NUR 389 - Final Exam Questions and Answers Already Passed Latest Update 2025-2026
The nurse researcher is writing the operational definition of a study variable. What information
should be included in this definition? - Answers 3. How the variable will be measured in a study
The purpose of a research study is to examine the effects of social support on the
psychological health of elderly residents of a nursing home. In this statement, psychological
health is which part of the study? - Answers 1. Dependent variable
The study hypothesis is, "Premature infants who receive skin-to-skin tactile stimulation gain
weight at a more rapid rate than premature infants who do not receive skin-to-skin tactile
stimulation." What is the independent variable? - Answers 4. Skin-to-skin tactile stimulation
The nurse researcher is planning how to conduct a quantitative research study. Which portion of
the research process is the nurse developing? - Answers 2. Research design
Qualitative researchers are generally more interested in relevance of findings than in objectivity
and generalizability. To what belief, generally held by qualitative researchers, is this most
directly related? - Answers 1. The belief that each subject is most knowledgeable about the
topic under study
The nurse researcher is considering using a focus group to collect data for a qualitative study.
Before making this decision, the nurse researcher should be willing to accept which problems
that may occur from this format? - Answers 2. Not all persons who are in the group may
participate.
3. Some people in the group may monopolize the session.
4. Some people do not like to open their views up to possible criticism by others.
The principle investigator on a new research project tells the research assistant that the project
will include triangulation. For what should the research assistant prepare? - Answers 3. Using
more than one sampling strategy in the study
5. Working with multiple data collectors
The nurse researcher wishes to generalize a study's findings to persons living in the southern
United States. The study is being done on persons living in a small town in rural Alabama. Which
option reflects the target population of this study? - Answers 1. Persons living in the southern
United States
The nurse researcher is completing a review of literature. Why will this work be useful to the
researcher as the project continues? - Answers 1. It helps to develop a theoretical or conceptual
framework for the study.
2. It helps to identify what is already known on the topic of the study.
,3. It assists in the identification of data collection tools to measure the study variables.
The text at the beginning of a research study report reads: "Is there a relationship between the
number of medication errors made and the number of consecutive days the nurse has worked?
This study will try to determine if the number of medication errors made is related to the
number of consecutive days the nurse has worked. Medication errors are a serious threat to
hospitalized patients." Which of these statements is the research problem? - Answers 1. Is there
a relationship between the number of medication errors made and the number of consecutive
days the nurse has worked?
The nursing student has been assigned to read an article describing "mixed methods" research
as it applies to nursing. What can the student expect the article to discuss? - Answers 3. Using
both survey completion and face-to-face interviewing in one study
The researcher is considering the content analysis section of the research plan for a qualitative
study. What work will the researcher do during this section? - Answers 1. Develop rules for
coding data into categories.
5. Create categories of data
A nurse researcher is conducting a study on the relationship between medication errors and the
number of consecutive days worked by a nurse. One of the assumptions of this study is that
medication errors are a serious threat to patients. Which type of assumption is this? - Answers
1. A universal assumption
The nurse researcher who is new to qualitative research believes that saturation of data has
occurred after interviewing seven study subjects. What question would help determine if this is
true? - Answers 1. Are any new themes or information emerging from the interviews?
5. Is the data becoming redundant?
A student in a research-focused doctoral program would like to play an active role in controlling
the research process. Which type of studies would be best for this student? - Answers 3. Quasi-
experimental studies
In the review of literature, the nurse researcher was unable to find a questionnaire to collect the
unique data required for the proposed study. The researcher developed a questionnaire
specifically for the study. Once the study began, the researcher discovered that the
questionnaire was not supplying the data necessary to answer the study question. How could
the researcher have best avoided this situation? - Answers 3. Do a pilot study with the
questionnaire.
A nurse doing qualitative research has approached an individual about participation in the study.
The person says, "I don't mind being in your study, but I do not want to be identified." Which
response, by the nurse researcher, is indicated? - Answers 1. "I will interview you, so I will know
,what you said."
Which nursing research problem is most likely based upon a nurse's personal experiences? -
Answers 1. Demonstrating that saline is equally effective as a heparin solution in keeping
intravenous locks patent
Which statement is phrased as a problem for a quantitative study? - Answers 3. Is music as
effective as beta blockers in improving cardiac output in clients who have been hospitalized
after suffering a myocardial infarction?
Of the following topical phrases, which is most appropriate for a research study? - Answers 4.
The accuracy of axillary temperatures as compared with rectal temperatures of infants
Select the statement that includes population and variable(s) and is empirically testable. -
Answers 2. Will a cardiac client's heart rate decrease when listening to calming music?
Select the problem statement with the preferred format. - Answers 1. Is there a correlation
between a student's grade point average and performance on NCLEX-RN?
Select the problem statement that meets criteria for a problem statement and contains all the
necessary elements - Answers 1. Is there a difference in male body weight after exercise?
From the following statements, identify the problem statement that is most clearly written. -
Answers 1. Is there a correlation between the type of nursing education and the type of nursing
practice selected by two-year and four-year undergraduate nursing students upon graduation?
From the problem statement, "Is there a difference in postoperative pain perception between
postoperative clients who use relaxation techniques and clients who do not use relaxation
techniques?" identify the independent variable. - Answers 2. Relaxation techniques use
Which question predicts the outcome of the study? - Answers 1. Is there a strong correlation
between age and learning in older adults?
All of these options are important to the practice of nursing. Which option is likely the most
important? - Answers 1. The applicability of theories from other disciplines to nursing practice
What is true of replication studies in nursing? - Answers 4. Replication studies are necessary for
validation of nursing theory.
The hospital staff nurse has an idea for a research study. In addition to a passionate interest in
the topic, what else should the nurse consider? - Answers 2. Will the results of the study be of
interest to others?
3. Is the study something that can actually be accomplished?
5. Does the nurse have sufficient resources to accomplish the work?
, The nurse researcher has designed a univariate research study. What is often the purpose of
these studies? - Answers 3. To serve as a basis for a more complex study
Why should the nurse developing a quantitative research study avoid using the word "cause" in
the research question? - Answers 2. It is difficult to prove causality.
Analyze the following research question: "Is there a difference in the final examination scores of
employed nursing students who work more than 16 hours a week compared to those nursing
students who work less than 16 hours a week?" Which type of study is this? - Answers 2.
Bivariate
A newly licensed nurse is shocked at the apparent lack of knowledge most patients have about
their disease process. The nurse wonders if this would be a good topic for research for
graduate school. Which questions should the nurse ask to determine if this topic is significant
to nursing? - Answers 1. Would patients benefit from knowing more about their disease
processes?
3. Could nurses use the knowledge that patients often have no information about their disease?
4. Is the fact that patients know little about their disease process common knowledge to
healthcare professionals?
A nurse is very interested in conducting research on a specific topic. Review of the literature
reveals that only two other studies on the topic have been done and the results of these studies
are surprising to the nurse. This nurse should consider which plans going forward? - Answers 2.
Conduct a replication of one of the previous studies.
3. Design a study on the topic with a different study instrument
4. Accept the surprising results without reservation
A new researcher says, "There is no previous information about this topic to include in a review
of literature." Which response to this statement is most valid? - Answers 2. This may occur, but
is a very rare occurrence.
The nurse researcher is writing the review of literature portion of the research report. What
should this nurse include in this section? - Answers 2. Studies that support and oppose the
researcher's position
Which reference citation indicates a secondary source? - Answers 2. Jansen, C. E., Miaskowski,
C., Dodd, J. S., & Dowling, G. (2005). Chemotherapy-induced cognitive impairment in women
with breast cancer: A critique of the literature. Oncology Nursing Forum, 32(2), 329-342.
The researcher has attempted to avoid secondary sources in the literature review. What is the
rationale for this action? - Answers 3. The author of the secondary source may have left out
information from the original study.
The nurse researcher is writing the operational definition of a study variable. What information
should be included in this definition? - Answers 3. How the variable will be measured in a study
The purpose of a research study is to examine the effects of social support on the
psychological health of elderly residents of a nursing home. In this statement, psychological
health is which part of the study? - Answers 1. Dependent variable
The study hypothesis is, "Premature infants who receive skin-to-skin tactile stimulation gain
weight at a more rapid rate than premature infants who do not receive skin-to-skin tactile
stimulation." What is the independent variable? - Answers 4. Skin-to-skin tactile stimulation
The nurse researcher is planning how to conduct a quantitative research study. Which portion of
the research process is the nurse developing? - Answers 2. Research design
Qualitative researchers are generally more interested in relevance of findings than in objectivity
and generalizability. To what belief, generally held by qualitative researchers, is this most
directly related? - Answers 1. The belief that each subject is most knowledgeable about the
topic under study
The nurse researcher is considering using a focus group to collect data for a qualitative study.
Before making this decision, the nurse researcher should be willing to accept which problems
that may occur from this format? - Answers 2. Not all persons who are in the group may
participate.
3. Some people in the group may monopolize the session.
4. Some people do not like to open their views up to possible criticism by others.
The principle investigator on a new research project tells the research assistant that the project
will include triangulation. For what should the research assistant prepare? - Answers 3. Using
more than one sampling strategy in the study
5. Working with multiple data collectors
The nurse researcher wishes to generalize a study's findings to persons living in the southern
United States. The study is being done on persons living in a small town in rural Alabama. Which
option reflects the target population of this study? - Answers 1. Persons living in the southern
United States
The nurse researcher is completing a review of literature. Why will this work be useful to the
researcher as the project continues? - Answers 1. It helps to develop a theoretical or conceptual
framework for the study.
2. It helps to identify what is already known on the topic of the study.
,3. It assists in the identification of data collection tools to measure the study variables.
The text at the beginning of a research study report reads: "Is there a relationship between the
number of medication errors made and the number of consecutive days the nurse has worked?
This study will try to determine if the number of medication errors made is related to the
number of consecutive days the nurse has worked. Medication errors are a serious threat to
hospitalized patients." Which of these statements is the research problem? - Answers 1. Is there
a relationship between the number of medication errors made and the number of consecutive
days the nurse has worked?
The nursing student has been assigned to read an article describing "mixed methods" research
as it applies to nursing. What can the student expect the article to discuss? - Answers 3. Using
both survey completion and face-to-face interviewing in one study
The researcher is considering the content analysis section of the research plan for a qualitative
study. What work will the researcher do during this section? - Answers 1. Develop rules for
coding data into categories.
5. Create categories of data
A nurse researcher is conducting a study on the relationship between medication errors and the
number of consecutive days worked by a nurse. One of the assumptions of this study is that
medication errors are a serious threat to patients. Which type of assumption is this? - Answers
1. A universal assumption
The nurse researcher who is new to qualitative research believes that saturation of data has
occurred after interviewing seven study subjects. What question would help determine if this is
true? - Answers 1. Are any new themes or information emerging from the interviews?
5. Is the data becoming redundant?
A student in a research-focused doctoral program would like to play an active role in controlling
the research process. Which type of studies would be best for this student? - Answers 3. Quasi-
experimental studies
In the review of literature, the nurse researcher was unable to find a questionnaire to collect the
unique data required for the proposed study. The researcher developed a questionnaire
specifically for the study. Once the study began, the researcher discovered that the
questionnaire was not supplying the data necessary to answer the study question. How could
the researcher have best avoided this situation? - Answers 3. Do a pilot study with the
questionnaire.
A nurse doing qualitative research has approached an individual about participation in the study.
The person says, "I don't mind being in your study, but I do not want to be identified." Which
response, by the nurse researcher, is indicated? - Answers 1. "I will interview you, so I will know
,what you said."
Which nursing research problem is most likely based upon a nurse's personal experiences? -
Answers 1. Demonstrating that saline is equally effective as a heparin solution in keeping
intravenous locks patent
Which statement is phrased as a problem for a quantitative study? - Answers 3. Is music as
effective as beta blockers in improving cardiac output in clients who have been hospitalized
after suffering a myocardial infarction?
Of the following topical phrases, which is most appropriate for a research study? - Answers 4.
The accuracy of axillary temperatures as compared with rectal temperatures of infants
Select the statement that includes population and variable(s) and is empirically testable. -
Answers 2. Will a cardiac client's heart rate decrease when listening to calming music?
Select the problem statement with the preferred format. - Answers 1. Is there a correlation
between a student's grade point average and performance on NCLEX-RN?
Select the problem statement that meets criteria for a problem statement and contains all the
necessary elements - Answers 1. Is there a difference in male body weight after exercise?
From the following statements, identify the problem statement that is most clearly written. -
Answers 1. Is there a correlation between the type of nursing education and the type of nursing
practice selected by two-year and four-year undergraduate nursing students upon graduation?
From the problem statement, "Is there a difference in postoperative pain perception between
postoperative clients who use relaxation techniques and clients who do not use relaxation
techniques?" identify the independent variable. - Answers 2. Relaxation techniques use
Which question predicts the outcome of the study? - Answers 1. Is there a strong correlation
between age and learning in older adults?
All of these options are important to the practice of nursing. Which option is likely the most
important? - Answers 1. The applicability of theories from other disciplines to nursing practice
What is true of replication studies in nursing? - Answers 4. Replication studies are necessary for
validation of nursing theory.
The hospital staff nurse has an idea for a research study. In addition to a passionate interest in
the topic, what else should the nurse consider? - Answers 2. Will the results of the study be of
interest to others?
3. Is the study something that can actually be accomplished?
5. Does the nurse have sufficient resources to accomplish the work?
, The nurse researcher has designed a univariate research study. What is often the purpose of
these studies? - Answers 3. To serve as a basis for a more complex study
Why should the nurse developing a quantitative research study avoid using the word "cause" in
the research question? - Answers 2. It is difficult to prove causality.
Analyze the following research question: "Is there a difference in the final examination scores of
employed nursing students who work more than 16 hours a week compared to those nursing
students who work less than 16 hours a week?" Which type of study is this? - Answers 2.
Bivariate
A newly licensed nurse is shocked at the apparent lack of knowledge most patients have about
their disease process. The nurse wonders if this would be a good topic for research for
graduate school. Which questions should the nurse ask to determine if this topic is significant
to nursing? - Answers 1. Would patients benefit from knowing more about their disease
processes?
3. Could nurses use the knowledge that patients often have no information about their disease?
4. Is the fact that patients know little about their disease process common knowledge to
healthcare professionals?
A nurse is very interested in conducting research on a specific topic. Review of the literature
reveals that only two other studies on the topic have been done and the results of these studies
are surprising to the nurse. This nurse should consider which plans going forward? - Answers 2.
Conduct a replication of one of the previous studies.
3. Design a study on the topic with a different study instrument
4. Accept the surprising results without reservation
A new researcher says, "There is no previous information about this topic to include in a review
of literature." Which response to this statement is most valid? - Answers 2. This may occur, but
is a very rare occurrence.
The nurse researcher is writing the review of literature portion of the research report. What
should this nurse include in this section? - Answers 2. Studies that support and oppose the
researcher's position
Which reference citation indicates a secondary source? - Answers 2. Jansen, C. E., Miaskowski,
C., Dodd, J. S., & Dowling, G. (2005). Chemotherapy-induced cognitive impairment in women
with breast cancer: A critique of the literature. Oncology Nursing Forum, 32(2), 329-342.
The researcher has attempted to avoid secondary sources in the literature review. What is the
rationale for this action? - Answers 3. The author of the secondary source may have left out
information from the original study.
