Nursing Research NCLEX Practice Quiz #2 (20 Questions)
NCLEX-Question-02-001
Which one of the following statements about hypothesis is most accurate?
- A. Hypotheses represent the main idea to be studied and are the foundations of research studies.
- B. Hypotheses help frame a test of the validity of a theory.
- C. Hypotheses provide the means to test nursing theory.
- D. A hypothesis can also be called a problem statement.
Correct Answer: B. Hypotheses help frame a test of the validity of a theory.
Although theories cannot be tested directly, hypotheses provide a bridge between theory and the real world. A hypothesis is a predetermined declaration regarding the research question in which the investigator(s) makes a precise, educated guess about a study outcome. This is sometimes called the alternative hypothesis and ultimately allows the researcher to take a stance based on experience or insight from medical literature.
- Option A: It is the research question that represents the main idea to be studied. Investigators conducting studies need research questions and hypotheses to guide analyses. Starting with broad research questions (RQs), investigators then identify a gap in current clinical practice or research.
- Option C: Theories cannot be tested directly. To test a hypothesis, researchers obtain data on a representative sample to determine whether to reject or fail to reject a null hypothesis. In most research studies, it is not feasible to obtain data for an entire population.
- Option D: The research question is also called the problem statement. Any research problem or statement is grounded in a better understanding of relationships between two or more variables. Research questions do not directly imply specific guesses or predictions; the researcher must formulate research hypotheses.
NCLEX-Question-02-002
A nurse wants to study the effectiveness of meditation on people with anxiety disorder. Which variable would be most relevant to explore in the literature on this topic?
- A. Use of meditation during childbirth.
- B. Meditation techniques found to be effective.
- C. Pain management for people with anxiety disorders.
- D. Outcomes of meditation when used by elderly populations.
Correct Answer: B. Meditation techniques found to be effective.
Framing a study using variables is a common approach to organizing the elements of a social sciences research study in order to discover relevant and meaningful results. A variable in research simply refers to a person, place, thing, or phenomenon that the researcher is trying to measure in some way. The best way to understand the difference between a dependent and independent variable is that the meaning of each is implied by what the words tell us about the variable being used.
- Option A: Dependent variable is the variable that depends on other factors that are measured. These variables are expected to change as a result of an experimental manipulation of the independent variable or variables. It is the presumed effect.
- Option C: Independent variable the variable that is stable and unaffected by the other variables you are trying to measure. It refers to the condition of an experiment that is systematically manipulated by the investigator. It is the presumed cause.
- Option D: Designation of the dependent and independent variable involves unpacking the research problem in a way that identifies a general cause and effect and classifying these variables as either independent or dependent.
NCLEX-Question-02-003
What is a characteristic of an independent variable?
- A. It is the variable that is predicted to change.
- B. It varies with a change in the dependent variable.
- C. It is manipulated by the researcher.
- D. It can be identified only by changes in the dependent variable.
Correct Answer: C. It is manipulated by the researcher.
The independent variable is manipulated by the researcher and has a presumed effect on the dependent variable. They are either manipulated by the researcher or are observed by the researcher so that their values can be related to that of the dependent variable. For example, in a research study on the relationship between mosquitoes and mosquito bites, the number of mosquitoes per acre of ground would be an independent variable” (Jaeger, 1990, p. 373).
- Option A: It is the dependent variable that is predicted to change. The dependent variable is the outcome. In an experiment, it may be what was caused or what changed as a result of the study. In a comparison of groups, it is what they differ on.
- Option B: The independent variable is presumed to change the dependent variable. In a research study, independent variables are antecedent conditions that are presumed to affect a dependent variable.
- Option D: The independent variable is manipulated by the researcher and is identified at the beginning of the study. While the independent variable is often manipulated by the researcher, it can also be a classification where subjects are assigned to groups. In a study where one variable causes the other, the independent variable is the cause. In a study where groups are being compared, the independent variable is the group classification.
NCLEX-Question-02-004
Which statement is most accurate regarding hypotheses?
- A. Hypothesis operationally defines the dependent variables.
- B. Hypotheses are statements about the relationships among variables.
- C. Hypotheses describe the effect of the dependent variable on the independent variable.
- D. Hypotheses must include a definition of the treatment or intervention used.
Correct Answer: B. Hypotheses are statements about the relationships among variables.
Hypotheses are statements about the relationships between two or more variables that suggest an answer to the research question. A hypothesis is a tentative statement about the relationship between two or more variables. It is a specific, testable prediction about what the researcher expects to happen in a study.
- Option A: Hypotheses are not concerned with operationally defining the variables involved in the study. In the scientific method, whether it involves research in psychology, biology, or some other area, a hypothesis represents what the researchers think will happen in an experiment.
- Option C: The independent variable is not affected or changed by the dependent variable. A variable is a factor or element that can be changed and manipulated in ways that are observable and measurable. However, the researcher must also define how the variable will be manipulated and measured in the study.
- Option D: Hypotheses are not concerned with operationally defining the variables involved in the study, including treatments or interventions. These precise descriptions are important because many things can be measured in a number of different ways. One of the basic principles of any type of scientific research is that the results must be replicable.
NCLEX-Question-02-005
What is a characteristic of a hypothesis?
- A. It flows from interpretation of the data collected.
- B. It operationally defines the variable to be studied.
- C. It eliminates the need to designate a dependent variable.
- D. It implies a causative or associative relationship.
Correct Answer: D. It implies a causative or associative relationship.
A hypothesis implies a causative or associative relationship. Investigators conducting studies need research questions and hypotheses to guide analyses. Starting with broad research questions (RQs), investigators then identify a gap in current clinical practice or research. Any research problem or statement is grounded in a better understanding of relationships between two or more variables.
- Option A: A hypothesis guides the research design and collection of data. To test a hypothesis, researchers obtain data on a representative sample to determine whether to reject or fail to reject a null hypothesis. In most research studies, it is not feasible to obtain data for an entire population. Using a sampling procedure allows for statistical inference, though this involves a certain possibility of error.
- Option B: Operational definitions are not included in the hypothesis. A hypothesis is a predetermined declaration regarding the research question in which the investigator(s) makes a precise, educated guess about a study outcome. This is sometimes called the alternative hypothesis and ultimately allows the researcher to take a stance based on experience or insight from medical literature.
- Option C: The hypothesis indicates the dependent variable. A hypothesis states a presumed relationship between two variables in a way that can be tested with empirical data. It may take the form of a cause-effect statement, or an “if x,…then y” statement.
NCLEX-Question-02-006
When should a hypothesis be developed by the researcher during the research process?
- A. Before development of the research question.
- B. After development of the research question.
- C. After a research design is determined.
- D. Before any statistical analysis.
Correct Answer: B. After development of the research question.
The hypothesis is developed after development of the research question. Writing a hypothesis begins with a research question that the researcher wants to answer. The question should be focused, specific, and researchable within the constraints of the project.
- Option A: The initial answer to the question should be based on what is already known about the topic. The researcher should look for theories and previous studies to help form educated assumptions about what the research will find. At this stage, the researcher might construct a conceptual framework to identify which variables will be studied and what the relationships are between them.
- Option C: A research design encompasses the methodology and procedure employed to conduct scientific research. Although procedures vary from one field of inquiry to another, identifiable features distinguish scientific inquiry from other methods of obtaining knowledge.
- Option D: If the research involves statistical hypothesis testing, the researcher will also have to write a null hypothesis. The null hypothesis is the default position that there is no association between the variables. The null hypothesis is written as H0, while the alternative hypothesis is H1 or Ha.
NCLEX-Question-02-007
Which research hypothesis is most testable?
- A. There is a relationship between meditation and anxiety disorders.
- B. Patients with anxiety disorders who learn meditation techniques have less anxiety than those who do not.
- C. Teaching one meditation technique to patients with anxiety disorders will be better than teaching multiple techniques.
- D. The ability to meditate causes lower anxiety in patients with anxiety disorder than those who do not meditate.
Correct Answer: D. The ability to meditate causes lower anxiety in patients with anxiety disorder than those who do not meditate.
This hypothesis meets the criteria of testability. Hypotheses are testable explanations of a problem, phenomenon, or observation. While there is no single way to develop a hypothesis, a useful hypothesis will use deductive reasoning to make predictions that can be experimentally assessed. If results contradict the predictions, then the hypothesis under examination is incorrect or incomplete and must be revised or abandoned.
- Option A: Hypothesis testing is an act in statistics whereby an analyst tests an assumption regarding a population parameter. The methodology employed by the analyst depends on the nature of the data used and the reason for the analysis.
- Option B: The null hypothesis is usually a hypothesis of equality between population parameters; e.g. a null hypothesis may state that the population mean return is equal to zero. The alternative hypothesis is effectively the opposite of a null hypothesis (e.g., the population mean return is not equal to zero). Thus, they are mutually exclusive, and only one can be true. However, one of the two hypotheses will always be true.
- Option C: Statistical analysts test a hypothesis by measuring and examining a random sample of the population being analyzed. All analysts use a random population sample to test two different hypotheses: the null hypothesis and the alternative hypothesis.
NCLEX-Question-02-008
What is a characteristic of a statistical hypothesis?
- A. It is a null hypothesis.
- B. It predicts a positive relationship among variables.
- C. It is a complex hypothesis.
- D. It describes data-analysis methods.
Correct Answer: A. It is a null hypothesis.
Statistical hypotheses, called null hypotheses, state that there is no relationship between the independent and dependent variables. Hypothesis testing is used to assess the plausibility of a hypothesis by using sample data. The test provides evidence concerning the plausibility of the hypothesis, given the data.
- Option B: In hypothesis testing, an analyst tests a statistical sample, with the goal of providing evidence on the plausibility of the null hypothesis. Statistical analysts test a hypothesis by measuring and examining a random sample of the population being analyzed. All analysts use a random population sample to test two different hypotheses: the null hypothesis and the alternative hypothesis.
- Option C: The null hypothesis is usually a hypothesis of equality between population parameters; e.g., a null hypothesis may state that the population mean return is equal to zero.
- Option D: The alternative hypothesis is effectively the opposite of a null hypothesis (e.g., the population mean return is not equal to zero). Thus, they are mutually exclusive, and only one can be true. However, one of the two hypotheses will always be true.
NCLEX-Question-02-009
When will a null hypothesis be rejected?
- A. There is no association among variables.
- B. There is evidence of significance.
- C. The independent and dependent variables are related.
- D. The research hypothesis is rejected.
Correct Answer: C. The independent and dependent variables are related.
Because the null hypothesis states that there is no relationship between the independent and dependent variables, it is rejected if they are related. H0 symbolizes the null hypothesis of no difference. It presumes to be true until evidence indicates otherwise. Analysts look to reject the null hypothesis because doing so is a strong conclusion. This requires strong evidence in the form of an observed difference that is too large to be explained solely by chance.
- Option A: The null hypothesis is a characteristic arithmetic theory suggesting that no statistical relationship and significance exists in a set of given, single, observed variables between two sets of observed data and measured phenomena.
- Option B: The alternative hypothesis proposes that there is a difference. A null hypothesis is a type of conjecture used in statistics that proposes that there is no difference between certain characteristics of a population or data-generating process.
- Option D: Hypothesis testing provides a method to reject a null hypothesis within a certain confidence level. (Null hypotheses cannot be proven, though.) Failing to reject the null hypothesis—that the results are explainable by chance alone—is a weak conclusion because it allows that factors other than chance may be at work but may not be strong enough to be detectable by the statistical test used.
NCLEX-Question-02-010
Which level is characteristic of the strength of the evidence provided by the results of a quasi-experimental study?
- A. Level I
- B. Level II
- C. Level III
- D. Level IV
Correct Answer: C. Level III
Evidence provided by quasi-experimental studies is level III. Evidence obtained from well-designed controlled trials without randomization (i.e. quasi-experimental). Levels of evidence (sometimes called hierarchy of evidence) are assigned to studies based on the methodological quality of their design, validity, and applicability to patient care. These decisions give the “grade (or strength) of recommendation.”
- Option A: Level I evidence is obtained from a systematic review of all randomized, controlled trials. Evidence is from a systematic review or meta-analysis of all relevant RCTs (randomized controlled trial) or evidence-based clinical practice guidelines based on systematic reviews of RCTs or three or more RCTs of good quality that have similar results.
- Option B: Level II evidence is obtained from at least one well-designed randomized, controlled trial. Evidence is obtained from at least one well-designed RCT (e.g. large multi-site RCT).
- Option D: Level IV evidence is obtained from nonexperimental studies. Evidence is from well-designed case-control or cohort studies. In level V, evidence is from systematic reviews of descriptive and qualitative studies (meta-synthesis). In level VI, evidence is from a single descriptive or qualitative study. Lastly, in level VII, evidence is from the opinion of authorities and/or reports of expert committees.
NCLEX-Question-02-011
A researcher wants to discover why patients of certain ethnic backgrounds are reluctant to ask for pain medication. Because there is little data in the literature on this topic, the researcher designs a study to explore the relationships between cultural belief systems, the experience of pain, and the effective use of medication to relieve pain. The researcher plans to use the findings of this study to formulate hypotheses for a future study. What is a characteristic of this study?
- A. It is a quasi-experimental study.
- B. It will lead to level II data.
- C. It has a directional hypothesis.
- D. It is a hypothesis-generating study.
Correct Answer: D. It is a hypothesis-generating study.
Not enough is known in this area at this time to formulate hypotheses, so the researcher will conduct this qualitative study and use the findings to generate hypotheses for future studies. In hypothesis-generating research, the researcher explores a set of data searching for relationships and patterns and then proposes hypotheses that may then be tested in some subsequent study.
- Option A: This is a qualitative study, not a quasi-experimental study. Qualitative research involves collecting and analyzing non-numerical data (e.g., text, video, or audio) to understand concepts, opinions, or experiences. Qualitative research is the opposite of quantitative research, which involves collecting and analyzing numerical data for statistical analysis.
- Option B: Level II evidence is obtained from at least one well-designed randomized, controlled trial. Evidence is obtained from at least one well-designed RCT (e.g. large multi-site RCT). Levels of evidence (sometimes called hierarchy of evidence) are assigned to studies based on the methodological quality of their design, validity, and applicability to patient care. These decisions give the “grade (or strength) of recommendation.”
- Option C: This study has no hypothesis. A directional hypothesis is a prediction made by a researcher regarding a positive or negative change, relationship, or difference between two variables of a population.
NCLEX-Question-02-012
The nurse develops the following hypothesis: Elderly women receive less aggressive treatment for breast cancer than do younger women. Which variable would be considered to be the dependent variable?
- A. Degree of treatment received.
- B. Age of the patient.
- C. Type of cancer being treated.
- D. Use of inpatient treatment.
Correct Answer: A. Degree of treatment received.
The degree of treatment received is considered the dependent variable. Dependent variable is the variable that depends on other factors that are measured. These variables are expected to change as a result of experimental manipulation of the independent variable or variables. It is the presumed effect.
- Option B: The age of the patient is an independent variable. Independent variable is the variable that is stable and unaffected by the other variables the researcher is trying to measure. It refers to the condition of an experiment that is systematically manipulated by the investigator. It is the presumed cause.
- Option C: The type of cancer being treated can be a predictor variable. Predictor variables can be used to predict the value of a dependent variable. Predictor variable is the name given to an independent variable used in regression analyses. The predictor variable provides information on an associated dependent variable regarding a particular outcome. At the most fundamental level, predictor variables are variables that are linked with particular outcomes.
- Option D: The use of inpatient treatment is not specified. Researchers often use charts or graphs to visualize the results of their studies. The norm is to place the independent variable on the “x” or horizontal axis and the dependent variable on the “y” or vertical axis.
NCLEX-Question-02-013
The nurse develops the following hypothesis: Elderly women receive less aggressive treatment for breast cancer than do younger women. Which variable would be considered to be the independent variable?
- A. Degree of treatment received.
- B. Age of the patient.
- C. Type of cancer being treated.
- D. Use of inpatient treatment.
Correct Answer: B. Age of the patient.
The age of the patient would be the independent variable. Independent variable is the variable that is stable and unaffected by the other variables the researcher is trying to measure. It refers to the condition of an experiment that is systematically manipulated by the investigator. It is the presumed cause.
- Option A: The degree of treatment received is considered the dependent variable. Dependent variable is the variable that depends on other factors that are measured. These variables are expected to change as a result of experimental manipulation of the independent variable or variables. It is the presumed effect.
- Option C: The type of cancer being treated can be a predictor variable. Predictor variables can be used to predict the value of a dependent variable. Predictor variable is the name given to an independent variable used in regression analyses. The predictor variable provides information on an associated dependent variable regarding a particular outcome. At the most fundamental level, predictor variables are variables that are linked with particular outcomes.
- Option D: The use of inpatient treatment is not specified. Researchers often use charts or graphs to visualize the results of their studies. The norm is to place the independent variable on the “x” or horizontal axis and the dependent variable on the “y” or vertical axis.
NCLEX-Question-02-014
The following are considered steps in the qualitative research process, except?
- A. Literature review
- B. Hypothesis
- C. Sample
- D. Data collection
Correct Answer: B. Hypothesis
A hypothesis is the tool of quantitative studies and is only found in such studies. A hypothesis states the predictions about what the research will find. It is a tentative answer to a research question that has not yet been tested. A hypothesis is not just a guess — it should be based on existing theories and knowledge. It also has to be testable, which means the researcher can support or refute it through scientific research methods (such as experiments, observations, and statistical analysis of data).
- Option A: A literature review is a comprehensive summary of previous research on a topic. The literature review surveys scholarly articles, books, and other sources relevant to a particular area of research. The review should enumerate, describe, summarize, objectively evaluate and clarify this previous research.
- Option C: In research terms, a sample is a group of people, objects, or items that are taken from a larger population for measurement. The sample should be representative of the population to ensure that we can generalize the findings from the research sample to the population as a whole.
- Option D: This step revolves around obtaining the information that the researcher will need to solve the issue or problem identified. Data collection involves a field force or staff that operates either in the field, as in the case of personal interviewing (in-home, mall intercept, or computer-assisted personal interviewing), from an office by telephone (telephone or computer-assisted telephone interviewing), or through the mail (traditional mail and mail panel surveys with recruited households).
NCLEX-Question-02-015
Which of the following could be considered the “context” of a study? Select all that apply.
- A. Cultural understandings and beliefs of study participants.
- B. The physical setting of the study.
- C. The sample selected for the study.
- D. The number of subjects in the study.
- E. The research design used.
Correct Answers: A, B
Contextual perspective is an essential aspect of a research proposal and requires critical attention while writing the proposal. In the Introduction section of the proposal, the writer should try to create interest in the readers about the proposed research.
- Option A: Contextual perspectives consider the relationship between individuals and their physical, cognitive, and social worlds. They also examine socio-cultural and environmental influences on development.
- Option B: Simply put, a research setting is the physical, social, or experimental context within which research is conducted. In a research paper, describing this setting accurately is crucial since the results and their interpretation may depend heavily on it.
- Option C: The sample is not included in the context of the study. Make sure to include relevant references and citations. If presented adequately, the contextual perspective effectively establishes not only the need for the proposed research but also indicates the expertise of the writer in that specific research area.
- Option D: The number of subjects is not included in the context of the study. It is also called a sample. Establish context by providing a brief and balanced review of the pertinent published literature that is available on the subject. The key is to summarize for the reader what is known about the specific research problem before the researcher did an analysis. This part of the introduction should not represent a comprehensive literature review–that comes next.
- Option E: The research design used is seen in the methodology. The context of the study consists of a general review of the important, foundational research literature [with citations] that establishes a foundation for understanding key elements of the research problem.
NCLEX-Question-02-016
Which beliefs guide the constructivist paradigm? Select all that apply.
- A. There are multiple realities.
- B. The truth is objective.
- C. Context does not matter as much as truth.
- D. The participant (subject) is an active part of the study.
- E. Knowledge is gained through facts.
Correct Answer: A, D
Constructivism implies that reality is constructed through human interaction. Knowledge is a human product and is socially and culturally constructed. Individuals create meaning through their interactions with each other and with the environment in which they live. Social constructivism emphasizes the importance of culture and context in the process of knowledge construction and accumulation.
- Option A: In social constructivism, human interests are important for research purposes and knowledge is constructed through social interaction. Such knowledge is shared rather than an individual experience. According to constructivists, reality is a subjective creation. There is no single reality. Race, for example, is a social construct. Claiming that people are different based on the skin of their color is a (subjective) social construct.
- Option B: The aim of constructivist research is to understand particular situations or phenomena. Rich data is gathered from which ideas can be formed. The interaction of a number of people is researched, mostly to solve social problems of the target group.
- Option C: Learners add to and reshape their mental models of reality through social collaboration, building new understandings as they actively engage in learning experiences. Scaffolding, i.e. guidance and support, play an important role in the learning process. Research is, of course, largely a learning process and researchers on any level can use it to gain knowledge and to structure their research.
- Option D: Social constructivism is based on the principles of constructivism. Like positivism, social constructivism also uses observation to gather information. Different from positivism, the researcher is part of what is being observed in social constructivism.
- Option E: Positivism and constructivism are not the same. Both are epistemologies that present a different idea of what constitutes knowledge. However, positivism is a philosophical stance that emphasizes that knowledge should be gained through observable and measurable facts, whereas constructivism states that reality is a social construct.
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NCLEX-Question-02-017
Which of the following are consistent with the constructivist paradigm? Select all that apply.
- A. Subjectivism is valued.
- B. Natural laws exist.
- C. Time and place are important.
- D. Generalizability is valued.
- E. Knowledge is gained through observable facts.
Correct Answers: A, C
Constructivism implies that reality is constructed through human interaction. Knowledge is a human product and is socially and culturally constructed. Individuals create meaning through their interactions with each other and with the environment in which they live. Social constructivism emphasizes the importance of culture and context in the process of knowledge construction and accumulation.
- Option A: In social constructivism, human interests are important for research purposes and knowledge is constructed through social interaction. Such knowledge is shared rather than an individual experience. According to constructivists, reality is a subjective creation. There is no single reality. Race, for example, is a social construct. Claiming that people are different based on the skin of their color is a (subjective) social construct.
- Option B: Constructivist research programs specifically study the status of ‘knowledge’ (Tsoukas 2005), the relation to the ‘world’ (Goodman 1987), and the process of the scientific generation of knowledge (Knorr Cetina 2002), thus reflecting research as a construction process, which inherently implies epistemological considerations.
- Option C: Constructivism implies that reality is constructed through human interaction. Knowledge is a human product and is socially and culturally constructed. Individuals create meaning through their interactions with each other and with the environment in which they live. Social constructivism emphasizes the importance of culture and context in the process of knowledge construction and accumulation.
- Option D: The constructivist programs question a concept of ‘reality as something that is ‘objectively given’, instead of focusing on the construction processes implied in the creation, establishment, and stabilization of ‘reality. This explains why constructivist perspectives imply ontological considerations, as embedded in (social) practice itself.
- Option E: Positivism and constructivism are not the same. Both are epistemologies that present a different idea of what constitutes knowledge. However, positivism is a philosophical stance that emphasizes that knowledge should be gained through observable and measurable facts, whereas constructivism states that reality is a social construct.
NCLEX-Question-02-018
Which paradigm provides the basis for qualitative research?
- A. Empirical analytical research
- B. Constructivism
- C. Postpositivism
- D. Naturalistic research
Correct Answer: B. Constructivism
The paradigm that provides the basis for qualitative research is constructivism. Constructivism implies that reality is constructed through human interaction. Knowledge is a human product and is socially and culturally constructed. Individuals create meaning through their interactions with each other and with the environment in which they live.
- Option A: Empirical research is a type of research methodology that makes use of verifiable evidence in order to arrive at research outcomes. In other words, this type of research relies solely on evidence obtained through observation or scientific data collection methods.
- Option C: Postpositivism or postempiricism is a metatheoretical stance that critiques and amends positivism and has impacted theories and practices across philosophy, social sciences, and various models of scientific inquiry.
- Option D: Naturalistic observation is a nonexperimental, primarily qualitative research method in which organisms are studied in their natural settings. Behaviors or other phenomena of interest are observed and recorded by the researcher, whose presence might be either known or unknown to the subjects.
NCLEX-Question-02-019
Which type of research allows researchers to be neutral observers?
- A. Qualitative research
- B. Ethnographic research
- C. Quantitative research
- D. Case studies
Correct Answer: C. Quantitative research
Quantitative research is the process of collecting and analyzing numerical data. It can be used to find patterns and averages, make predictions, test causal relationships, and generalize results to wider populations.
- Option A: In qualitative research, researchers are never considered neutral. Qualitative research involves collecting and analyzing non-numerical data (e.g., text, video, or audio) to understand concepts, opinions, or experiences. It can be used to gather in-depth insights into a problem or generate new ideas for research.
- Option B: In ethnography, a type of qualitative research, researchers are never considered neutral. Researchers immerse themselves in groups or organizations to understand their cultures.
- Option D: In case studies, a type of qualitative research, researchers are never considered neutral. A case study is a research approach that is used to generate an in-depth, multi-faceted understanding of a complex issue in its real-life context. It is an established research design that is used extensively in a wide variety of disciplines, particularly in the social sciences.
NCLEX-Question-02-020
Which type of research study can be affected by detracting values of the researcher?
- A. Qualitative
- B. Naturalistic
- C. Ethnographic
- D. Quantitative
Correct Answer: D. Quantitative
Quantitative research is the process of collecting and analyzing numerical data. It can be used to find patterns and averages, make predictions, test causal relationships, and generalize results to wider populations.
- Option A: The values of the researcher must be acknowledged in qualitative research. Qualitative research involves collecting and analyzing non-numerical data (e.g., text, video, or audio) to understand concepts, opinions, or experiences. It can be used to gather in-depth insights into a problem or generate new ideas for research.
- Option B: The values of the researcher must be acknowledged in naturalistic research. Naturalistic observation is a nonexperimental, primarily qualitative research method in which organisms are studied in their natural settings. Behaviors or other phenomena of interest are observed and recorded by the researcher, whose presence might be either known or unknown to the subjects.
- Option C: The values of the researcher must be acknowledged in qualitative research. In ethnography, a type of qualitative research, researchers are never considered neutral. Researchers immerse themselves in groups or organizations to understand their cultures.
