CWP Research Methods and Evidence 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which statistical measure best describes the spread of data around the mean in a wellness intervention study?
- Standard deviation (Correct answer)
- Median
- Mode
- Range
Correct answer: Standard deviation
Standard deviation quantifies how much individual data points deviate from the mean, making it the most informative measure of variability in wellness research.
Question 2: A wellness researcher wants to establish that a mindfulness program CAUSES reduced stress rather than simply correlating with it. Which design is most appropriate?
- Randomized controlled trial (Correct answer)
- Cross-sectional survey
- Case study
- Retrospective cohort
Correct answer: Randomized controlled trial
A randomized controlled trial with random assignment and a control group is the gold standard for establishing causality in intervention research.
Question 3: What does a p-value of 0.03 indicate in wellness research?
- There is a 3% probability the result occurred by chance if the null hypothesis is true (Correct answer)
- The intervention works 97% of the time
- The effect size is large
- The sample size is adequate
Correct answer: There is a 3% probability the result occurred by chance if the null hypothesis is true
A p-value of 0.03 means there is a 3% probability of observing results at least this extreme if the null hypothesis (no effect) were true.
Question 4: In a wellness study, 'blinding' participants to whether they receive the active intervention primarily prevents which bias?
- Placebo effect and response bias (Correct answer)
- Selection bias
- Attrition bias
- Reporting bias
Correct answer: Placebo effect and response bias
Blinding prevents participants from changing their behavior or self-reporting based on knowledge of their group assignment, controlling for the placebo effect and response bias.
Question 5: Which type of validity refers to how well a wellness questionnaire actually measures the construct it claims to measure?
- Construct validity (Correct answer)
- External validity
- Internal validity
- Face validity
Correct answer: Construct validity
Construct validity confirms that an instrument truly measures the theoretical construct of interest, such as subjective well-being or resilience.
Question 6: A CWP reviews a study where participants who dropped out were sicker than those who completed the program. This is an example of:
- Attrition bias (Correct answer)
- Recall bias
- Observer bias
- Sampling bias
Correct answer: Attrition bias
Attrition bias occurs when participants who leave a study differ systematically from those who stay, potentially skewing the results.
Question 7: The number needed to treat (NNT) is best used by a wellness practitioner to:
- Communicate the clinical utility of an intervention to clients (Correct answer)
- Calculate statistical significance
- Determine sample size
- Assess measurement reliability
Correct answer: Communicate the clinical utility of an intervention to clients
NNT tells practitioners how many people need to receive the intervention for one additional person to benefit, making it a practical communication tool.
CWP Research Methods and Evidence 2
Which statistical measure best describes the spread of data around the mean in a wellness intervention study?