Why is the visual analogue scale (VAS) used so frequently in ...

[renzo156]

Why is the visual analogue scale (VAS) used so frequently in health care research? (Select all that apply.)
 
  a. Validity is the same, regardless of how the visual analogue scale is used.
  b. It elicits nominal-level data.
  c. It is easy for clients to understand.
  d. It is more sensitive to small changes than are numerical and rating scales.
  e. It requires a minimum of translation to be used in languages other than English.
  f. It is easy to administer and score.

Question 2

The principal disadvantages of administering open-ended questions are which of the following? (Select all that apply.)
 
  a. They are difficult to construct.
  b. They are time-consuming to analyze.
  c. They are impractical for use with large samples.
  d. They cannot produce exhaustive, exclusive answers.
  e. They force answers.
  f. They can be difficult to interpret.

[macmac]

Answer to Question 1

ANS: C, D, E, F
The visual analog scale (VAS) is a magnitude scale particularly useful in scaling stimuli. Measured stimuli must be defined in a way that the subject clearly understands. Only one major cue should appear for each scale. The scale is a line 100 mm in length with right-angle stops at each end. Bipolar anchors are placed beyond each end of the line. The VAS is frequently used in health care research since it is easy to construct, administer, and score. The VAS is more sensitive to small changes than numerical and rating scales are and can discriminate between two dimensions of pain. Validity of the VAS has most commonly been determined by comparing the VAS scores with other measures of a concept. For example, Winkelman, Norma, Maloney, and Kless (2008) compared VAS scores with dermatome assessment in measuring pain during labor. The following study excerpt describes the agreement between these two measures of pain in laboring women who received an epidural analgesia.

Answer to Question 2

ANS: B, C, F
Data from open-ended questions are often difficult to interpret, and content analysis may be used to extract meaning. Open-ended questionnaire items are not advised if data are being obtained from large samples.