NUR 505 MIDTERM EXAM: ADVANCED
NURSING RESEARCH AND EVIDENCE-
BASED PRACTICE QUESTIONS AND
CORRECT ANSWERS WITH DETAILED
EXPLANATIONS
1. When evaluating the hierarchy of evidence, which study design is considered the ‘gold
standard’ for determining the efficacy of a specific intervention while minimizing selection
bias?
A. Systematic Review of Observational Studies
B. Randomized Controlled Trial (RCT)
C. Case-Control Study
D. Cohort Study
Answer: B
Conceptual Explanation: The Randomized Controlled Trial (RCT) is considered the gold
standard for intervention effectiveness because randomization minimizes selection bias
and balances unknown confounding variables between groups.
2. In the PICO(T) framework for evidence-based practice, what does the ‘T’ represent, and is it
always required?
A. Timeframe; No, it is not always relevant to every clinical question
,B. Target Population; No, the population is already defined by ‘P’
C. Treatment; Yes, it defines the intervention
D. Testing; Yes, for diagnostic accuracy studies
Answer: A
Conceptual Explanation: In PICO(T), ‘T’ stands for Timeframe. While highly useful for
defining the duration of an intervention or observation, it is the only optional component of
the framework depending on the clinical question.
3. A researcher is studying the lived experience of parental grief following the loss of a child.
Which qualitative methodology is most appropriate for this study?
A. Grounded Theory
B. Ethnography
C. Phenomenology
D. Historical Research
Answer: C
Conceptual Explanation: Phenomenology is specifically designed to explore and describe
the ‘lived experience’ of individuals regarding a particular phenomenon, such as grief.
4. Which ethical principle from the Belmont Report is violated if a researcher excludes a
specific ethnic group from a study that could potentially benefit that population?
A. Beneficence
, B. Non-maleficence
C. Respect for Persons
D. Justice
Answer: D
Conceptual Explanation: The principle of Justice requires that the benefits and burdens of
research are distributed fairly. Excluding a group that could benefit from the research
without a valid scientific reason violates this principle.
5. A nursing student is reviewing a study where the Cronbach’s alpha for a new pain scale is
reported as 0.45. How should the student interpret this finding?
A. The scale has high internal consistency reliability.
B. The scale has high construct validity.
C. The scale has low internal consistency reliability.
D. The scale has low criterion validity.
Answer: C
Conceptual Explanation: Cronbach’s alpha measures internal consistency. A value of 0.70
or higher is generally considered acceptable for a research instrument; 0.45 is significantly
below this threshold, indicating low reliability.
NURSING RESEARCH AND EVIDENCE-
BASED PRACTICE QUESTIONS AND
CORRECT ANSWERS WITH DETAILED
EXPLANATIONS
1. When evaluating the hierarchy of evidence, which study design is considered the ‘gold
standard’ for determining the efficacy of a specific intervention while minimizing selection
bias?
A. Systematic Review of Observational Studies
B. Randomized Controlled Trial (RCT)
C. Case-Control Study
D. Cohort Study
Answer: B
Conceptual Explanation: The Randomized Controlled Trial (RCT) is considered the gold
standard for intervention effectiveness because randomization minimizes selection bias
and balances unknown confounding variables between groups.
2. In the PICO(T) framework for evidence-based practice, what does the ‘T’ represent, and is it
always required?
A. Timeframe; No, it is not always relevant to every clinical question
,B. Target Population; No, the population is already defined by ‘P’
C. Treatment; Yes, it defines the intervention
D. Testing; Yes, for diagnostic accuracy studies
Answer: A
Conceptual Explanation: In PICO(T), ‘T’ stands for Timeframe. While highly useful for
defining the duration of an intervention or observation, it is the only optional component of
the framework depending on the clinical question.
3. A researcher is studying the lived experience of parental grief following the loss of a child.
Which qualitative methodology is most appropriate for this study?
A. Grounded Theory
B. Ethnography
C. Phenomenology
D. Historical Research
Answer: C
Conceptual Explanation: Phenomenology is specifically designed to explore and describe
the ‘lived experience’ of individuals regarding a particular phenomenon, such as grief.
4. Which ethical principle from the Belmont Report is violated if a researcher excludes a
specific ethnic group from a study that could potentially benefit that population?
A. Beneficence
, B. Non-maleficence
C. Respect for Persons
D. Justice
Answer: D
Conceptual Explanation: The principle of Justice requires that the benefits and burdens of
research are distributed fairly. Excluding a group that could benefit from the research
without a valid scientific reason violates this principle.
5. A nursing student is reviewing a study where the Cronbach’s alpha for a new pain scale is
reported as 0.45. How should the student interpret this finding?
A. The scale has high internal consistency reliability.
B. The scale has high construct validity.
C. The scale has low internal consistency reliability.
D. The scale has low criterion validity.
Answer: C
Conceptual Explanation: Cronbach’s alpha measures internal consistency. A value of 0.70
or higher is generally considered acceptable for a research instrument; 0.45 is significantly
below this threshold, indicating low reliability.
