NUR 3168 Research & Evidence Based Nursing
Comprehensive Final Exam (Qns & Ans)
2025
Question 1
A researcher wishes to determine the causal effect of a new fall‐
prevention protocol in an inpatient unit. Which study design
offers the highest level of internal validity for ANSing this
research question?
A. Cohort study
B. Case–control study
C. Randomized controlled trial (RCT)
D. Cross‑sectional study
ANS: C. Randomized controlled trial (RCT)
©2025
, Rationale: An RCT minimizes bias through random
assignment, which makes it the gold standard for establishing
causality and high internal validity in intervention research.
---
Question 2
When developing a clinical question for evidence‑based practice
using the PICOT format, which element is essential for specifying
the timeframe relevant to the intervention?
A. Patient/Population
B. Intervention
C. Comparison
D. Time
ANS: D. Time
Rationale: The “T” in PICOT represents Time and defines the
duration over which the intervention’s outcomes will be
measured, ensuring that the research question is specific and
ANSable.
---
©2025
, Question 3
A nurse is appraising a research article and notes the study’s
“p‑value” is reported as 0.03. What does this statistic most
accurately indicate?
A. There is a 3% probability the results occurred by chance if the
null hypothesis were true.
B. The effect size of the intervention is 3%.
C. There is a 97% certainty that the results are clinically
significant.
D. The study has a 3% margin of error.
ANS: A. There is a 3% probability the results occurred by
chance if the null hypothesis were true.
Rationale: A p‑value of 0.03 suggests that there is only a 3%
chance that the observed results are due to random variation,
providing evidence against the null hypothesis.
---
Question 4
Which of the following research designs is most effective at
synthesizing the results of multiple studies to provide a high level
of evidence for clinical decision‑making?
A. Narrative review
©2025
, B. Systematic review with meta‑analysis
C. Case report
D. Cross‑sectional study
ANS: B. Systematic review with meta‑analysis
Rationale: A systematic review with meta‑analysis rigorously
collects, critically appraises, and statistically combines results
from multiple studies, offering the highest level of evidence for
intervention effectiveness.
---
Question 5
A nurse researcher is assessing the internal validity of a study.
Which of the following aspects is most directly related to internal
validity?
A. The generalizability of the findings to other settings
B. The absence of systematic errors (bias) affecting the study’s
results
C. The cost‑effectiveness of the intervention
D. The clinical applicability of the results
©2025
Comprehensive Final Exam (Qns & Ans)
2025
Question 1
A researcher wishes to determine the causal effect of a new fall‐
prevention protocol in an inpatient unit. Which study design
offers the highest level of internal validity for ANSing this
research question?
A. Cohort study
B. Case–control study
C. Randomized controlled trial (RCT)
D. Cross‑sectional study
ANS: C. Randomized controlled trial (RCT)
©2025
, Rationale: An RCT minimizes bias through random
assignment, which makes it the gold standard for establishing
causality and high internal validity in intervention research.
---
Question 2
When developing a clinical question for evidence‑based practice
using the PICOT format, which element is essential for specifying
the timeframe relevant to the intervention?
A. Patient/Population
B. Intervention
C. Comparison
D. Time
ANS: D. Time
Rationale: The “T” in PICOT represents Time and defines the
duration over which the intervention’s outcomes will be
measured, ensuring that the research question is specific and
ANSable.
---
©2025
, Question 3
A nurse is appraising a research article and notes the study’s
“p‑value” is reported as 0.03. What does this statistic most
accurately indicate?
A. There is a 3% probability the results occurred by chance if the
null hypothesis were true.
B. The effect size of the intervention is 3%.
C. There is a 97% certainty that the results are clinically
significant.
D. The study has a 3% margin of error.
ANS: A. There is a 3% probability the results occurred by
chance if the null hypothesis were true.
Rationale: A p‑value of 0.03 suggests that there is only a 3%
chance that the observed results are due to random variation,
providing evidence against the null hypothesis.
---
Question 4
Which of the following research designs is most effective at
synthesizing the results of multiple studies to provide a high level
of evidence for clinical decision‑making?
A. Narrative review
©2025
, B. Systematic review with meta‑analysis
C. Case report
D. Cross‑sectional study
ANS: B. Systematic review with meta‑analysis
Rationale: A systematic review with meta‑analysis rigorously
collects, critically appraises, and statistically combines results
from multiple studies, offering the highest level of evidence for
intervention effectiveness.
---
Question 5
A nurse researcher is assessing the internal validity of a study.
Which of the following aspects is most directly related to internal
validity?
A. The generalizability of the findings to other settings
B. The absence of systematic errors (bias) affecting the study’s
results
C. The cost‑effectiveness of the intervention
D. The clinical applicability of the results
©2025
