LSA Research Methods and Evidence-Based Practice 2

Question 1

Which of the following is an example of a PICO question format used in evidence-based practice?

Accepted Answer

In adults with depression (P), does cognitive behavioral therapy (I) compared to medication alone (C) improve depressive symptoms (O)?

Answer

Why do clients with depression fail to improve?

Answer

What are the general characteristics of depressed clients?

Answer

How many clients have depression in our agency?

Question 2

What is the primary advantage of using a standardized assessment tool over an informal clinical interview?

Accepted Answer

Standardized tools provide consistent, normed measurements that allow comparison across clients

Answer

Standardized tools are always more culturally appropriate

Answer

Standardized tools eliminate the need for clinical judgment

Answer

Standardized tools are faster to administer in all settings

Question 3

A social worker notices that clients from minority backgrounds consistently score lower on a particular assessment tool than the clinical presentation seems to warrant. This concern most likely relates to which measurement issue?

Accepted Answer

Cultural bias in the assessment instrument

Answer

Social desirability bias

Answer

Test-retest reliability

Answer

Sampling error

Question 4

In research terminology, 'external validity' refers to which of the following?

Accepted Answer

The degree to which findings can be generalized to other populations and settings

Answer

Whether the study measures what it claims to measure

Answer

Whether the study was conducted without researcher bias

Answer

The consistency of the research instrument over time

Question 5

Which sampling method would provide the most representative sample of all social work clients served by a large agency?

Accepted Answer

Random sampling

Answer

Convenience sampling

Answer

Snowball sampling

Answer

Purposive sampling

Question 6

A meta-analysis differs from a systematic review primarily in that it:

Accepted Answer

Statistically combines results from multiple studies to produce an overall effect size

Answer

Focuses only on qualitative studies

Answer

Reviews only studies conducted in clinical inpatient settings

Answer

Relies on expert opinion rather than empirical data

Question 7

Which research design is best suited for studying the natural progression of a social problem over time within a specific community?

Accepted Answer

Longitudinal study

Answer

Experimental study

Answer

Cross-sectional survey

Answer

Single-subject design