NSG 3160 MIDTERM EXAM STUDY
GUIDE: NURSING RESEARCH AND
EVIDENCE-BASED PRACTICE
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS AND
EXPLANATIONS
1. Which component of the PICOT format refers to the specific primary result expected from
an intervention?
A. Population
B. Intervention
C. Outcome
D. Comparison
Answer: C
Conceptual Explanation: The ‘O’ in PICOT stands for Outcome, which represents the
expected result or effect of the intervention being studied.
,2. Which level of evidence is considered the highest in the hierarchy of evidence for practice
decisions?
A. Single Randomized Controlled Trial (RCT)
B. Case-control studies
C. Systematic review or meta-analysis of all relevant RCTs
D. Expert opinion and clinical guidelines
Answer: C
Conceptual Explanation: Systematic reviews and meta-analyses synthesize multiple high-
quality studies, providing the most robust evidence base.
3. In a research study, what is the variable that the researcher manipulates to observe its
effect?
A. Dependent variable
B. Extraneous variable
C. Confounding variable
D. Independent variable
Answer: D
Conceptual Explanation: The independent variable is the intervention or treatment that is
manipulated to test its influence on the dependent variable.
, 4. A researcher is studying the lived experience of mothers who have lost a child to sudden
infant death syndrome. Which qualitative approach is most appropriate?
A. Ethnography
B. Historical Research
C. Grounded Theory
D. Phenomenology
Answer: D
Conceptual Explanation: Phenomenology focuses on describing the ‘lived experience’ of
individuals regarding a specific phenomenon.
5. What occurs when a researcher rejects the null hypothesis when it is actually true?
A. Type I error
B. Type II error
C. Statistical power
D. Sampling bias
Answer: A
Conceptual Explanation: A Type I error (false positive) happens when the researcher
concludes there is a significant effect when there is not.
GUIDE: NURSING RESEARCH AND
EVIDENCE-BASED PRACTICE
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS AND
EXPLANATIONS
1. Which component of the PICOT format refers to the specific primary result expected from
an intervention?
A. Population
B. Intervention
C. Outcome
D. Comparison
Answer: C
Conceptual Explanation: The ‘O’ in PICOT stands for Outcome, which represents the
expected result or effect of the intervention being studied.
,2. Which level of evidence is considered the highest in the hierarchy of evidence for practice
decisions?
A. Single Randomized Controlled Trial (RCT)
B. Case-control studies
C. Systematic review or meta-analysis of all relevant RCTs
D. Expert opinion and clinical guidelines
Answer: C
Conceptual Explanation: Systematic reviews and meta-analyses synthesize multiple high-
quality studies, providing the most robust evidence base.
3. In a research study, what is the variable that the researcher manipulates to observe its
effect?
A. Dependent variable
B. Extraneous variable
C. Confounding variable
D. Independent variable
Answer: D
Conceptual Explanation: The independent variable is the intervention or treatment that is
manipulated to test its influence on the dependent variable.
, 4. A researcher is studying the lived experience of mothers who have lost a child to sudden
infant death syndrome. Which qualitative approach is most appropriate?
A. Ethnography
B. Historical Research
C. Grounded Theory
D. Phenomenology
Answer: D
Conceptual Explanation: Phenomenology focuses on describing the ‘lived experience’ of
individuals regarding a specific phenomenon.
5. What occurs when a researcher rejects the null hypothesis when it is actually true?
A. Type I error
B. Type II error
C. Statistical power
D. Sampling bias
Answer: A
Conceptual Explanation: A Type I error (false positive) happens when the researcher
concludes there is a significant effect when there is not.
