RESEARCH

Q: What is the scientific method? A: An informal way to discover new things.

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Q: What is research? A: A more formal, intensive, and comprehensive method for discovering new knowledge.


Q: What is nursing research? A: Research dealing with clinical problems encountered during clinical duties (e.g., care of diabetic foot).


Q: What is research in nursing? A: A broader study of nursing and the profession, dealing with issues that could affect the nursing profession (e.g., nursing curriculum).


Q: What is evidence-based practice (EBP)? A: The use of the current “best” evidence in practice, incorporating the latest findings.


Q: What is the ultimate goal of research in nursing? A: To improve the practice of the profession (nursing practice/client care/patient care/health care/nursing care).


Q: What are the five major steps of the research process? A:

  1. Conceptual Phase

  2. Design and Planning

  3. Empirical Phase

  4. Analytic Phase

  5. Disseminating Phase


Q: What are the criteria of a good research problem? A:

  • Significance of the study

  • Availability of subjects

  • Limitations of subjects

  • Time allotment and research ability

  • Limitation of tools


Q: What are the 4 basic rights of research subjects? A:

  1. Right not to be harmed

  2. Right to full disclosure

  3. Right to self-determination

  4. Right to anonymity, confidentiality, and privacy


Q: What are levels of measurement in research? A:

  • Nominal

  • Ordinal

  • Interval

  • Ratio


Q: What are the two types of analysis in research? A:

  • Descriptive analysis

  • Inferential statistics


Q: What is a hypothesis? A: A tentative prediction of the relationship between variables.


Q: What is the difference between non-experimental and experimental research design? A: Non-experimental does not involve manipulation, whereas experimental involves manipulation and control of variables.


Q: What is the Chi-Square Test used for? A: To determine if there is a significant association between two categorical variables.


Q: What is a T-test used for? A: To compare the means of two groups to determine if they are statistically different.


Q: What is Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) used for? A: To compare the means of three or more groups to determine if at least one group mean is significantly different from the others.


Q: What is the difference between a conceptual and a theoretical framework? A: A conceptual framework focuses on relating concepts to the topic, while a theoretical framework relates concepts to the theory.


Q: What is systematic sampling? A: A probability sampling method where every kth element from a list is selected.


Q: What is Slovin’s formula used for? A: To calculate the sample size for a study.

Q: What is phase 1 of the research process? A: Conceptual Phase, which involves formulating and delimiting the problem, reviewing related literature, defining frameworks, and formulating hypotheses.


Q: What are the two types of research designs? A:

  1. Pure/Basic research (aims to increase knowledge)

  2. Applied research (aims to use knowledge in practice)


Q: What are the three types of descriptive research? A:

  1. Descriptive: Describes variables as they are.

  2. Correlational: Describes the relationship between variables.

  3. Comparative: Compares variables to each other.


Q: What are the types of experimental design? A:

  1. True experiment (with randomization, manipulation, and control)

  2. Quasi-experiment (lacks randomization, uses nonprobability sampling)


Q: What is convenience sampling? A: A nonprobability sampling method where samples are readily available and convenient.


Q: What is stratified-random sampling? A: A probability sampling method where the population is divided into homogeneous groups (strata) based on characteristics.


Q: What are in vivo and in vitro measurements? A:

  • In vivo: Measurements performed directly on the subject.

  • In vitro: Measurements performed outside the subject, often in a laboratory setting.


Q: What is a longitudinal study? A: A study conducted over a long period, often involving repeated observations of the same variables.


Q: What is the purpose of reviewing related literature (RRL) in research? A: To gather background information, understand what has already been done, and avoid plagiarism.


Q: What is the difference between random and nonrandom sampling? A:

  • Random sampling (probability): All members of the population have an equal chance of being selected.

  • Nonrandom sampling (nonprobability): Not all members have an equal chance, and selection may be based on convenience or judgment.


Q: What is the Pearson’s r used for? A: To measure the strength and direction of a linear relationship between two variables measured on an interval or ratio scale.


Q: What is the Spearman’s rho (ρ) used for? A: To measure the strength and direction of association between two ranked (ordinal-level) variables.


Q: What is a blind experiment? A: An experiment where the subjects do not know which group they belong to (e.g., control or experimental).


Q: What is a double-blind experiment? A: An experiment where both the subjects and the researcher do not know who belongs to the control or experimental group.


Q: What is quota sampling? A: A nonprobability sampling method where a proportion of the population is selected to ensure representation of certain characteristics.


Q: What is the purpose of operational definitions in research? A: To define variables in terms of the specific processes or methods used to measure them.


Q: What is the role of theoretical frameworks in research? A: To provide a foundation for understanding the relationships between variables based on established theories.


Q: What is a cross-sectional study? A: A study conducted at a single point in time, often used to assess the prevalence of outcomes or conditions.


Q: What is the importance of reliability in research tools? A: Ensures consistency or repeatability of results across different instances of measurement.


Q: What is the sensitivity of a research tool? A: The ability of the tool to detect small variations or differences in the data.