Chapter 11: Understanding Statistics in
Research Grove: Understanding Nursing
Research, 7th Edition 2026/2027 With
Acomplete Solutions
1. Which situation will involve the use of inferential statistics?
a. A comparison of independent variables in a quasi-experimental study
b. A discussion about demographic data
c. An analysis of demographic variables of the target population
d. An examination of the differences between control and experimental group scores - correct answer
<<<<<💕💕💕✔✔ANS: D
Inferential statistics are designed to address objectives, questions, and hypotheses in studies to allow
inference from the study
sample to the target population. These statistics are used to identify relationships, examine predictions,
and determine group
differences. Descriptive statistics are used as summary statistics to organize data and are used to
describe the sample or key
variables.
2. A reviewer reads a research report and notes that the number of subjects in the original sample is
larger than the number in the final
analysis. Besides attrition of subjects, this discrepancy is likely because
a. data from the control group are not included in the analysis.
b. essential data is missing from subjects no longer included.
c. subjects producing outlying data have been excluded from the results.
d. the final analysis usually discusses data from the experimental group only. - correct answer
<<<<<💕💕💕✔✔ANS: B
If enough data are missing for certain variables, researchers may have to exclude analyses using these
variables and may sometimes
,have to exclude some subjects from data analysis. The analysis discusses data from both the
experimental and the control groups.
Outlying data are not excluded from study results; such data must be discussed. A final analysis will
discuss data from both the
experimental and control group.
3. A parameter is a characteristic of
a. a population.
b. a frequency distribution.
c. a sample.
d. a normal curve. - correct answer <<<<<💕💕💕✔✔ANS: A
A parameter is a numerical characteristic of a population. A frequency distribution describes the
occurrence of scores or categories
in a study. A sample is a subset of a population. A normal curve is a theoretical frequency distribution of
all possible values in a
population, with a 95% probability that any value from that population will fall within 2 standard
deviations of the mean.
4. A researcher identifies that 2 subjects in an experimental group had scores like those in the control
group, while the other 20
experimental group subjects had scores far different from those in the control group. The researcher
would consider the scores for
the two subjects as
a. control group findings.
b. outlier scores.
c. unexpected findings.
d. ungrouped participants. - correct answer <<<<<💕💕💕✔✔ANS: B
Subjects with extreme values that seem unlike the rest of the sample are called outliers. Subjects who
receive the experimental
group intervention remain part of the experimental group regardless of their scores. Unexpected
findings can occur with or without
, outliers. Subjects can be grouped into categories or not; the process may highlight outliers, but would
not define them.
5. It is important to know the demographic variables among study subjects to
a. calculate central tendency and standard deviation of study scores.
b. ensure that control and experimental subjects are different.
c. ensure that outcomes are not caused by independent variables.
d. understand how well the sample represents the target population. - correct answer
<<<<<💕💕💕✔✔ANS: D
One goal of analyzing demographic variables in a study to make sure that the sample population is
representative of the target
population so that findings may be generalized to the larger population. Demographic variables are not
used to calculate central
tendency and standard deviation of study results. Researchers evaluate demographic variables in
experimental studies to ensure that
the groups are similar so that outcomes can be related to the independent variables and not to
population differences.
6. What statement is accurate about decision theory in understanding the statistical analysis process?
a. The level of significance falls within a range based on the degrees of significance.
b. It assumes that the groups in a study used to test a hypothesis are components of
different populations relative to the variables under study.
c. It is used to explain the extent of a relationship, the probability that an event will
occur in each situation, or that an event can be accurately predicted.
d. It requires that the cutoff point selected for a study be absolute. - correct answer
<<<<<💕💕💕✔✔ANS: D
Decision theory requires that the cutoff point selected for a study be absolute. Absolute means that
even if the value obtained is
only a fraction above the cutoff point, the samples are considered to be from the same population, and
no meaning can be attributed
to the difference. The level of significance is dichotomous, meaning that the difference is significant or
not significant; there are no
Research Grove: Understanding Nursing
Research, 7th Edition 2026/2027 With
Acomplete Solutions
1. Which situation will involve the use of inferential statistics?
a. A comparison of independent variables in a quasi-experimental study
b. A discussion about demographic data
c. An analysis of demographic variables of the target population
d. An examination of the differences between control and experimental group scores - correct answer
<<<<<💕💕💕✔✔ANS: D
Inferential statistics are designed to address objectives, questions, and hypotheses in studies to allow
inference from the study
sample to the target population. These statistics are used to identify relationships, examine predictions,
and determine group
differences. Descriptive statistics are used as summary statistics to organize data and are used to
describe the sample or key
variables.
2. A reviewer reads a research report and notes that the number of subjects in the original sample is
larger than the number in the final
analysis. Besides attrition of subjects, this discrepancy is likely because
a. data from the control group are not included in the analysis.
b. essential data is missing from subjects no longer included.
c. subjects producing outlying data have been excluded from the results.
d. the final analysis usually discusses data from the experimental group only. - correct answer
<<<<<💕💕💕✔✔ANS: B
If enough data are missing for certain variables, researchers may have to exclude analyses using these
variables and may sometimes
,have to exclude some subjects from data analysis. The analysis discusses data from both the
experimental and the control groups.
Outlying data are not excluded from study results; such data must be discussed. A final analysis will
discuss data from both the
experimental and control group.
3. A parameter is a characteristic of
a. a population.
b. a frequency distribution.
c. a sample.
d. a normal curve. - correct answer <<<<<💕💕💕✔✔ANS: A
A parameter is a numerical characteristic of a population. A frequency distribution describes the
occurrence of scores or categories
in a study. A sample is a subset of a population. A normal curve is a theoretical frequency distribution of
all possible values in a
population, with a 95% probability that any value from that population will fall within 2 standard
deviations of the mean.
4. A researcher identifies that 2 subjects in an experimental group had scores like those in the control
group, while the other 20
experimental group subjects had scores far different from those in the control group. The researcher
would consider the scores for
the two subjects as
a. control group findings.
b. outlier scores.
c. unexpected findings.
d. ungrouped participants. - correct answer <<<<<💕💕💕✔✔ANS: B
Subjects with extreme values that seem unlike the rest of the sample are called outliers. Subjects who
receive the experimental
group intervention remain part of the experimental group regardless of their scores. Unexpected
findings can occur with or without
, outliers. Subjects can be grouped into categories or not; the process may highlight outliers, but would
not define them.
5. It is important to know the demographic variables among study subjects to
a. calculate central tendency and standard deviation of study scores.
b. ensure that control and experimental subjects are different.
c. ensure that outcomes are not caused by independent variables.
d. understand how well the sample represents the target population. - correct answer
<<<<<💕💕💕✔✔ANS: D
One goal of analyzing demographic variables in a study to make sure that the sample population is
representative of the target
population so that findings may be generalized to the larger population. Demographic variables are not
used to calculate central
tendency and standard deviation of study results. Researchers evaluate demographic variables in
experimental studies to ensure that
the groups are similar so that outcomes can be related to the independent variables and not to
population differences.
6. What statement is accurate about decision theory in understanding the statistical analysis process?
a. The level of significance falls within a range based on the degrees of significance.
b. It assumes that the groups in a study used to test a hypothesis are components of
different populations relative to the variables under study.
c. It is used to explain the extent of a relationship, the probability that an event will
occur in each situation, or that an event can be accurately predicted.
d. It requires that the cutoff point selected for a study be absolute. - correct answer
<<<<<💕💕💕✔✔ANS: D
Decision theory requires that the cutoff point selected for a study be absolute. Absolute means that
even if the value obtained is
only a fraction above the cutoff point, the samples are considered to be from the same population, and
no meaning can be attributed
to the difference. The level of significance is dichotomous, meaning that the difference is significant or
not significant; there are no
