Nursing Research: NCK Exam Questions & Revision

A study that follows a group of people forward over time to observe outcomes is a:

• A. Cross-sectional study
• B. Cohort study
• C. Case report
• D. Literature review

Why: A cohort study follows a group over time to see who develops the outcome of interest.

In research ethics, voluntary agreement to take part after understanding the study is called:

• A. Confidentiality
• B. Informed consent
• C. Beneficence
• D. Anonymity

Why: Informed consent is the participant voluntary agreement to take part after being given and understanding all relevant information.

The Hawthorne effect occurs due to:

• A. A researcher lacking expertise to analyze data.
• B. Study subjects being aware they are participating in a study.
• C. Study tools being disclosed to non study subjects.
• D. Respondents not completing the interview schedule.

Why: The Hawthorne effect refers to the phenomenon where study subjects alter their behavior because they are aware they are being observed or are part of a study. This awareness can lead to changes in the subjects' behavior, which can affect the study's outcomes. Option a is unrelated to the Hawthorne effect, as it pertains to the researcher's expertise. Option c involves confidentiality issues, not the Hawthorne effect. Option d relates to response rates, not behavioral changes due to awareness of being studied.

Which of the following is an example of a study design that involves intervention?

• A. Quasi experimental design.
• B. Evaluative study design.
• C. Exploratory study design.
• D. Descriptive study design.

Why: A quasi-experimental design involves an intervention or treatment but lacks random assignment to groups, making it a type of experimental study. Evaluative, exploratory, and descriptive study designs do not inherently involve interventions; they are more focused on observation and analysis without manipulating variables. Evaluative studies assess outcomes, exploratory studies investigate phenomena, and descriptive studies describe characteristics or functions.

The purpose of maintaining anonymity in research is to ensure that participants' identities are kept confidential.

• A. Preventing disclosure of privileged information.
• B. Conferring protection to the sourc'e of information.
• C. Selectively disclosing information to specific individuals.
• D. Keeping names of respondents only known to the research supervisor.

Why: Maintaining anonymity in research primarily aims to protect the identity of participants by ensuring that their personal information is not linked to the data they provide. Option b, 'Conferring protection to the source of information,' accurately reflects this purpose. Option a is more about confidentiality rather than anonymity. Option c contradicts the principle of anonymity, and option d implies that someone knows the identities, which is not true anonymity.

What is the primary research question being investigated?

• A. Examines the characteristics of variables
• B. States which variables are to be manipulated
• C. Focuses on what relationship might exist among variables
• D. Focuses on the pattern for conducting an investigation

Why: The primary research question often focuses on understanding the relationship between variables, which is option c. Option a is more about descriptive research, option b pertains to experimental research where variables are manipulated, and option d is about the methodology rather than the research question itself.