NSG 3130 ADVANCED NURSING
RESEARCH AND EVIDENCE-BASED
PRACTICE EXAM
1. Which of the following best describes the ‘I’ in a PICOT question when evaluating a new
wound care protocol?
A. The specific patient population with chronic ulcers
B. The rate of wound healing over six weeks
C. The standard of care using saline-soaked gauze
D. The application of a silver-impregnated dressing
Answer: D
Conceptual Explanation: In PICOT, ‘I’ stands for Intervention. The silver-impregnated
dressing is the specific intervention being tested.
2. A researcher is studying the lived experience of mothers of children with terminal illness.
Which qualitative design is most appropriate?
A. Grounded Theory
B. Phenomenology
,C. Ethnography
D. Case Study
Answer: B
Conceptual Explanation: Phenomenology focuses on the ‘lived experience’ of individuals
regarding a specific phenomenon.
3. In a quantitative study, what does a p-value of 0.03 indicate regarding the null hypothesis?
A. The null hypothesis is accepted.
B. The null hypothesis is rejected.
C. The results are clinically insignificant.
D. There is a 3% chance the null hypothesis is true.
Answer: B
Conceptual Explanation: A p-value less than 0.05 is typically the threshold for statistical
significance, leading the researcher to reject the null hypothesis.
4. Which level of evidence is considered the ‘gold standard’ for determining the effectiveness
of a clinical intervention?
A. Single correlational studies
B. Systematic reviews of Randomized Controlled Trials (RCTs)
C. Expert opinion and consensus reports
, D. Case-control studies
Answer: B
Conceptual Explanation: Level I evidence consists of systematic reviews or meta-analyses
of all relevant RCTs, providing the highest level of rigor.
5. A nurse researcher discovers that participants in the control group improved simply
because they were aware they were being observed. This is known as:
A. The Halo Effect
B. Selection Bias
C. The Hawthorne Effect
D. Maturation
Answer: C
Conceptual Explanation: The Hawthorne Effect occurs when study participants change
their behavior because they know they are being studied.
6. Which strategy is used in qualitative research to reduce researcher bias by documenting
personal preconceived notions?
A. Bracketing
B. Member Checking
C. Triangulation
D. Saturation
RESEARCH AND EVIDENCE-BASED
PRACTICE EXAM
1. Which of the following best describes the ‘I’ in a PICOT question when evaluating a new
wound care protocol?
A. The specific patient population with chronic ulcers
B. The rate of wound healing over six weeks
C. The standard of care using saline-soaked gauze
D. The application of a silver-impregnated dressing
Answer: D
Conceptual Explanation: In PICOT, ‘I’ stands for Intervention. The silver-impregnated
dressing is the specific intervention being tested.
2. A researcher is studying the lived experience of mothers of children with terminal illness.
Which qualitative design is most appropriate?
A. Grounded Theory
B. Phenomenology
,C. Ethnography
D. Case Study
Answer: B
Conceptual Explanation: Phenomenology focuses on the ‘lived experience’ of individuals
regarding a specific phenomenon.
3. In a quantitative study, what does a p-value of 0.03 indicate regarding the null hypothesis?
A. The null hypothesis is accepted.
B. The null hypothesis is rejected.
C. The results are clinically insignificant.
D. There is a 3% chance the null hypothesis is true.
Answer: B
Conceptual Explanation: A p-value less than 0.05 is typically the threshold for statistical
significance, leading the researcher to reject the null hypothesis.
4. Which level of evidence is considered the ‘gold standard’ for determining the effectiveness
of a clinical intervention?
A. Single correlational studies
B. Systematic reviews of Randomized Controlled Trials (RCTs)
C. Expert opinion and consensus reports
, D. Case-control studies
Answer: B
Conceptual Explanation: Level I evidence consists of systematic reviews or meta-analyses
of all relevant RCTs, providing the highest level of rigor.
5. A nurse researcher discovers that participants in the control group improved simply
because they were aware they were being observed. This is known as:
A. The Halo Effect
B. Selection Bias
C. The Hawthorne Effect
D. Maturation
Answer: C
Conceptual Explanation: The Hawthorne Effect occurs when study participants change
their behavior because they know they are being studied.
6. Which strategy is used in qualitative research to reduce researcher bias by documenting
personal preconceived notions?
A. Bracketing
B. Member Checking
C. Triangulation
D. Saturation
