Chapter 05: Research Problems, Purposes, and Hypotheses Grove: Understanding Nursing Research, 6th Edition

1. The most important initial step when developing a research study is to: a. develop the problem statement. b. explore the background for the research problem. c. identify the research problem. d. state the research purpose. ANS: C Feedback A The problem statement is written after the research problem has been identified. B The background for the research problem is written to identify what is known about the research problem. C The problem provides the basis for developing the research purpose and identifies gaps in knowledge needed for nursing practice. D The research purpose derives from the research problem and identifies specific goals for the study. PTS: 1 DIF: Cognitive level: Applying (Application) REF: p. 131 2. A nursing researcher determines that there is little information about the use of complementary practices in treating obesity. This represents the research: a. design. b. problem. c. purpose. d. significance. ANS: B Feedback A The research design is the type of study that will be conducted to study the research problem. B The problem provides the basis for developing the research purpose and identifies gaps in knowledge needed for nursing practice. C The research purpose derives from the research problem and identifies specific goals for the study. D The problem statement is written after the research problem has been identified. The significance for the research identifies how important the knowledge is to the discipline. PTS: 1 DIF: Cognitive level: Applying (Application) REF: pp. 131-132 3. When writing a proposal for a research study, the researcher includes a problem statement that serves to: a. define the specific focus of a study. b. describe what is known about the research problem. c. identify a gap in knowledge needed for practice. d. indicate the importance of the problem to nursing. ANS: C Feedback A The research purpose derives from the research problem and identifies specific goals for the study. B The problem background identifies what is already known about the topic. The problem statement is written after the research problem has been identified. C The problem provides the basis for developing the research purpose and identifies gaps in knowledge needed for nursing practice. D The significance for the research identifies how important the knowledge is to the discipline. PTS: 1 DIF: Cognitive level: Applying (Application) REF: pp. 131-132 4. In a research proposal, the researcher states that the proposed study will explore children’s feelings about chemotherapy side effects. This statement describes the: a. problem background. b. problem significance. c. research problem. d. research purpose. ANS: D Feedback A The problem background identifies what is already known about the topic. The problem statement is written after the research problem has been identified. B The significance of the research identifies how important the knowledge is to the discipline. C The problem provides the basis for developing the research purpose and identifies gaps in knowledge needed for nursing practice. D The research purpose derives from the research problem and identifies specific goals for the study. PTS: 1 DIF: Cognitive level: Applying (Application) REF: pp. 131-132 5. Which is included in a statement of a research study purpose? a. A description of gaps in knowledge about the research problem. b. A discussion of the significance of the research problem. c. A review of what is known about the research problem. d. A statement about how the research problem will be studied. ANS: D Feedback A The problem provides the basis for developing the research purpose and identifies gaps in knowledge needed for nursing practice. B The significance for the research identifies how important the knowledge is to the discipline. C The problem background identifies what is already known about the topic. The problem statement is written after the research problem has been identified. D The research purpose derives from the research problem and identifies specific goals for the study. PTS: 1 DIF: Cognitive level: Applying (Application) REF: pp. 131-132 6. The statement in the introduction of a research study report—“while children who have higher asthma control scores tend to have fewer emergency department visits for asthma exacerbations, it is unclear how nursing interventions can impact these scores”—represents the: a. problem background. b. problem significance. c. research problem. d. research purpose. ANS: B Feedback A The problem background identifies what is already known about the topic. The problem statement is written after the research problem has been identified. B The significance for the research identifies how important the knowledge is to the discipline and to health care and the health of individuals and families. C The problem provides the basis for developing the research purpose and identifies gaps in knowledge needed for nursing practice. D The research purpose derives from the research problem and identifies specific goals for the study. PTS: 1 DIF: Cognitive level: Analyzing (Analysis) REF: pp. 131-132 7. The statements in the introductory paragraphs of a research report that cite results of previous studies about a research problem represent the: a. problem background. b. problem significance. c. problem statement. d. research purpose. ANS: A Feedback A The problem background identifies what is already known about the topic. The problem statement is written after the research problem has been identified. B The significance for the research identifies how important the knowledge is to the discipline and to health care and the health of individuals and families. C The problem provides the basis for developing the research purpose and identifies gaps in knowledge needed for nursing practice. D The research purpose derives from the research problem and identifies specific goals for the study. PTS: 1 DIF: Cognitive level: Analyzing (Analysis) REF: p. 132 8. Which statement is a research purpose for a correlational study? a. “This study will compare the effects of an oral antidiabetic medication to effects of a placebo on glucose control in groups of randomly assigned subjects.” b. “This study will examine whether pre-appointment telephone reminders increase show rate among patients in an ambulatory well-patient clinic.” c. “This study will use direct observation to identify methods parents use to discipline children in public places.” d. “This study will use questionnaires and school transcripts to examine the relationship of dietary habits to grades among school-age children.” ANS: D Feedback A A study looking at the effects of an experimental intervention on randomly assigned subjects to affect a specific outcome is an experimental study. B A study to look at the effects of an intervention on an outcome is a quasiexperimental study. C A study to observe and describe behaviors without examining relationships among variables and without manipulation of the variables by researchers is a descriptive study. D Correlational research is conducted to examine whether there is a positive or negative relationship among variables without attributing cause and effect. PTS: 1 DIF: Cognitive level: Applying (Application) REF: p. 134 9. The nurse researcher states that a research purpose is to measure the effects of bar code medication administration on medication errors. This is a study purpose for which type of research? a. Correlational b. Grounded theory c. Outcomes d. Quasi-experimental ANS: C Feedback A Correlational research is conducted to determine whether there are relationships among variables. B Grounded theory research is designed to determine how theory explains phenomena being studied. C Outcomes studies are conducted to examine the end results of care. D Quasi-experimental research requires some manipulation of variables and comparison of groups. PTS: 1 DIF: Cognitive level: Analyzing (Analysis) REF: p. 140 10. Which statement in a