A nurse researcher is designing a quantitative research study involving a specific group of patients admitted to local hospitals.
Which factor would negatively affect the feasibility of this study?
Potential study subjects represented less than 1
The local region has a high percentage of families that could participate in the study.
A comprehensive review of the literature revealed no studies were conducted that examined this query during the past 15 years.
Study participants who were hospitalized children younger than 5 years could not give direct informed consent to participate in the study.
The Correct Answer is A
Choice A rationale
Feasibility refers to the practical possibility of conducting a study, and a primary constraint is the availability of participants. If the potential subjects represent less than 1 percent of the population, the researcher will likely struggle to recruit a sample large enough to achieve statistical power. Without a sufficient sample size, the study cannot produce valid or generalizable results. This scarcity of subjects makes the study mathematically and logistically difficult to execute within a reasonable timeframe.
Choice B rationale
A high percentage of eligible families in the local region significantly enhances the feasibility of a study. This situation ensures a robust sampling frame, making recruitment more efficient and cost-effective. High participant availability reduces the risk of type II errors by allowing for a larger sample size, which increases the likelihood of detecting a true effect. This factor is a facilitator rather than a negative influence, as it supports the successful completion of data collection.
Choice C rationale
The absence of similar studies over the last 15 years indicates a significant gap in the literature, which actually increases the significance and justification for the research. While it might mean there is less theoretical groundwork to build upon, it does not inherently make the study impossible to perform. A lack of recent research often attracts funding and interest because the findings will provide novel insights into a topic that has been neglected by the scientific community.
Choice D rationale
The inability of children under 5 years old to provide informed consent is a standard ethical consideration in pediatric research, not a feasibility barrier. Researchers address this by obtaining legal permission from parents or guardians and seeking assent from the child when possible. Institutional Review Boards have established protocols for such populations. As long as the ethical protections are in place, the age of the participants does not prevent the study from being conducted or successfully managed.
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Related Questions
Correct Answer is D
Explanation
Choice A rationale
A concept is a basic building block of theory representing an abstract idea or a mental image of a phenomenon, such as pain or health. While concepts are essential components of models, a single concept is not a graphic or symbolic representation of multiple interrelationships. It is the raw material that researchers define to describe specific aspects of reality. It lacks the structural complexity required to visualize how various different constructs interact within a larger framework.
Choice B rationale
An operational definition specifies the precise procedures or tools used to measure a variable within a specific study. For example, defining obesity as a body mass index greater than 30 is an operational definition. Its purpose is to make abstract concepts measurable and observable for data collection. It provides a concrete link between a concept and its measurement but does not serve as a symbolic or graphic map illustrating the connections between multiple phenomena.
Choice C rationale
A conceptual definition provides the theoretical or dictionary-like meaning of a concept, explaining what it represents in a general sense. It helps establish the scope of a variable but does not provide a visual or symbolic framework. Conceptual definitions are linguistic rather than graphic. They clarify what a researcher means by a term like quality of life but do not show the pathways or linkages between that term and other related constructs in a system.
Choice D rationale
A model is a symbolic representation, often visual or mathematical, that depicts the structure and functional relationships between various phenomena. It allows researchers and readers to visualize how abstract constructs such as stress, coping, and health outcomes interact. By using diagrams, arrows, and symbols, a model provides a holistic view of a theory or process. It simplifies complex realities into a readable format that helps explain the underlying mechanisms of things not directly observable.
Correct Answer is D
Explanation
Choice A rationale
Documentation of the research process relates to the concept of auditability rather than fittingness. Auditability ensures that another researcher can follow the decision trail used by the investigator. While essential for rigor, it focuses on the transparency of the method and data collection steps. It does not address whether the findings can be applied or transferred to other contexts or groups, which is the primary concern of fittingness in qualitative work.
Choice B rationale
Allowing adequate time to understand a phenomenon is a component of credibility and prolonged engagement. This process ensures that the researcher has deeply explored the participants' experiences to represent them accurately. Credibility focuses on the truth value of the findings within the specific group being studied. Fittingness, however, looks outward to see if those credible findings resonate with people outside the original study group or in different clinical settings or populations.
Choice C rationale
The significance of research to nursing speaks to the overall importance and impact of the study on the profession. This evaluates whether the research addresses a meaningful gap in knowledge or improves practice. While significance is a vital part of critiquing any study, it is a broad evaluative category. Fittingness is a specific criterion that asks if the results are applicable to other similar situations, moving beyond general significance to specific clinical utility.
Choice D rationale
Fittingness in qualitative research refers to the degree of congruence between the study findings and the world outside the study. It is comparable to generalizability in quantitative research. The nurse asks if the findings are meaningful to individuals not involved in the research to determine if the results have "ring of truth" for others. This confirms that the lived experiences described can be recognized and applied by practitioners in different but similar environments.
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