Chapter 12: Sampling
LoBiondo-Wood: Nursing Research in Canada, 4th Edition
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. Which of the following is the process of selecting representative units of a population for
a research investigation?
a. Sampling
b. Snowballing
c. Delimitation
d. Random assignment
ANS: A
Feedback
A. Sampling is the process of selecting representative units of a population for a
research study.
B. Snowballing is a sampling technique that uses social networks.
C. Delimitation is the specification of sample characteristics.
D. Random assignment is the process of assigning participants to groups.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Remembering (Knowledge)
MSC: NCLEX Client Care Needs Category: Safe and Effective Care Environment;
Health Promotion and Maintenance
2. How should a nurse researcher expect a sample to differ from a population?
, a. A sample can be an object or an event; a population refers to individuals or groups
of people.
b. A population has a broad set of defining characteristics, whereas a sample has a
narrow set of defining characteristics.
c. A population is a representative segment of a defined sample.
d. A sample is a representative segment of a defined population.
ANS: D
Feedback
A. Population refers to a well-defined set of people, animals, objects, or events.
B. A sample is a group of research participants representing a population.
C. A sample is a representative segment of a population.
D. A sample is a set of elements or segments of a specified population.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Comprehension
MSC: NCLEX Client Care Needs Category: Safe and Effective Care Environment;
Health Promotion and Maintenance
3. A nurse researcher has made a generalization on the basis of the experience of a small
number of participants. What will the result of this be?
a. Small samples invalidate hypotheses.
b. The researcher may be unable to eliminate his or her bias.
c. Data obtained from a small number may represent the phenomenon inadequately.
d. Small samples increase historical threats to internal validity.
ANS: C
Feedback
, A. A small sample does not necessarily invalidate hypotheses.
B. Researcher bias is not necessarily controlled by sample size, small or big.
C. A very small sample may represent the phenomenon inadequately and threaten
valid conclusions.
D. A small sample size does not necessarily increase historical threats to validity.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Comprehension
MSC: NCLEX Client Care Needs Category: Safe and Effective Care Environment;
Health Promotion and Maintenance
4. Which of the following statements best identifies the sample descriptors that form the
basis for eligibility criteria in sample selection?
a. A sample of 1,000 practising nurses in a selected state was surveyed.
b. The sample consisted of 267 Canadian girls and American girls who lived in
urban areas in their respective countries.
c. The sample consisted of 40 men between the ages of 20 and 55 who were treated
for burn injuries during the past decade at a specialized burn unit.
d. The sample consisted of 57 hospital nurse executives and 178 staff registered
nurses employed in Ontario.
ANS: C
Feedback
A. The description includes only practising nurses and a selected state.
B. The description includes only gender, ethnicity, and urban dweller setting.
C. Sample descriptors should explicitly describe the population criteria for inclusion
(eligibility); this sample descriptor has four specified criteria.
D. The description includes nurse executives or nurses from one province.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Evaluation
LoBiondo-Wood: Nursing Research in Canada, 4th Edition
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. Which of the following is the process of selecting representative units of a population for
a research investigation?
a. Sampling
b. Snowballing
c. Delimitation
d. Random assignment
ANS: A
Feedback
A. Sampling is the process of selecting representative units of a population for a
research study.
B. Snowballing is a sampling technique that uses social networks.
C. Delimitation is the specification of sample characteristics.
D. Random assignment is the process of assigning participants to groups.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Remembering (Knowledge)
MSC: NCLEX Client Care Needs Category: Safe and Effective Care Environment;
Health Promotion and Maintenance
2. How should a nurse researcher expect a sample to differ from a population?
, a. A sample can be an object or an event; a population refers to individuals or groups
of people.
b. A population has a broad set of defining characteristics, whereas a sample has a
narrow set of defining characteristics.
c. A population is a representative segment of a defined sample.
d. A sample is a representative segment of a defined population.
ANS: D
Feedback
A. Population refers to a well-defined set of people, animals, objects, or events.
B. A sample is a group of research participants representing a population.
C. A sample is a representative segment of a population.
D. A sample is a set of elements or segments of a specified population.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Comprehension
MSC: NCLEX Client Care Needs Category: Safe and Effective Care Environment;
Health Promotion and Maintenance
3. A nurse researcher has made a generalization on the basis of the experience of a small
number of participants. What will the result of this be?
a. Small samples invalidate hypotheses.
b. The researcher may be unable to eliminate his or her bias.
c. Data obtained from a small number may represent the phenomenon inadequately.
d. Small samples increase historical threats to internal validity.
ANS: C
Feedback
, A. A small sample does not necessarily invalidate hypotheses.
B. Researcher bias is not necessarily controlled by sample size, small or big.
C. A very small sample may represent the phenomenon inadequately and threaten
valid conclusions.
D. A small sample size does not necessarily increase historical threats to validity.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Comprehension
MSC: NCLEX Client Care Needs Category: Safe and Effective Care Environment;
Health Promotion and Maintenance
4. Which of the following statements best identifies the sample descriptors that form the
basis for eligibility criteria in sample selection?
a. A sample of 1,000 practising nurses in a selected state was surveyed.
b. The sample consisted of 267 Canadian girls and American girls who lived in
urban areas in their respective countries.
c. The sample consisted of 40 men between the ages of 20 and 55 who were treated
for burn injuries during the past decade at a specialized burn unit.
d. The sample consisted of 57 hospital nurse executives and 178 staff registered
nurses employed in Ontario.
ANS: C
Feedback
A. The description includes only practising nurses and a selected state.
B. The description includes only gender, ethnicity, and urban dweller setting.
C. Sample descriptors should explicitly describe the population criteria for inclusion
(eligibility); this sample descriptor has four specified criteria.
D. The description includes nurse executives or nurses from one province.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Evaluation
