Which of the following statements about quantitative research is accurate? (Select all that apply.)
a. The results of quantitative research should be generalized back to the population from which the sample was drawn.
b. Quantitative research is always easy and straightforward to read and understand.
c. Quantitative research addresses quantities, connections, and causes.
d. Quantitative research predominates in the nursing research literature.
e. Quantitative research is always experimental.
f. Quantitative research provides answers to "What?" and "Who?" questions.
ANS: A, C, D, F
The quantitative approach to scientific inquiry emerged from a branch of philosophy called logical positivism, which operates on strict rules of logic, truth, laws, axioms, and predictions. Quantitative research requires the use of structured interviews, questionnaires, or observations, scales, or physiological measures that generate numerical data. Statistical analyses are conducted to reduce and organize data, describe variables, examine relationships, and determine differences among groups. Control, instruments, and statistical analyses are used to ensure that the research findings accurately reflect reality so that the study findings can be generalized. Generalization involves the application of trends or general tendencies (which are identified by studying a sample) to the population from which the research sample was drawn. Researchers must be cautious in making generalizations, because a sound generalization requires the support of many studies with a variety of samples.
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