Nursing Research Comprehensive
Exam Questions with Verified Answers
Scientific Method - ANSWERSResearch problem
Previous knowledge (literature review)
Research question/hypothesis
Methods
Data Analysis (Results)
Discussion
Evidenced-Based Practice - ANSWERSConscientious and judicious use of
current best evidence to guide health care decisions.
Seven Key Steps for Implementing EBP - ANSWERS-Cultivate a Spirit of Inquiry & EBP
Culture
-Ask the PICO(T) Question
-Search for the Best Evidence
-Critically Appraise the Evidence
-Integrate the Evidence with your Clinical Expertise and Patient Preferences to Make
the Best Clinical Decision
-Evaluate the Outcomes of the EBP Practice Change
-Disseminate the Outcomes
PICO(T) format - ANSWERSPopulation of interest
Intervention
Comparisons
Outcomes
Time frame--sometimes there
What guides our literature review? - ANSWERSPICO(T) Questions
Overview of the Steps of the Research Process - ANSWERS-Research Problem &/or
Phenomenon of Interest
-Research Purpose
-Research Questions/Hypotheses
-Literature Review
-Research Framework
-Ethics
-Methodology: Research Design
-Methodology: Population & Sample
-Methodology: Measurement & -Data Collection
-Data Analysis/Statistics
-Research Findings
,-Dissemination of Research
-Evidence-Based Nursing Practice (Research Utilization)
Categorical variable - ANSWERSNominal
Ordinal
Continuous (Scale) variable - ANSWERSInterval
Ratio
What are levels of Measurement? - ANSWERSNominal, Ordinal, Interval, Ratio
(Categorical Variable and Continuous Variable)
Statistical Methods for Categorical Variables? - ANSWERSChi square and Cronbach's
alpha
Continuous Dependent Variable statistical Methods? - ANSWERST-test
Regression (linear)
ANOVA
Pearson's product moment correlation
(TRAP)
Literature Review? - ANSWERScompare what was researched with what was known
Significant Results for Quantitative Research - ANSWERS-p <.05
-H0 rejected
-H1 supported
-Any differences between groups are:
-The result of the intervention
-Probably not the result of chance
-Statistically significant findings match the original research hypothesis
-Results are the same as were predicted at the beginning of the study
-Easy to interpret
Quantitative Findings: NON-Significant Results - ANSWERS-p > .05 (eg. .08, .12 etc)
-H0 was not rejected (the Null hypothesis states that there will be no change)
-H1 was not supported (the data did not support the proposed hypothesis)
-Possible causes:
-Ineffective intervention
-Inappropriate methods
-Biases or small sample
-Unreliable or invalid instruments
-Weak statistical measures
-Faulty analysis
Magnitude of Effect - ANSWERS-The size of the effect an intervention has on the
outcome
, -Represents the magnitude of the differences between two groups
Eta squared η2 - ANSWERSDenotes the effect size of an intervention
(how much weight the intervention played on the outcome)
Generalizability - ANSWERSExtends the implications of the findings from the sample
studied to a larger population
Applicability - ANSWERSRefers to how the findings can be applied in clinical nursing
practice
Qualitative Research - ANSWERSa systematic, subjective approach used to describe
life experiences and situations and give them meaning
Qualitative Research Approaches - ANSWERSPhenomenological Research
Grounded Theory Research
Ethnographic Research
Exploratory-Descriptive Qualitative Research
Historical Research
Phenomenological Research - ANSWERSa philosophy and a research method to
describe experiences as they are lived
Key: Lived experiences
Grounded Theory Research - ANSWERSan inductive research technique conducted to
discover the problem that exist in a social scene and the process that persons involved
use to handle them involves social issues and processes and theory development
Ethnographic Research - ANSWERSa method to study cultures and may examine lived
experiences within cultural groups
Exploratory-Descriptive Qualitative Research - ANSWERSqualitative studies that do not
fit into another approach and they obtain information needed to develop a program or
intervention for a specific group of patients; key is to provide information and insight into
clinical practice problems
Historical Research - ANSWERSexamines events of the past and the outcome is a
narrative description or analysis of events that occurred in the past; purpose is
increased self-understanding and understanding of the profession
Rigor - ANSWERSspecific to qualitative research, is associated with credibility and
greater worth of the research findings and includes:
Exam Questions with Verified Answers
Scientific Method - ANSWERSResearch problem
Previous knowledge (literature review)
Research question/hypothesis
Methods
Data Analysis (Results)
Discussion
Evidenced-Based Practice - ANSWERSConscientious and judicious use of
current best evidence to guide health care decisions.
Seven Key Steps for Implementing EBP - ANSWERS-Cultivate a Spirit of Inquiry & EBP
Culture
-Ask the PICO(T) Question
-Search for the Best Evidence
-Critically Appraise the Evidence
-Integrate the Evidence with your Clinical Expertise and Patient Preferences to Make
the Best Clinical Decision
-Evaluate the Outcomes of the EBP Practice Change
-Disseminate the Outcomes
PICO(T) format - ANSWERSPopulation of interest
Intervention
Comparisons
Outcomes
Time frame--sometimes there
What guides our literature review? - ANSWERSPICO(T) Questions
Overview of the Steps of the Research Process - ANSWERS-Research Problem &/or
Phenomenon of Interest
-Research Purpose
-Research Questions/Hypotheses
-Literature Review
-Research Framework
-Ethics
-Methodology: Research Design
-Methodology: Population & Sample
-Methodology: Measurement & -Data Collection
-Data Analysis/Statistics
-Research Findings
,-Dissemination of Research
-Evidence-Based Nursing Practice (Research Utilization)
Categorical variable - ANSWERSNominal
Ordinal
Continuous (Scale) variable - ANSWERSInterval
Ratio
What are levels of Measurement? - ANSWERSNominal, Ordinal, Interval, Ratio
(Categorical Variable and Continuous Variable)
Statistical Methods for Categorical Variables? - ANSWERSChi square and Cronbach's
alpha
Continuous Dependent Variable statistical Methods? - ANSWERST-test
Regression (linear)
ANOVA
Pearson's product moment correlation
(TRAP)
Literature Review? - ANSWERScompare what was researched with what was known
Significant Results for Quantitative Research - ANSWERS-p <.05
-H0 rejected
-H1 supported
-Any differences between groups are:
-The result of the intervention
-Probably not the result of chance
-Statistically significant findings match the original research hypothesis
-Results are the same as were predicted at the beginning of the study
-Easy to interpret
Quantitative Findings: NON-Significant Results - ANSWERS-p > .05 (eg. .08, .12 etc)
-H0 was not rejected (the Null hypothesis states that there will be no change)
-H1 was not supported (the data did not support the proposed hypothesis)
-Possible causes:
-Ineffective intervention
-Inappropriate methods
-Biases or small sample
-Unreliable or invalid instruments
-Weak statistical measures
-Faulty analysis
Magnitude of Effect - ANSWERS-The size of the effect an intervention has on the
outcome
, -Represents the magnitude of the differences between two groups
Eta squared η2 - ANSWERSDenotes the effect size of an intervention
(how much weight the intervention played on the outcome)
Generalizability - ANSWERSExtends the implications of the findings from the sample
studied to a larger population
Applicability - ANSWERSRefers to how the findings can be applied in clinical nursing
practice
Qualitative Research - ANSWERSa systematic, subjective approach used to describe
life experiences and situations and give them meaning
Qualitative Research Approaches - ANSWERSPhenomenological Research
Grounded Theory Research
Ethnographic Research
Exploratory-Descriptive Qualitative Research
Historical Research
Phenomenological Research - ANSWERSa philosophy and a research method to
describe experiences as they are lived
Key: Lived experiences
Grounded Theory Research - ANSWERSan inductive research technique conducted to
discover the problem that exist in a social scene and the process that persons involved
use to handle them involves social issues and processes and theory development
Ethnographic Research - ANSWERSa method to study cultures and may examine lived
experiences within cultural groups
Exploratory-Descriptive Qualitative Research - ANSWERSqualitative studies that do not
fit into another approach and they obtain information needed to develop a program or
intervention for a specific group of patients; key is to provide information and insight into
clinical practice problems
Historical Research - ANSWERSexamines events of the past and the outcome is a
narrative description or analysis of events that occurred in the past; purpose is
increased self-understanding and understanding of the profession
Rigor - ANSWERSspecific to qualitative research, is associated with credibility and
greater worth of the research findings and includes:
