NURS 328: UNDERSTANDING RESEARCH
Original Expanded Nursing Research Exam Study Guide
Evidence-Based Practice • Research Foundations • Ethics • Research Questions • Literature Review • Quantitative &
Qualitative Design • Sampling • Data Collection • Analysis • Critical Appraisal • Knowledge Translation
Original-material notice: This guide is independently written from the publicly available NURS 328 course outline and the
general subject area of the linked study resource. It does not reproduce the paid Stuvia document, hidden/locked material, or
proprietary assessment questions.
Course alignment: Athabasca University describes NURS 328 as an introduction to the research process and analytical tools
used to critically evaluate research reports. The current course outline contains 12 units, ranging from the value of research
and philosophical foundations through qualitative/quantitative research, ethics, research questions, literature review, design,
sampling/data collection, analysis, critique, and knowledge translation. ■cite■turn0search0■
Study note: Use this guide as a companion to the current AU course materials and assigned readings. Athabasca University
notes that course outlines and materials may be amended, so the current course site should take precedence when there is a
discrepancy. ■cite■turn0search0■
NURS 328 Original Expanded Study Guide • Page 1
,UNIT 1 — THE VALUE OF RESEARCH & EVIDENCE-INFORMED PRACTICE
What is research?
Research is a systematic inquiry that uses planned methods to answer questions, develop knowledge, test ideas, or solve
problems.
What is nursing research?
Nursing research is systematic inquiry that develops trustworthy evidence relevant to nursing practice, patients/clients,
health systems, education, leadership, and policy.
What is clinical nursing research?
Research focused on questions arising from clinical care and intended to improve understanding, decisions, processes,
outcomes, or patient/client experiences.
What is evidence-informed practice?
The integration of the best available evidence with clinical expertise, patient/client preferences and values, and the context
in which care is delivered.
Who are consumers of nursing research?
Nurses and other professionals who read, interpret, evaluate, and apply research findings.
Who are producers of nursing research?
Researchers who design, conduct, analyze, interpret, and disseminate studies.
What is translational research?
Research concerned with moving knowledge or findings toward practical application and determining how evidence can be
implemented effectively.
What is clinical significance?
The practical importance of a finding—whether the size or nature of an effect matters to patients, clinicians, or
decisions—not merely whether a statistical test is significant.
What is quality improvement (QI)?
Systematic work intended to improve processes or outcomes within a particular organization, service, or population; QI and
research can overlap but have different primary purposes.
What is benchmarking?
Comparing performance indicators with a reference point, such as previous performance, a target, or another organization,
to identify areas for improvement.
Why is research important to nursing?
It supports safer care, better outcomes, professional accountability, effective interventions, policy development, and
continuous improvement.
Exam trap
Evidence-informed practice is broader than simply 'doing what a research article says.' Context, expertise, values, feasibility,
and the strength and relevance of evidence matter.
UNIT 2 — PHILOSOPHICAL FOUNDATIONS OF RESEARCH
What is a research paradigm?
A broad worldview or set of assumptions about reality, knowledge, values, and how knowledge should be generated.
NURS 328 Original Expanded Study Guide • Page 2
, What is ontology?
Assumptions about the nature of reality or what exists.
What is epistemology?
Assumptions about what knowledge is, how knowledge can be known, and how claims of knowledge can be justified.
What is methodology?
The overall logic and approach used to conduct a study, including how methods fit the research question and philosophical
assumptions.
What is positivism?
A philosophical orientation emphasizing observable phenomena, measurement, systematic testing, and empirical evidence.
What is postpositivism?
A perspective recognizing empirical inquiry while acknowledging that observation and knowledge are imperfect and
influenced by limitations.
What is constructivism?
A perspective emphasizing that people construct meanings and understandings through experience and interaction.
What is interpretivism?
An approach focused on understanding meanings, experiences, and interpretations within social and contextual settings.
What is pragmatism?
A problem-oriented perspective that emphasizes what methods best address the research question and practical purpose,
often supporting mixed methods.
Why do philosophical assumptions matter?
They influence the kinds of questions asked, what counts as evidence, how data are collected and interpreted, and which
methodologies are appropriate.
UNIT 3 — QUALITATIVE, QUANTITATIVE & MIXED METHODS
What is quantitative research?
Research that uses numerical measurement and statistical analysis to describe phenomena, examine relationships,
estimate effects, or test hypotheses.
What is qualitative research?
Research that seeks to understand meanings, experiences, perspectives, processes, and contexts using non-numerical or
richly descriptive data.
What is mixed-methods research?
A planned integration of quantitative and qualitative approaches within one research project or program of inquiry.
When is quantitative research particularly useful?
When the goal involves measuring variables, estimating frequency, comparing groups, testing relationships, or evaluating
effects.
When is qualitative research particularly useful?
When the goal involves exploring experience, meaning, social processes, perceptions, culture, or complex contextual
phenomena.
What is a variable?
NURS 328 Original Expanded Study Guide • Page 3
Original Expanded Nursing Research Exam Study Guide
Evidence-Based Practice • Research Foundations • Ethics • Research Questions • Literature Review • Quantitative &
Qualitative Design • Sampling • Data Collection • Analysis • Critical Appraisal • Knowledge Translation
Original-material notice: This guide is independently written from the publicly available NURS 328 course outline and the
general subject area of the linked study resource. It does not reproduce the paid Stuvia document, hidden/locked material, or
proprietary assessment questions.
Course alignment: Athabasca University describes NURS 328 as an introduction to the research process and analytical tools
used to critically evaluate research reports. The current course outline contains 12 units, ranging from the value of research
and philosophical foundations through qualitative/quantitative research, ethics, research questions, literature review, design,
sampling/data collection, analysis, critique, and knowledge translation. ■cite■turn0search0■
Study note: Use this guide as a companion to the current AU course materials and assigned readings. Athabasca University
notes that course outlines and materials may be amended, so the current course site should take precedence when there is a
discrepancy. ■cite■turn0search0■
NURS 328 Original Expanded Study Guide • Page 1
,UNIT 1 — THE VALUE OF RESEARCH & EVIDENCE-INFORMED PRACTICE
What is research?
Research is a systematic inquiry that uses planned methods to answer questions, develop knowledge, test ideas, or solve
problems.
What is nursing research?
Nursing research is systematic inquiry that develops trustworthy evidence relevant to nursing practice, patients/clients,
health systems, education, leadership, and policy.
What is clinical nursing research?
Research focused on questions arising from clinical care and intended to improve understanding, decisions, processes,
outcomes, or patient/client experiences.
What is evidence-informed practice?
The integration of the best available evidence with clinical expertise, patient/client preferences and values, and the context
in which care is delivered.
Who are consumers of nursing research?
Nurses and other professionals who read, interpret, evaluate, and apply research findings.
Who are producers of nursing research?
Researchers who design, conduct, analyze, interpret, and disseminate studies.
What is translational research?
Research concerned with moving knowledge or findings toward practical application and determining how evidence can be
implemented effectively.
What is clinical significance?
The practical importance of a finding—whether the size or nature of an effect matters to patients, clinicians, or
decisions—not merely whether a statistical test is significant.
What is quality improvement (QI)?
Systematic work intended to improve processes or outcomes within a particular organization, service, or population; QI and
research can overlap but have different primary purposes.
What is benchmarking?
Comparing performance indicators with a reference point, such as previous performance, a target, or another organization,
to identify areas for improvement.
Why is research important to nursing?
It supports safer care, better outcomes, professional accountability, effective interventions, policy development, and
continuous improvement.
Exam trap
Evidence-informed practice is broader than simply 'doing what a research article says.' Context, expertise, values, feasibility,
and the strength and relevance of evidence matter.
UNIT 2 — PHILOSOPHICAL FOUNDATIONS OF RESEARCH
What is a research paradigm?
A broad worldview or set of assumptions about reality, knowledge, values, and how knowledge should be generated.
NURS 328 Original Expanded Study Guide • Page 2
, What is ontology?
Assumptions about the nature of reality or what exists.
What is epistemology?
Assumptions about what knowledge is, how knowledge can be known, and how claims of knowledge can be justified.
What is methodology?
The overall logic and approach used to conduct a study, including how methods fit the research question and philosophical
assumptions.
What is positivism?
A philosophical orientation emphasizing observable phenomena, measurement, systematic testing, and empirical evidence.
What is postpositivism?
A perspective recognizing empirical inquiry while acknowledging that observation and knowledge are imperfect and
influenced by limitations.
What is constructivism?
A perspective emphasizing that people construct meanings and understandings through experience and interaction.
What is interpretivism?
An approach focused on understanding meanings, experiences, and interpretations within social and contextual settings.
What is pragmatism?
A problem-oriented perspective that emphasizes what methods best address the research question and practical purpose,
often supporting mixed methods.
Why do philosophical assumptions matter?
They influence the kinds of questions asked, what counts as evidence, how data are collected and interpreted, and which
methodologies are appropriate.
UNIT 3 — QUALITATIVE, QUANTITATIVE & MIXED METHODS
What is quantitative research?
Research that uses numerical measurement and statistical analysis to describe phenomena, examine relationships,
estimate effects, or test hypotheses.
What is qualitative research?
Research that seeks to understand meanings, experiences, perspectives, processes, and contexts using non-numerical or
richly descriptive data.
What is mixed-methods research?
A planned integration of quantitative and qualitative approaches within one research project or program of inquiry.
When is quantitative research particularly useful?
When the goal involves measuring variables, estimating frequency, comparing groups, testing relationships, or evaluating
effects.
When is qualitative research particularly useful?
When the goal involves exploring experience, meaning, social processes, perceptions, culture, or complex contextual
phenomena.
What is a variable?
NURS 328 Original Expanded Study Guide • Page 3
