A researcher intends to collect data, including patients' ratings ...

[Medesa]

A researcher intends to collect data, including patients' ratings of pain and anxiety, during a procedure. No electrical equipment or photography may be used in the procedure room.
 
  In order to record the various pain and anxiety ratings, the researcher may plan to use which of the following? (Select all that apply.)
  a. A plug-in word processor
  b. A form with large margins, or a column for comments, or both
  c. A pencil with an eraser
  d. A form with pre-labeled columns and rows
  e. A cell phone with camera

Question 2

Part of a research study entails that research subjects complete a printed form with checkboxes. The researcher decides ahead of time that any item that has more than one response checked will be treated as unanswered.
 
  What are logical ways the researcher can maximize properly answered items, without skewing the data? (Select all that apply.)
  a. Make a rule that if there are two checked replies, only the first one will be counted.
  b. When the researcher hands the form to the subjects, the researcher should specify One answer and one answer only for each these items, please, or I won't be able to include the double-answered ones in my report.
  c. Glance at the forms as they are about to be handed in, and if two boxes for an item are checked, ask the subject to address this.
  d. In the printed instructions at the top of the form, be sure to state that if a question has more than one response checked, that item will be treated as unanswered.
  e. Eliminate from the entire study any subject who double-selects an item.

[gabrielle_lawrence]

Answer to Question 1

ANS: B, C, D
Before data collection begins, the researcher develops or adapts forms on which to record data. These forms can be used to record demographic data, information from the patient record, observations, or values from physiological measures. The researcher also might need to collect other data that may be extraneous or confounding variables such as the subject's physician, stage of illness, length of illness or hospitalization, complications, date of data collection, time of day and day of week of data collection, and any untoward events that occur during the data collection period. Data collection forms must be designed so that the data are easily recorded. Pencil and paper are ideal, since they allow for erasure, in case the subject clarifies data.

Answer to Question 2

ANS: B, C, D
Decision rules for data entry should be finalized during the planning process. The researcher must realize that any decision rule may skew the data. For example, if a subject selects two responses for a single item, will the variable be coded as missing, or does the researcher want to specify that the lowest or highest value should be entered?