Quantitative Data Analysis for Nursing Research: Master Statistical Methods

Question 1

Which measure of central tendency is significantly impacted by extreme values (outliers)?

Accepted Answer

Mean

Answer

Median

Answer

Mode

Answer

Range

Question 2

Which of the following is not considered a formal hypothesis test?

Accepted Answer

Linear regression

Answer

One-sample t-test

Answer

Two-sample t-test

Answer

ANOVA

Question 3

What is the primary goal of descriptive statistics in research?

Accepted Answer

Summarize and describe data

Answer

Make inferences about a population

Answer

Test hypotheses

Answer

Determine relationships between variables

Question 4

Which type of sampling method is best suited for obtaining a representative sample?

Accepted Answer

Random sampling

Answer

Convenience sampling

Answer

Snowball sampling

Answer

Quota sampling

Question 5

Which of the following correctly describes the relationship between statistical significance and practical significance in hypothesis testing?

Accepted Answer

For a finding to be meaningful, it must be both statistically significant and practically significant.

Answer

Statistical significance always implies practical significance.

Answer

Only practically significant findings are statistically significant.

Answer

Neither statistical significance nor practical significance is essential for interpreting research findings.

Question 6

Which of the following statistics represents the average or typical value of a dataset?

Accepted Answer

Mean

Answer

Median

Answer

Mode

Answer

Range

Question 7

A hypothesis in research is primarily:

Accepted Answer

A statement that can be tested through research

Answer

A statement that has been proven to be true

Answer

An explanation for a phenomenon

Answer

A statement that is not subject to change

Question 8

Which of the following sampling methods gives each member of the population an equal chance of selection?

Accepted Answer

Simple random

Answer

Systematic

Answer

Convenience

Answer

Stratified

Question 9

In hypothesis testing, the significance level represents:

Accepted Answer

The likelihood of obtaining a test statistic as extreme as the one observed

Answer

The likelihood of rejecting a true null hypothesis

Answer

The likelihood of accepting a true null hypothesis

Answer

The probability of failing to reject a false null hypothesis

Question 10

What is the primary aim of descriptive statistics?

Accepted Answer

Summarizing and presenting data in a meaningful way

Answer

Drawing conclusions about a population based on a sample

Answer

Testing hypotheses about relationships between variables

Answer

Predicting future outcomes

Question 11

When the t-test's assumption of a normal distribution is not met, which nonparametric test can be used to compare group differences?

Accepted Answer

Wilcoxon Rank-Sum Test

Accepted Answer

Mann-Whitney U Test

Answer

Pearson's Chi-Square Test

Answer

ANOVA

Question 12

How does power analysis contribute to research design and the probability of detecting statistically significant outcomes?

Accepted Answer

Power analysis guides sample size determination, minimizing the risk of Type II errors.

Answer

Power analysis ensures the research question is clear and measurable.

Answer

Power analysis is only applicable to extensive research projects.

Answer

Power analysis has no bearing on the likelihood of obtaining significant results.

Question 13

Which of the following is NOT a benefit of visualizing data?

Accepted Answer

Enhanced data security

Answer

Enhanced data comprehension

Answer

Improved data accuracy

Answer

Simplified data communication

Question 14

Which data distribution typically necessitates the use of non-parametric tests?

Accepted Answer

Skewed distribution

Answer

Normal distribution

Answer

Large sample size

Question 15

Which research design is known for its high internal validity, but may have limitations in terms of external validity?

Accepted Answer

Experimental design

Answer

Quasi-experimental design

Answer

Observational study

Answer

Survey research

Question 16

Which ethical principle in research emphasizes protecting participants' data from unauthorized access and disclosure?

Accepted Answer

Confidentiality

Answer

Anonymity

Answer

Consent

Answer

Destruction

Question 17

Which of the following is NOT a type of descriptive statistic used in nursing research?

Accepted Answer

Hypothesis testing

Answer

Mean

Answer

Standard deviation

Answer

Frequency distribution

Question 18

Which measure of central tendency is appropriate for ordinal data where the intervals between data points are not equal?

Accepted Answer

Median

Answer

Range

Answer

Mean

Answer

Mode

Question 19

To determine if there is a statistically significant difference between two independent groups, which statistical test is most appropriate?

Accepted Answer

t-test

Answer

Regression analysis

Answer

ANOVA

Answer

Chi-square test

Question 20

Which sampling method ensures that each individual in the population has an equal chance of being selected?

Accepted Answer

Simple random sampling

Answer

Convenience sampling

Answer

Quota sampling

Answer

Stratified sampling

Question 21

What is the primary purpose of calculating a confidence interval in statistical analysis?

Accepted Answer

To estimate the range within which the true population parameter is likely to fall

Answer

To determine the significance of a difference between groups

Answer

To measure the variability of the data

Question 22

Which statistical measure effectively represents the spread or variability of a data set?

Accepted Answer

Standard deviation

Answer

Median

Answer

Range

Answer

Mean

Question 23

To examine the relationship between two variables, which statistical analysis technique is most appropriate?

Accepted Answer

Correlation analysis

Answer

Factor analysis

Answer

Analysis of variance

Answer

Regression analysis

Question 24

In hypothesis testing, what is the null hypothesis?

Accepted Answer

The hypothesis that there is no statistically significant difference between groups or variables

Answer

The hypothesis that there is a statistically significant difference between groups or variables

Answer

The hypothesis that the data is normally distributed

Question 25

Which type of statistical error occurs when a researcher fails to reject a true null hypothesis?

Accepted Answer

Type II error

Answer

Alpha error

Answer

Type I error

Answer

Beta error

Question 26

Which measure of central tendency represents the most commonly occurring value in a dataset?

Accepted Answer

Mode

Answer

Range

Answer

Median

Answer

Mean

Question 27

What is the probability of obtaining a sample mean of 25 or less, assuming a population mean of 30, a standard deviation of 5, and a sample size of 100?

Accepted Answer

0.0228

Answer

0.10

Answer

0.15

Answer

0.05

Question 28

Which hypothesis test is appropriate to determine if there is a significant difference in means between two independent groups?

Accepted Answer

Independent t-test

Answer

One-way ANOVA

Answer

Chi-square test

Answer

Paired t-test

Question 29

What is the most commonly used level of significance in statistical hypothesis testing?

Accepted Answer

0.05

Answer

0.20

Answer

0.10

Answer

0.01

Question 30

Which type of quantitative data represents categorical variables?

Accepted Answer

Nominal data

Answer

Ratio data

Answer

Ordinal data

Answer

Interval data

Question 31

What is the primary purpose of calculating a standard deviation?

Accepted Answer

To measure the spread or variability of a dataset

Answer

To calculate the probability of an event

Answer

To categorize data points

Answer

To determine the mean of a dataset

Question 32

Which research method is classified as qualitative?

Accepted Answer

Interview

Answer

Experiment

Answer

Correlational study

Answer

Survey

Question 33

What is the key difference between a one-tailed and a two-tailed hypothesis test?

Accepted Answer

A one-tailed test assumes a specific direction of the difference, while a two-tailed test does not.

Answer

A one-tailed test is less conservative than a two-tailed test.

Answer

A one-tailed test requires a larger sample size than a two-tailed test.

Question 34

Which limitation is commonly associated with the use of quantitative data in nursing research?

Accepted Answer

It may not adequately capture the subjective experiences of participants.

Answer

It provides precise information about a population.

Answer

It can be used to test hypotheses.

Question 35

Which measure quantifies the dispersion of a dataset?

Accepted Answer

Standard deviation

Answer

Median

Answer

Mode

Answer

Range

Question 36

In a statistical test, the null hypothesis proposes that:

Accepted Answer

There is no significant difference or relationship between the groups or variables being studied.

Answer

The sample is not representative of the population.

Answer

The research hypothesis is true.

Answer

There is a significant difference or relationship between the groups or variables being studied.

Question 37

To compare the average scores of two independent groups, which statistical test is most appropriate?

Accepted Answer

Independent samples t-test

Answer

ANOVA

Answer

Chi-square test

Answer

Dependent samples t-test

Question 38

The p-value represents the probability of obtaining the observed results, or more extreme results, if the null hypothesis is:

Accepted Answer

True

Answer

False

Answer

Supported

Answer

Rejected

Question 39

Which of the following research designs is considered a quantitative research design?

Accepted Answer

Randomized controlled trial

Answer

Ethnographic study

Answer

Phenomenological study

Answer

Grounded theory study

Question 40

The primary purpose of a pilot study is to:

Accepted Answer

Evaluate the feasibility and refine the methods of a larger research study.

Answer

Replicate findings from a previous study.

Answer

Collect primary data for the main study.

Answer

Generalize findings to a larger population.

Question 41

A data management plan outlines how research data will be:

Accepted Answer

Collected, stored, and shared.

Answer

Analyzed and interpreted.

Answer

Used to inform clinical practice.

Answer

Disseminated to the public.

Question 42

A key advantage of using quantitative data analysis in nursing research is that it allows researchers to:

Accepted Answer

Generalize findings to a broader population.

Answer

Provide in-depth understanding of social phenomena.

Answer

Capture the nuances of individual experiences.

Question 43

Which measure of central tendency is most influenced by extreme values (outliers) in a dataset?

Accepted Answer

Mean

Answer

Median

Answer

Mode

Answer

Standard deviation

Question 44

A researcher collects blood pressure readings from 50 conveniently available patients. This is an example of which type of sampling?

Accepted Answer

Convenience sampling

Answer

Stratified sampling

Answer

Quota sampling

Answer

Random sampling

Question 45

A p-value of 0.05 indicates that there is a 5% chance of observing the obtained results, or more extreme results, if the null hypothesis is:

Accepted Answer

True

Answer

Supported

Answer

Rejected

Answer

False

Question 46

Which statistical test is used to compare the means of two independent groups and assumes that the variances of the two groups are equal?

Accepted Answer

Independent samples t-test

Answer

ANOVA

Answer

Chi-square test

Answer

Paired samples t-test

Question 47

When the correlation coefficient between two variables is close to 1, it indicates:

Accepted Answer

A strong positive linear relationship between the variables.

Answer

A strong negative linear relationship between the variables.

Answer

A weak positive linear relationship between the variables.

Question 48

What is the primary purpose of a confidence interval?

Accepted Answer

To estimate the true population parameter with a specified level of confidence.

Answer

To test the significance of a difference.

Answer

To describe the distribution of the data.

Question 49

Which ethical consideration is of utmost importance when conducting quantitative research involving human participants?

Accepted Answer

Protecting the privacy and confidentiality of participants.

Answer

Obtaining informed consent from participants.

Answer

Ensuring the accuracy of the data collected.

Question 50

When the distribution of data is skewed, which measure of central tendency is most appropriate to use?

Accepted Answer

Median

Answer

Range

Answer

Mode

Answer

Mean

Question 51

A researcher intends to compare the mean blood pressure of two patient groups. Which statistical test would be most suitable?

Accepted Answer

Two-sample t-test

Answer

Analysis of variance

Answer

Regression analysis

Answer

Chi-square test

Question 52

Which of the following is NOT a type of correlation?

Accepted Answer

Curvilinear

Answer

Positive

Answer

Linear

Answer

Negative

Question 53

What is the purpose of a confidence interval?

Accepted Answer

To provide a range of values within which the true population parameter is likely to fall, with a specified level of confidence.

Answer

To calculate the p-value.

Answer

To test the null hypothesis.

Question 54

What is the fundamental distinction between an independent variable and a dependent variable?

Accepted Answer

The independent variable is manipulated by the researcher, while the dependent variable is the outcome being measured.

Answer

The independent variable is quantitative, while the dependent variable is qualitative.

Question 55

What is the primary objective of data cleaning?

Accepted Answer

To identify and correct errors, outliers, and missing data, enhancing the quality of the dataset for analysis.

Answer

To reduce the sample size and make the data more manageable.

Answer

To test the hypothesis and draw conclusions from the data.