Exam 1 Practice Questions | Research Methods

A researcher sets alpha at 0.05 and obtains p = 0.03. Which of the following is the correct conclusion?

Reject H₀; there is a statistically significant difference

3 multiple choice options

A study reports p = 0.04 (alpha = 0.05) and concludes that a new exercise reduces knee pain. In reality, the exercise has NO effect. This is an example of:

Type I error (false positive)

3 multiple choice options

Statistical power is best defined as:

The probability of detecting a real effect if one truly exists

3 multiple choice options

A physical therapy study recruits 12 participants with no power analysis. Which error type risk is MOST increased?

Type II error, because the study may miss a real effect

3 multiple choice options

A researcher measures pain sensitivity and physical activity in 200 adults at a single clinic visit. Which study design does this represent?

Cross-sectional observational study

3 multiple choice options

A researcher wants to determine if a new manual therapy technique CAUSES a reduction in chronic low back pain. Which study design best supports a causal claim?

Randomized controlled trial

3 multiple choice options

Which of the following distinguishes an experimental study from a quasi-experimental study?

Experimental studies use random assignment; quasi-experimental studies do not

3 multiple choice options

In an RCT on HIIT and pain, a researcher excludes participants currently receiving physical therapy. The PRIMARY reason for this exclusion is to:

Prevent confounding of the intervention effect

3 multiple choice options

A dataset of patient pain scores is: 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 40. Which measure of central tendency is MOST appropriate to report?

Median, because it is resistant to the outlier (40)

3 multiple choice options

A study reports: grip strength mean = 46 kg, SD = 10 kg (normal distribution). Approximately what percentage of participants had grip strength between 26 kg and 66 kg?

95%

3 multiple choice options

Two clinics report the same mean pain reduction of 3 points. Clinic A has SD = 0.5; Clinic B has SD = 4.0. Which statement is MOST accurate?

Clinic A's outcomes are more consistent; Clinic B has much greater variability

3 multiple choice options

When a researcher uses the Shapiro-Wilk test and obtains p = 0.08, the appropriate next step is to:

Assume normality and proceed with parametric tests

3 multiple choice options

A researcher hypothesizes that HIIT reduces pain more than stretching. The correct null hypothesis (H₀) is:

There is no statistically significant difference in pain reduction between HIIT and stretching

3 multiple choice options

A study on HIIT for chronic pain excludes participants with active cardiac conditions. This exclusion is primarily motivated by:

Participant safety — protecting those at risk of adverse events

3 multiple choice options

A researcher recruits participants for a pain study by posting flyers in a PT clinic waiting room and taking whoever volunteers first. This is BEST described as:

Convenience (non-probability) sampling

3 multiple choice options

A pain study is conducted at a sports medicine clinic and recruits 78 patients with knee OA. The TARGET POPULATION is best described as:

All adults with knee OA in the relevant population of interest

3 multiple choice options

Which of the following is MOST likely to increase the risk of a Type I error (false positive)?

Setting alpha at 0.20 instead of the standard 0.05

3 multiple choice options

According to the principles of a good research question, which criterion ensures that findings are relevant and impactful to a large number of patients?

Significance

3 multiple choice options

A research paper's Table 1 shows: "Mean age = 45.2 (SD = 8.1), 62% female, mean pain score = 6.4 (SD = 1.9)." This table represents:

Descriptive statistics

3 multiple choice options

A researcher uses hospital electronic health records to compare rates of opioid use in patients with vs. without prior physical therapy for low back pain. This is BEST classified as:

Retrospective observational study

3 multiple choice options

A dataset of patient wait times has many short waits and a few extremely long waits. The distribution curve has a long tail extending to the RIGHT. This is best described as:

Positive (right) skew

3 multiple choice options

In a positively skewed distribution, which of the following correctly describes the relationship between the mean and median?

Mean > Median

3 multiple choice options

A study reports grip strength: mean = 50 kg, SD = 5 kg, normally distributed. Approximately 95% of participants had grip strength between:

40-60 kg

3 multiple choice options

Using the same dataset (mean = 50 kg, SD = 5 kg), what is the score that is 2 standard deviations BELOW the mean?

40 kg

3 multiple choice options

A researcher records pain scores for 7 patients: 2, 5, 3, 8, 6, 4, 7. What is the median pain score?

5

3 multiple choice options

A dataset is: 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 7, 8, 8, 8, 9, 9, 50, 51. What is the median?

7.5

3 multiple choice options

A clinician is evaluating five sources of information. From LOWEST to HIGHEST level of evidence, the correct ranking is:

Expert opinion → Case reports → Cohort → RCT → Meta-analysis

3 multiple choice options

Before conducting a clinical study, a PT researcher submits her protocol to the Institutional Review Board (IRB). The PRIMARY purpose of this review is to:

Protect the rights and welfare of human research participants

3 multiple choice options

A manuscript is submitted to a journal and undergoes peer review. The PRIMARY purpose of this process is to ensure that:

The study is methodologically and scientifically sound

3 multiple choice options

Evidence-Based Practice (EBP) integrates three key components. Which of the following BEST describes the three pillars of EBP?

Best available research evidence + clinical expertise + patient values/preferences

3 multiple choice options

A study table shows: Group A — Mean BMI = 25.96, SD = 1.00 (normal distribution). Approximately 95% of Group A participants had a BMI between:

23.96 - 27.96 (Mean +/_ 2 SD)

3 multiple choice options

A study reports: Mean pain score = 6.4, SD = 1.9 (normal distribution). Which range contains approximately 95% of pain scores?

2.6 – 10.2 (Mean +/_ 2 SD)

3 multiple choice options

Which of the following study types is typically RETROSPECTIVE (looks backward at already-collected data)?

Case-control study

3 multiple choice options