blood sugar, as
measured by Hgb A1C, if they meditate on a daily basis?"
• Diabetics
• Oral antiglycemic medications
• Blood sugar
• Meditation
Rationale: The independent variable is the intervention or stimulus manipulated
by the researcher. In this question, meditation is the intervention being tested for its
effect on blood sugar control .
( Spring 2026)
Question 1
A stimulus or activity that is measured to examine the effect created by the
independent variable best describes a(n) _____ variable.
• Independent
• Dependent
• Demographic
• Extraneous
Rationale: In quantitative research, the independent variable is manipulated to
cause an effect on the dependent variable. The dependent variable (response or
outcome variable) is measured to examine the effect created by the independent
variable .
Question 2
A study’s hypothesis that a new surgical approach produces safer outcomes in
immunosuppressed patients is tested in a fourteen-site research study across the
United States. Subjects at all sites are randomly selected and randomly assigned to
experimental versus control groups. What study design is used in this research
project?
• Model testing design
• Randomized controlled trial
• Quasi-experimental design
• Counterbalanced design
Rationale: A randomized clinical trial (RCT) contains random assignment to
experimental and control groups and is often multi-site. A fully randomized design
contains both random selection and random assignment .
,Question 3
The director of a major hospital conducts a study to discover the types of critical
incidents that have occurred in the hospital over the past 5 years. She compiles a
list of all the critical incidents that occurred during that time. In this study, critical
incidents serve as the ___________.
• dependent variable.
• study sample.
• extraneous variable.
• independent variable.
Rationale: The study sample consists of the cases or elements selected for the
study from a larger population. In this case, the compiled list of critical incidents
represents the elements being studied .
Question 4
How does a comparative descriptive design differ from a typical descriptive
design?
• It differs in name only; they are essentially the same design.
• It compares changes in phenomenon over time, whereas the typical
descriptive design focuses on only one time period.
• It examines the relationship between multiple variables, whereas a typical
descriptive design only evaluates the effect of one independent variable on
one dependent variable.
• It describes data from two different groups, whereas a typical
descriptive design focuses on a single group.
Rationale: The commonly used descriptive study design examines characteristics
of a single sample. The comparative descriptive design examines and describes
differences in variables in two or more groups that occur naturally .
Question 5
In the following hypothesis, what is the independent variable? "There is no
measurable difference in incidence of acne in 15-year-olds who are placed on a
chocolate-free diet."
, • Acne
• Chocolate-free diet
• Fifteen-year-olds
• Incidence
Rationale: An independent variable is a stimulus or activity that is manipulated or
varied by the researcher to create an effect on the dependent variable. In this
example, acne is the dependent variable and removal of chocolate from the diet
(chocolate-free diet) is the independent variable .
Question 6
In the following purpose statement, what kind of variable is number of days absent
from class? "The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of a generous
weekly allowance and twice-weekly text messages from parents on number of days
absent from class, in freshman college students."
• Dependent variable
• Extraneous variable
• Independent variable
• Demographic variable
Rationale: A dependent variable is the response behavior or outcome that the
researcher wants to predict or explain. In this example, number of days absent from
class is the outcome being measured .
Question 7
In the following research question, what is the independent variable? "Can
diabetics on oral antiglycemic medications achieve better control of blood sugar, as
measured by Hgb A1C, if they meditate on a daily basis?"
• Diabetics
• Oral antiglycemic medications
• Blood sugar
• Meditation
Rationale: The independent variable is the intervention or stimulus manipulated
by the researcher. In this question, meditation is the intervention being tested for its
effect on blood sugar control .
