NR 449 Exam 2 2026/2027 – Evidence-Based Practice |
Questions, Answers with Rationales
Section 1: Evidence Appraisal
1. What is the primary purpose of critically appraising research
evidence?
A. To determine whether the article is interesting
B. To determine the quality, validity, and applicability of the
evidence
C. To increase the number of citations
D. To identify the oldest study
Answer: B
Rationale: Critical appraisal determines whether evidence is
trustworthy, relevant, and appropriate for clinical use.
2. Which question is most important when evaluating a research
article?
A. Is the article lengthy?
B. Was the research design appropriate for the question?
C. Does the article have many tables?
D. Was the article written by a nurse?
Answer: B
Rationale: The research design should appropriately address the
study question.
3. Which characteristic strengthens confidence in research findings?
A. Clear methodology
B. Anonymous methods
C. Unsupported conclusions
D. Missing data
Answer: A
Rationale: Transparent and appropriate methodology improves
confidence in study findings.
,4. What does methodological rigor refer to?
A. The systematic quality of the methods used in a study
B. The number of pages in an article
C. The number of authors
D. The journal's advertising budget
Answer: A
Rationale: Methodological rigor concerns how carefully and
systematically a study is designed and conducted.
5. Which factor should be considered when deciding whether
evidence applies to a patient?
A. Patient characteristics
B. Article font
C. Number of references only
D. Journal cover
Answer: A
Rationale: Patient characteristics can affect applicability of research
findings.
6. What does applicability mean in EBP?
A. Whether evidence can reasonably be used in a particular clinical
situation
B. Whether the study was expensive
C. Whether the article has many citations
D. Whether the research was conducted internationally
Answer: A
Rationale: Applicability concerns whether findings fit the patient,
setting, resources, and clinical circumstances.
7. Which is an example of a study limitation?
A. Small sample size
B. Clearly defined variables
C. Valid measurement tools
D. Appropriate statistical analysis
,Answer: A
Rationale: A small sample can limit precision and applicability,
depending on the study.
8. Why should study limitations be considered?
A. They help determine how much confidence to place in the
findings
B. They automatically invalidate the study
C. They eliminate the need for appraisal
D. They prove the research is false
Answer: A
Rationale: Limitations help clinicians understand uncertainty and
potential threats to validity.
9. What is a strength of using a validated measurement instrument?
A. It has evidence supporting its ability to measure the intended
construct
B. It guarantees significant findings
C. It eliminates all bias
D. It guarantees generalizability
Answer: A
Rationale: Validated instruments have established evidence
supporting their measurement properties.
10. Which finding should make a nurse cautious about accepting
study conclusions?
A. Major methodological weaknesses
B. Clear research question
C. Appropriate sample
D. Consistent measurement
Answer: A
Rationale: Major methodological weaknesses can threaten the
validity of conclusions.
, Section 2: Bias
11. What is research bias?
A. Systematic error that can distort study findings
B. Random variation
C. Statistical significance
D. Participant satisfaction
Answer: A
Rationale: Bias is systematic error that can lead to inaccurate
estimates or conclusions.
12. Selection bias occurs when:
A. Participant selection systematically affects study results
B. Researchers use a validated tool
C. Participants are randomized appropriately
D. Data are analyzed correctly
Answer: A
Rationale: Selection processes that create systematic differences
can distort findings.
13. Recall bias is particularly associated with:
A. Participants inaccurately remembering past events
B. Random assignment
C. Blinding
D. Meta-analysis
Answer: A
Rationale: Recall bias occurs when participants remember past
exposures or experiences inaccurately or differently.
14. What is observer bias?
A. Researcher expectations influence observations or measurements
B. Participants are randomly selected
C. A study has a large sample
D. Results are statistically significant
Questions, Answers with Rationales
Section 1: Evidence Appraisal
1. What is the primary purpose of critically appraising research
evidence?
A. To determine whether the article is interesting
B. To determine the quality, validity, and applicability of the
evidence
C. To increase the number of citations
D. To identify the oldest study
Answer: B
Rationale: Critical appraisal determines whether evidence is
trustworthy, relevant, and appropriate for clinical use.
2. Which question is most important when evaluating a research
article?
A. Is the article lengthy?
B. Was the research design appropriate for the question?
C. Does the article have many tables?
D. Was the article written by a nurse?
Answer: B
Rationale: The research design should appropriately address the
study question.
3. Which characteristic strengthens confidence in research findings?
A. Clear methodology
B. Anonymous methods
C. Unsupported conclusions
D. Missing data
Answer: A
Rationale: Transparent and appropriate methodology improves
confidence in study findings.
,4. What does methodological rigor refer to?
A. The systematic quality of the methods used in a study
B. The number of pages in an article
C. The number of authors
D. The journal's advertising budget
Answer: A
Rationale: Methodological rigor concerns how carefully and
systematically a study is designed and conducted.
5. Which factor should be considered when deciding whether
evidence applies to a patient?
A. Patient characteristics
B. Article font
C. Number of references only
D. Journal cover
Answer: A
Rationale: Patient characteristics can affect applicability of research
findings.
6. What does applicability mean in EBP?
A. Whether evidence can reasonably be used in a particular clinical
situation
B. Whether the study was expensive
C. Whether the article has many citations
D. Whether the research was conducted internationally
Answer: A
Rationale: Applicability concerns whether findings fit the patient,
setting, resources, and clinical circumstances.
7. Which is an example of a study limitation?
A. Small sample size
B. Clearly defined variables
C. Valid measurement tools
D. Appropriate statistical analysis
,Answer: A
Rationale: A small sample can limit precision and applicability,
depending on the study.
8. Why should study limitations be considered?
A. They help determine how much confidence to place in the
findings
B. They automatically invalidate the study
C. They eliminate the need for appraisal
D. They prove the research is false
Answer: A
Rationale: Limitations help clinicians understand uncertainty and
potential threats to validity.
9. What is a strength of using a validated measurement instrument?
A. It has evidence supporting its ability to measure the intended
construct
B. It guarantees significant findings
C. It eliminates all bias
D. It guarantees generalizability
Answer: A
Rationale: Validated instruments have established evidence
supporting their measurement properties.
10. Which finding should make a nurse cautious about accepting
study conclusions?
A. Major methodological weaknesses
B. Clear research question
C. Appropriate sample
D. Consistent measurement
Answer: A
Rationale: Major methodological weaknesses can threaten the
validity of conclusions.
, Section 2: Bias
11. What is research bias?
A. Systematic error that can distort study findings
B. Random variation
C. Statistical significance
D. Participant satisfaction
Answer: A
Rationale: Bias is systematic error that can lead to inaccurate
estimates or conclusions.
12. Selection bias occurs when:
A. Participant selection systematically affects study results
B. Researchers use a validated tool
C. Participants are randomized appropriately
D. Data are analyzed correctly
Answer: A
Rationale: Selection processes that create systematic differences
can distort findings.
13. Recall bias is particularly associated with:
A. Participants inaccurately remembering past events
B. Random assignment
C. Blinding
D. Meta-analysis
Answer: A
Rationale: Recall bias occurs when participants remember past
exposures or experiences inaccurately or differently.
14. What is observer bias?
A. Researcher expectations influence observations or measurements
B. Participants are randomly selected
C. A study has a large sample
D. Results are statistically significant
