Exam 1 Nursing Research knowledge
check Questions Solved Correct 2025-
2026 Updated.
What is measurement? - Answer Measurement is the process of assigning numbers or values
to individuals' health status, objects, events, or situations using a set of rules.
What are direct measures? - Answer Direct measures involve determining the value of
concrete things, such as height, weight, temperature, (accuracy and precision are important).
What are indirect measures? - Answer Indirect measures attempt to measure something
that is an abstract idea, a characteristic, or a concept, such as pain, stress, caring, coping,
depression, anxiety. Rarely, if ever, can a single strategy measure all aspects of an abstract
concept.
What are the four levels of measurement? - Answer nominal (data is a category only -
gender, kidney stone)
ordinal (data is in categories that can be ranked - pain, dyspnea with ADLs)
interval (data is in categories with equal numerical distances between them and no absolute
zero point - temperature)
ratio (data is in categories, has equal numerical distances and has an absolute zero point -
weight)
What is measurement error? - Answer The difference between what you measured...and
what the real or "true" measure of the variable is. The amount of error in any measure varies.
There could be considerable error in one measurement and very little in the next. Measurement
error exists in both direct measures (like blood pressure) and indirect measures (like pain).
What are the two types of measurement error? - Answer random error and systematic error
What is random measurement error? - Answer the difference between the measured value
and the true value without pattern or direction (random). So the more times you measure the
value (and average those values together)...hopefully the closer you are getting to the person's
true value or score (unless your random error rate is high).
Example: Think about taking the NCLEX over and over...
What is systematic measurement error? - Answer the variation in measurement value from
the calculated average is always in the same direction. For example: most of the variation may
be higher or lower than the average that was calculated.
,Example: Why does my scale at home routinely weigh me at 150lbs in the morning....but the
scale at the MD's office weigh me at 157lbs for an 0830 appointment?!?!
What is reliability? - Answer Reliability is concerned with the consistency of the
measurement method.
What are the three aspects of reliability testing? - Answer stability, equivalence, and
homogeneity
What is stability? - Answer A type of reliability testing that focuses on the consistency of
results when a test is repeated. It is also called test-retest reliability. It is expressed as an "r"
value with higher numbers = greater test-retest reliability.
What is equivalence? - Answer A type of reliability which involves the comparison of two
versions of the same pencil and paper instrument or two observers who are observing (or
grading) the same event.
Two versions of the same test = alternate forms reliability
Two judges rating the same person = inter-rater reliability
It is expressed as an "r" value with values above .8 = greater IRR or alternate forms reliability.
What is homogeneity? - Answer A type of reliability testing that is used with pencil and
paper testing. It addresses the correlation (or relationship) of each question on the test to other
questions on the test. It basically asks...are the questions all asking about the same basic
constructs? This is also known as internal consistency.
What statistical test is used to check a pencil and paper test for homogeneity or internal
consistency? - Answer A Cronbach's alpha or a Kuder-Richardson's 20. Both of these are
expressed as an "r" value with values above .8 = high internal consistency.
Note: internal consistency is checked every time a pencil and paper test is used. If your article
for critique used a questionnaire of some sort, then they should report this number for both the
questionnaire's development or past use AND the current sample.
What is validity? - Answer How well does the instrument reflect the abstract concept being
measured?
, Hint: validity exists on a spectrum. It is not an all or nothing phenomenon. We try to determine
the degree of validity an instrument or questionnaire has for a specific sample or situation.
When looking at a measure or questionnaire for validity, we typically descrive this as content
validity. Content validity can be broken down into two subtypes. What are they? - Answer
Content and predictive validity.
What is content validity? - Answer The extent to which the measurement / questionnaire /
scale includes all of the major elements or items relevant to the construct being measured.
How do you prove this?
1. do the items in the scale reflect the description from the ROL?
2. how do content experts rate the items on the scale?
3. how might potential subjects respond to items on the scale?
What is evidence of validity from contrasting groups? - Answer Identifying groups that are
expected (or known) to have contrasting scores on a questionnaire.
Example: administering a questionnaire about depression to two groups of people, one group
with known depression, one group without, and comparing their scores.
What is evidence of validity from convergence? - Answer Evidence of validity from
convergence is determined when a relatively new instrument is compared with an existing
instrument that measures the same construct. They are given to a group of people at the same
time and then the scores are compared.
Example: two questionnaires that measure depression
What is evidence of validity from divergence? - Answer Evidence of validity from divergence
is determined when a relatively new instrument is compared with an existing instrument that
measures the opposite or unrelated construct. They are given to a group of people at the same
time and then the scores are compared.
Example: a questionnaire that measures hope and despair
What is important to ask regarding physiological measures? - Answer Their accuracy
(validity), precision (consistency/reliability), and sources of error of measurement.
If a diagnostic / screening test is very sensitive, what does that mean? - Answer The
proportion of patients with the disease who have a positive test result. A highly sensitive test is
check Questions Solved Correct 2025-
2026 Updated.
What is measurement? - Answer Measurement is the process of assigning numbers or values
to individuals' health status, objects, events, or situations using a set of rules.
What are direct measures? - Answer Direct measures involve determining the value of
concrete things, such as height, weight, temperature, (accuracy and precision are important).
What are indirect measures? - Answer Indirect measures attempt to measure something
that is an abstract idea, a characteristic, or a concept, such as pain, stress, caring, coping,
depression, anxiety. Rarely, if ever, can a single strategy measure all aspects of an abstract
concept.
What are the four levels of measurement? - Answer nominal (data is a category only -
gender, kidney stone)
ordinal (data is in categories that can be ranked - pain, dyspnea with ADLs)
interval (data is in categories with equal numerical distances between them and no absolute
zero point - temperature)
ratio (data is in categories, has equal numerical distances and has an absolute zero point -
weight)
What is measurement error? - Answer The difference between what you measured...and
what the real or "true" measure of the variable is. The amount of error in any measure varies.
There could be considerable error in one measurement and very little in the next. Measurement
error exists in both direct measures (like blood pressure) and indirect measures (like pain).
What are the two types of measurement error? - Answer random error and systematic error
What is random measurement error? - Answer the difference between the measured value
and the true value without pattern or direction (random). So the more times you measure the
value (and average those values together)...hopefully the closer you are getting to the person's
true value or score (unless your random error rate is high).
Example: Think about taking the NCLEX over and over...
What is systematic measurement error? - Answer the variation in measurement value from
the calculated average is always in the same direction. For example: most of the variation may
be higher or lower than the average that was calculated.
,Example: Why does my scale at home routinely weigh me at 150lbs in the morning....but the
scale at the MD's office weigh me at 157lbs for an 0830 appointment?!?!
What is reliability? - Answer Reliability is concerned with the consistency of the
measurement method.
What are the three aspects of reliability testing? - Answer stability, equivalence, and
homogeneity
What is stability? - Answer A type of reliability testing that focuses on the consistency of
results when a test is repeated. It is also called test-retest reliability. It is expressed as an "r"
value with higher numbers = greater test-retest reliability.
What is equivalence? - Answer A type of reliability which involves the comparison of two
versions of the same pencil and paper instrument or two observers who are observing (or
grading) the same event.
Two versions of the same test = alternate forms reliability
Two judges rating the same person = inter-rater reliability
It is expressed as an "r" value with values above .8 = greater IRR or alternate forms reliability.
What is homogeneity? - Answer A type of reliability testing that is used with pencil and
paper testing. It addresses the correlation (or relationship) of each question on the test to other
questions on the test. It basically asks...are the questions all asking about the same basic
constructs? This is also known as internal consistency.
What statistical test is used to check a pencil and paper test for homogeneity or internal
consistency? - Answer A Cronbach's alpha or a Kuder-Richardson's 20. Both of these are
expressed as an "r" value with values above .8 = high internal consistency.
Note: internal consistency is checked every time a pencil and paper test is used. If your article
for critique used a questionnaire of some sort, then they should report this number for both the
questionnaire's development or past use AND the current sample.
What is validity? - Answer How well does the instrument reflect the abstract concept being
measured?
, Hint: validity exists on a spectrum. It is not an all or nothing phenomenon. We try to determine
the degree of validity an instrument or questionnaire has for a specific sample or situation.
When looking at a measure or questionnaire for validity, we typically descrive this as content
validity. Content validity can be broken down into two subtypes. What are they? - Answer
Content and predictive validity.
What is content validity? - Answer The extent to which the measurement / questionnaire /
scale includes all of the major elements or items relevant to the construct being measured.
How do you prove this?
1. do the items in the scale reflect the description from the ROL?
2. how do content experts rate the items on the scale?
3. how might potential subjects respond to items on the scale?
What is evidence of validity from contrasting groups? - Answer Identifying groups that are
expected (or known) to have contrasting scores on a questionnaire.
Example: administering a questionnaire about depression to two groups of people, one group
with known depression, one group without, and comparing their scores.
What is evidence of validity from convergence? - Answer Evidence of validity from
convergence is determined when a relatively new instrument is compared with an existing
instrument that measures the same construct. They are given to a group of people at the same
time and then the scores are compared.
Example: two questionnaires that measure depression
What is evidence of validity from divergence? - Answer Evidence of validity from divergence
is determined when a relatively new instrument is compared with an existing instrument that
measures the opposite or unrelated construct. They are given to a group of people at the same
time and then the scores are compared.
Example: a questionnaire that measures hope and despair
What is important to ask regarding physiological measures? - Answer Their accuracy
(validity), precision (consistency/reliability), and sources of error of measurement.
If a diagnostic / screening test is very sensitive, what does that mean? - Answer The
proportion of patients with the disease who have a positive test result. A highly sensitive test is
