ADVANCED NURSING RESEARCH AND
EVIDENCE-BASED PRACTICE (NUR 505)
QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS
WITH DETAILED EXPLANATIONS
1. Which statistical test is most appropriate for comparing the means of three or more
independent groups when the data are normally distributed?
A. Independent t-test
B. Mann-Whitney U test
C. Chi-square test
D. Analysis of Variance (ANOVA)
Answer: D
Conceptual Explanation: ANOVA is designed to compare the means of three or more
groups. The independent t-test is only for two groups, while Chi-square is for categorical
data and Mann-Whitney is non-parametric.
2. In a research study, what occurs when a researcher fails to reject a null hypothesis that is
actually false?
A. Type I Error
,B. Type II Error
C. Selection Bias
D. Sampling Error
Answer: B
Conceptual Explanation: A Type II error (false negative) occurs when the researcher fails
to reject the null hypothesis despite the presence of a real effect.
3. Which level of evidence is considered the highest in the hierarchy of evidence for clinical
intervention studies?
A. Expert opinion and clinical guidelines
B. Single well-designed RCT
C. Case-control studies
D. Systematic review of randomized controlled trials (RCTs)
Answer: D
Conceptual Explanation: Systematic reviews and meta-analyses of all relevant RCTs
provide the most rigorous summary of evidence, sitting at the top of the hierarchy.
4. What is the primary purpose of a ‘Power Analysis’ in quantitative research?
A. To determine the statistical significance of the results
B. To calculate the correlation between two variables
, C. To estimate the required sample size to detect an effect
D. To assess the internal consistency of a tool
Answer: C
Conceptual Explanation: Power analysis is used a priori to determine the minimum
sample size needed to avoid a Type II error.
5. A researcher is studying the lived experience of mothers of children with terminal illness.
Which qualitative tradition is most appropriate?
A. Grounded Theory
B. Ethnography
C. Historical Research
D. Phenomenology
Answer: D
Conceptual Explanation: Phenomenology focuses on describing the ‘lived experience’ and
meaning of a specific phenomenon from the perspective of the participants.
6. What does a Cronbach’s alpha coefficient of 0.85 indicate regarding a research instrument?
A. Excellent stability over time
B. High internal consistency reliability
C. Strong predictive validity
EVIDENCE-BASED PRACTICE (NUR 505)
QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS
WITH DETAILED EXPLANATIONS
1. Which statistical test is most appropriate for comparing the means of three or more
independent groups when the data are normally distributed?
A. Independent t-test
B. Mann-Whitney U test
C. Chi-square test
D. Analysis of Variance (ANOVA)
Answer: D
Conceptual Explanation: ANOVA is designed to compare the means of three or more
groups. The independent t-test is only for two groups, while Chi-square is for categorical
data and Mann-Whitney is non-parametric.
2. In a research study, what occurs when a researcher fails to reject a null hypothesis that is
actually false?
A. Type I Error
,B. Type II Error
C. Selection Bias
D. Sampling Error
Answer: B
Conceptual Explanation: A Type II error (false negative) occurs when the researcher fails
to reject the null hypothesis despite the presence of a real effect.
3. Which level of evidence is considered the highest in the hierarchy of evidence for clinical
intervention studies?
A. Expert opinion and clinical guidelines
B. Single well-designed RCT
C. Case-control studies
D. Systematic review of randomized controlled trials (RCTs)
Answer: D
Conceptual Explanation: Systematic reviews and meta-analyses of all relevant RCTs
provide the most rigorous summary of evidence, sitting at the top of the hierarchy.
4. What is the primary purpose of a ‘Power Analysis’ in quantitative research?
A. To determine the statistical significance of the results
B. To calculate the correlation between two variables
, C. To estimate the required sample size to detect an effect
D. To assess the internal consistency of a tool
Answer: C
Conceptual Explanation: Power analysis is used a priori to determine the minimum
sample size needed to avoid a Type II error.
5. A researcher is studying the lived experience of mothers of children with terminal illness.
Which qualitative tradition is most appropriate?
A. Grounded Theory
B. Ethnography
C. Historical Research
D. Phenomenology
Answer: D
Conceptual Explanation: Phenomenology focuses on describing the ‘lived experience’ and
meaning of a specific phenomenon from the perspective of the participants.
6. What does a Cronbach’s alpha coefficient of 0.85 indicate regarding a research instrument?
A. Excellent stability over time
B. High internal consistency reliability
C. Strong predictive validity
