CBMT Research and Evidence-Based Practice 5 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A music therapy researcher uses a Likert scale to measure client satisfaction. What level of measurement does a Likert scale typically represent?
- Nominal
- Ratio
- Ordinal (Correct answer)
- Interval with a true zero
Correct answer: Ordinal
Likert scales produce ordinal data because the response options have a rank order but the intervals between them are not necessarily equal.
Question 2: What is the primary purpose of 'triangulation' in qualitative research?
- To calculate the angle of data distribution in a scatterplot
- To increase trustworthiness by using multiple data sources, methods, or investigators (Correct answer)
- To reduce the sample size needed for statistical significance
- To convert qualitative data into quantitative scores
Correct answer: To increase trustworthiness by using multiple data sources, methods, or investigators
Triangulation enhances credibility and trustworthiness in qualitative research by cross-checking findings through multiple sources, perspectives, or methods.
Question 3: According to AMTA's Code of Ethics, when a music therapist publishes research, which of the following is required?
- The therapist must obtain IRB approval retrospectively after publication
- Accurate reporting of methods, results, and potential conflicts of interest (Correct answer)
- Results must show statistically significant outcomes to be publishable
- Client identifiers must always be included for replication purposes
Correct answer: Accurate reporting of methods, results, and potential conflicts of interest
Ethical research publication requires honest, accurate reporting of methods and results, along with disclosure of any conflicts of interest that could bias the work.
Question 4: A meta-analysis on music therapy for pain management reports an overall effect size of g = 0.42. How would this be classified?
- Negligible effect
- Small effect
- Medium effect (Correct answer)
- Large effect
Correct answer: Medium effect
Using Hedges' g conventions (similar to Cohen's d), a value of 0.42 falls near the medium effect threshold, indicating a moderate but meaningful effect.
Question 5: Which of the following represents 'external validity' in a music therapy research study?
- The accuracy of the measurement instruments used in the study
- The degree to which findings can be generalized to other populations or settings (Correct answer)
- The consistency of results across repeated measurements within the same study
- The statistical relationship between the independent and dependent variables
Correct answer: The degree to which findings can be generalized to other populations or settings
External validity refers to how well a study's findings can be generalized beyond the specific sample and context in which it was conducted.
Question 6: A music therapist is searching PubMed for research on music therapy and autism. Which search strategy would yield the MOST focused results?
- Using broad terms like 'music' and 'therapy' separately
- Using Boolean operator AND to combine 'music therapy' AND 'autism spectrum disorder' (Correct answer)
- Searching only abstracts without using MeSH terms
- Limiting the search to studies published in non-peer-reviewed sources
Correct answer: Using Boolean operator AND to combine 'music therapy' AND 'autism spectrum disorder'
Using the Boolean operator AND to combine specific terms narrows the search to studies that address both topics simultaneously, improving relevance.
Question 7: In program evaluation, what distinguishes 'outcome evaluation' from 'process evaluation'?
- Outcome evaluation measures what happened to clients; process evaluation measures how the program was delivered (Correct answer)
- Outcome evaluation is conducted before the program; process evaluation occurs after
- Outcome evaluation uses only qualitative methods; process evaluation uses only quantitative methods
- Outcome evaluation is required by law; process evaluation is optional
Correct answer: Outcome evaluation measures what happened to clients; process evaluation measures how the program was delivered
Outcome evaluation assesses whether program goals were achieved (client changes), while process evaluation examines how the program was implemented (fidelity, dosage, activities).
CBMT Research and Evidence-Based Practice 5
A music therapy researcher uses a Likert scale to measure client satisfaction.
What level of measurement does a Likert scale typically represent?