Chapter 19: Critiquing Quantitative
Research
LoBiondo-Wood: Nursing Research in Canada, 4th Edition
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. The critique of a quantitative research report should include what?
a. Applying the findings in clinical practice
b. Summarizing the major steps of the research process
c. Constructively evaluating a study for its strengths and weaknesses
d. Determining whether the phenomenon studied can be recognized by the
participants as their own
ANS: C
Feedback
A. Applying a study’s findings in clinical practice is done after critiquing the study’s
strengths.
B. Summarizing the steps of the research process is not equivalent to constructive
evaluation.
C. Critiquing of a study is constructive evaluation of the study’s strengths and
limitations.
D. Critiquing of a study is done by an objective reviewer, not by a participant.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Knowledge (Comprehension)
MSC: NCLEX Client Care Needs Category: Safe and Effective Care Environment;
Health Promotion and Maintenance
,2. Which statement most accurately evaluates a quantitative research study report’s
scientific merit?
a. The sample size was appropriate for the statistical tests used.
b. The study had one independent variable and two dependent variables.
c. Data described in narrative form within the text could have been more concise in a
table.
d. The discussion was excessive in length.
ANS: A
Feedback
A. Describing appropriate use of sample size for pertinent statistical tests is an
example of scientific merit.
B. Explaining the number of variables is not an example of scientific critique.
C. The critique of narrative display is an example of stylistic comment.
D. The comment about length of discussion is an example of stylistic critique.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Understanding (Comprehension)
MSC: NCLEX Client Care Needs Category: Safe and Effective Care Environment;
Health Promotion and Maintenance
3. Both the problem statement and the purpose of a quantitative research study report should
address what?
a. Generalizability
b. Sampling procedure
c. Implications for future research
d. Relationship between the variables
ANS: D
, Feedback
A. Generalizability would be addressed by research design and sampling procedures.
B. The sampling procedure is usually described in the methods section.
C. Implications for future research are developed after study findings are obtained.
D. The problem statement and the purpose both specify relationships between study
variables.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Understanding (Comprehension)
MSC: NCLEX Client Care Needs Category: Safe and Effective Care Environment;
Health Promotion and Maintenance
4. Why should other nurses evaluate the scientific merit of quantitative nursing research
studies?
a. To diversify the focus of nursing
b. To broaden the base for nursing practice
c. To demonstrate that nursing is a true science as well as a discipline
d. To ensure that nursing research does not “borrow” from other disciplines
ANS: B
Feedback
A. Nursing research evaluation by nurses does not help diversify the focus of nursing
by broadening research topics.
B. Nurses evaluating nurses’ research helps broaden the base for nursing practice
because other perspectives of nursing are used.
C. Nurses evaluating nursing research does not establish a true science base.
D. Nurses evaluating nursing research would not ensure that the research does not
borrow from other disciplines.
, DIF: Cognitive Level: Knowledge (Comprehension)
MSC: NCLEX Client Care Needs Category: Safe and Effective Care Environment;
Health Promotion and Maintenance
5. What term represents the ability of the researcher to determine which part of a nursing
research study is the most important to be communicated to the profession?
a. Constructive evaluation
b. Personal judgement
c. Scientific merit
d. Personal merit
ANS: B
Feedback
A. Constructive evaluation is the objective, unbiased, and impartial appraisal of the
evidence provided in the study.
B. Personal judgement refers to the researcher’s expertise that allows him or her to
judge which part of the study is the most important to be communicated to the
profession.
C. Scientific merit refers to evaluating research for its relative worth (strength,
quality, and consistency of evidence).
D. Personal merit is not a concept associated with critiquing quantitative research.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Analyzing (Analysis)
MSC: NCLEX Client Care Needs Category: Safe and Effective Care Environment;
Health Promotion and Maintenance
6. In evaluating a report of a quantitative research study what is considered scientific merit?
a. The sample size was appropriate for the statistical tests used.
Research
LoBiondo-Wood: Nursing Research in Canada, 4th Edition
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. The critique of a quantitative research report should include what?
a. Applying the findings in clinical practice
b. Summarizing the major steps of the research process
c. Constructively evaluating a study for its strengths and weaknesses
d. Determining whether the phenomenon studied can be recognized by the
participants as their own
ANS: C
Feedback
A. Applying a study’s findings in clinical practice is done after critiquing the study’s
strengths.
B. Summarizing the steps of the research process is not equivalent to constructive
evaluation.
C. Critiquing of a study is constructive evaluation of the study’s strengths and
limitations.
D. Critiquing of a study is done by an objective reviewer, not by a participant.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Knowledge (Comprehension)
MSC: NCLEX Client Care Needs Category: Safe and Effective Care Environment;
Health Promotion and Maintenance
,2. Which statement most accurately evaluates a quantitative research study report’s
scientific merit?
a. The sample size was appropriate for the statistical tests used.
b. The study had one independent variable and two dependent variables.
c. Data described in narrative form within the text could have been more concise in a
table.
d. The discussion was excessive in length.
ANS: A
Feedback
A. Describing appropriate use of sample size for pertinent statistical tests is an
example of scientific merit.
B. Explaining the number of variables is not an example of scientific critique.
C. The critique of narrative display is an example of stylistic comment.
D. The comment about length of discussion is an example of stylistic critique.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Understanding (Comprehension)
MSC: NCLEX Client Care Needs Category: Safe and Effective Care Environment;
Health Promotion and Maintenance
3. Both the problem statement and the purpose of a quantitative research study report should
address what?
a. Generalizability
b. Sampling procedure
c. Implications for future research
d. Relationship between the variables
ANS: D
, Feedback
A. Generalizability would be addressed by research design and sampling procedures.
B. The sampling procedure is usually described in the methods section.
C. Implications for future research are developed after study findings are obtained.
D. The problem statement and the purpose both specify relationships between study
variables.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Understanding (Comprehension)
MSC: NCLEX Client Care Needs Category: Safe and Effective Care Environment;
Health Promotion and Maintenance
4. Why should other nurses evaluate the scientific merit of quantitative nursing research
studies?
a. To diversify the focus of nursing
b. To broaden the base for nursing practice
c. To demonstrate that nursing is a true science as well as a discipline
d. To ensure that nursing research does not “borrow” from other disciplines
ANS: B
Feedback
A. Nursing research evaluation by nurses does not help diversify the focus of nursing
by broadening research topics.
B. Nurses evaluating nurses’ research helps broaden the base for nursing practice
because other perspectives of nursing are used.
C. Nurses evaluating nursing research does not establish a true science base.
D. Nurses evaluating nursing research would not ensure that the research does not
borrow from other disciplines.
, DIF: Cognitive Level: Knowledge (Comprehension)
MSC: NCLEX Client Care Needs Category: Safe and Effective Care Environment;
Health Promotion and Maintenance
5. What term represents the ability of the researcher to determine which part of a nursing
research study is the most important to be communicated to the profession?
a. Constructive evaluation
b. Personal judgement
c. Scientific merit
d. Personal merit
ANS: B
Feedback
A. Constructive evaluation is the objective, unbiased, and impartial appraisal of the
evidence provided in the study.
B. Personal judgement refers to the researcher’s expertise that allows him or her to
judge which part of the study is the most important to be communicated to the
profession.
C. Scientific merit refers to evaluating research for its relative worth (strength,
quality, and consistency of evidence).
D. Personal merit is not a concept associated with critiquing quantitative research.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Analyzing (Analysis)
MSC: NCLEX Client Care Needs Category: Safe and Effective Care Environment;
Health Promotion and Maintenance
6. In evaluating a report of a quantitative research study what is considered scientific merit?
a. The sample size was appropriate for the statistical tests used.
