NUR 5354 EXAM 2 EVIDENCE-BASED PRACTICE
AND RESEARCH IN NURSING ACTUAL EXAM
PREP 2026 ALL QUESTIONS AND CORRECT
DETAILED ANSWERS WITH RATIONALES
ALREADY A GRADED WITH EXPERT
FEEDBACK |NEW AND REVISED
1. A nurse researcher is formulating a PICOT question. The “C” in
PICOT stands for:
A) Comparison
B) Comparison (or Control)
C) Clinical
D) Criteria
Rationale: PICOT is an acronym for Population, Intervention,
Comparison, Outcome, and Time. The “C” represents the comparison
group or alternative intervention to which the intervention is
compared.
2. Which level of evidence from the Johns Hopkins Nursing Evidence-
Based Practice model is considered the strongest for treatment
effectiveness?
A) Level I (Meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials)
B) Level I (Meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials)
C) Level II (Randomized controlled trial)
D) Level III (Quasi-experimental study)
Rationale: Level I evidence includes systematic reviews and meta-
analyses of randomized controlled trials (RCTs), which provide the
highest level of evidence for questions of intervention effectiveness.
,3. A researcher wants to examine the lived experience of patients
undergoing chemotherapy. Which research approach is most
appropriate?
A) Randomized controlled trial
B) Phenomenology (qualitative)
C) Correlational study
D) Quasi-experimental design
Rationale: Phenomenology is a qualitative research approach that
focuses on understanding the essence of lived experiences of
individuals. Chemotherapy patients’ subjective experiences are best
captured through qualitative inquiry.
4. The “null hypothesis” in a quantitative study states that:
A) There is a relationship between variables
B) There is no statistically significant relationship between the
variables
C) The intervention is effective
D) The sample size is adequate
Rationale: The null hypothesis (H₀) posits no difference or no
relationship between variables. The researcher aims to either reject or
fail to reject the null hypothesis based on statistical analysis.
5. A study reports a p-value of 0.03. This means that the probability of
obtaining the observed results by chance alone is:
A) 3%
B) 3%
C) 30%
D) 0.3%
*Rationale: A p-value of 0.03 indicates a 3% probability that the
results are due to chance. If alpha is set at 0.05, the result is
statistically significant.*
,6. Which of the following is a characteristic of a randomized controlled
trial (RCT)?
A) Participants are assigned to groups based on preference
B) Participants are randomly assigned to intervention or control
groups
C) There is no control group
D) Only qualitative data are collected
Rationale: Random assignment of participants to intervention and
control groups is the defining feature of an RCT, which minimizes
selection bias and strengthens causal inference.
7. A nurse researcher is reviewing a study that uses a convenience
sample. This type of sampling is most vulnerable to which type of bias?
A) Measurement bias
B) Selection bias
C) Recall bias
D) Social desirability bias
Rationale: Convenience sampling selects participants who are readily
available, which can lead to selection bias because the sample may not
be representative of the target population.
8. The “P” in PICOT stands for:
A) Problem
B) Population (or Patient, Problem)
C) Procedure
D) Prediction
Rationale: The “P” in PICOT represents the population of interest,
which may also include patient characteristics or the clinical problem
of interest.
9. Which of the following is an example of a secondary source in a
literature review?
A) An original research article reporting a clinical trial
, B) A systematic review summarizing multiple studies on a topic
C) A patient’s medical record
D) A lab report
Rationale: A systematic review synthesizes findings from primary
studies, making it a secondary source. Original research articles are
primary sources.
10. A researcher measures the blood pressure of participants using a
calibrated automatic device. This is an example of which type of
measurement?
A) Self-report
B) Physiologic measurement
C) Observational measurement
D) Psychological measurement
Rationale: Physiologic measurements involve objective, clinical
assessments such as blood pressure, heart rate, or laboratory values.
11. A study design that follows a group of participants over time to
observe outcomes is called:
A) Cross-sectional study
B) Longitudinal study
C) Case study
D) Case-control study
Rationale: Longitudinal studies collect data from the same
participants at multiple time points, allowing observation of changes
or outcomes over an extended period.
12. A researcher uses a Likert scale to measure nurses’ attitudes toward
evidence-based practice. This scale produces which level of
measurement?
A) Nominal
B) Ordinal
AND RESEARCH IN NURSING ACTUAL EXAM
PREP 2026 ALL QUESTIONS AND CORRECT
DETAILED ANSWERS WITH RATIONALES
ALREADY A GRADED WITH EXPERT
FEEDBACK |NEW AND REVISED
1. A nurse researcher is formulating a PICOT question. The “C” in
PICOT stands for:
A) Comparison
B) Comparison (or Control)
C) Clinical
D) Criteria
Rationale: PICOT is an acronym for Population, Intervention,
Comparison, Outcome, and Time. The “C” represents the comparison
group or alternative intervention to which the intervention is
compared.
2. Which level of evidence from the Johns Hopkins Nursing Evidence-
Based Practice model is considered the strongest for treatment
effectiveness?
A) Level I (Meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials)
B) Level I (Meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials)
C) Level II (Randomized controlled trial)
D) Level III (Quasi-experimental study)
Rationale: Level I evidence includes systematic reviews and meta-
analyses of randomized controlled trials (RCTs), which provide the
highest level of evidence for questions of intervention effectiveness.
,3. A researcher wants to examine the lived experience of patients
undergoing chemotherapy. Which research approach is most
appropriate?
A) Randomized controlled trial
B) Phenomenology (qualitative)
C) Correlational study
D) Quasi-experimental design
Rationale: Phenomenology is a qualitative research approach that
focuses on understanding the essence of lived experiences of
individuals. Chemotherapy patients’ subjective experiences are best
captured through qualitative inquiry.
4. The “null hypothesis” in a quantitative study states that:
A) There is a relationship between variables
B) There is no statistically significant relationship between the
variables
C) The intervention is effective
D) The sample size is adequate
Rationale: The null hypothesis (H₀) posits no difference or no
relationship between variables. The researcher aims to either reject or
fail to reject the null hypothesis based on statistical analysis.
5. A study reports a p-value of 0.03. This means that the probability of
obtaining the observed results by chance alone is:
A) 3%
B) 3%
C) 30%
D) 0.3%
*Rationale: A p-value of 0.03 indicates a 3% probability that the
results are due to chance. If alpha is set at 0.05, the result is
statistically significant.*
,6. Which of the following is a characteristic of a randomized controlled
trial (RCT)?
A) Participants are assigned to groups based on preference
B) Participants are randomly assigned to intervention or control
groups
C) There is no control group
D) Only qualitative data are collected
Rationale: Random assignment of participants to intervention and
control groups is the defining feature of an RCT, which minimizes
selection bias and strengthens causal inference.
7. A nurse researcher is reviewing a study that uses a convenience
sample. This type of sampling is most vulnerable to which type of bias?
A) Measurement bias
B) Selection bias
C) Recall bias
D) Social desirability bias
Rationale: Convenience sampling selects participants who are readily
available, which can lead to selection bias because the sample may not
be representative of the target population.
8. The “P” in PICOT stands for:
A) Problem
B) Population (or Patient, Problem)
C) Procedure
D) Prediction
Rationale: The “P” in PICOT represents the population of interest,
which may also include patient characteristics or the clinical problem
of interest.
9. Which of the following is an example of a secondary source in a
literature review?
A) An original research article reporting a clinical trial
, B) A systematic review summarizing multiple studies on a topic
C) A patient’s medical record
D) A lab report
Rationale: A systematic review synthesizes findings from primary
studies, making it a secondary source. Original research articles are
primary sources.
10. A researcher measures the blood pressure of participants using a
calibrated automatic device. This is an example of which type of
measurement?
A) Self-report
B) Physiologic measurement
C) Observational measurement
D) Psychological measurement
Rationale: Physiologic measurements involve objective, clinical
assessments such as blood pressure, heart rate, or laboratory values.
11. A study design that follows a group of participants over time to
observe outcomes is called:
A) Cross-sectional study
B) Longitudinal study
C) Case study
D) Case-control study
Rationale: Longitudinal studies collect data from the same
participants at multiple time points, allowing observation of changes
or outcomes over an extended period.
12. A researcher uses a Likert scale to measure nurses’ attitudes toward
evidence-based practice. This scale produces which level of
measurement?
A) Nominal
B) Ordinal
