Chapter 03: Critical Reading Strategies:
Overview of the Research Process
LoBiondo-Wood: Nursing Research in Canada, 4th Edition
1. Which of the following activities or situations is a hallmark of critical reading?
a. Checking the age of the author
b. Clarifying unfamiliar concepts or terms
c. Memorizing key sentences within the text
d. Understanding the concepts at first reading
ANS: B
Feedback
A. The age of the author is irrelevant to the critique.
B. Critical reading involves clarifying unfamiliar concepts.
C. Critical reading requires an in-depth analysis beyond basic memorization.
D. Several readings are usually required to understand concepts.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Analysis
MSC: NCLEX Client Care Needs Category: Safe and Effective Care Environment;
Health Promotion and Maintenance
2. Which of the following research steps would you expect to see in the report of a
quantitative research study but not in the report of a qualitative research study?
a. “Instruments”
b. “Literature Review”
c. “Data Collection” procedures
, d. “Discussion and Recommendations”
ANS: A
Feedback
A. “Instruments” implies numerical data that are used in quantitative research.
Qualitative data usually take the form of narrative text.
B. “Literature Review” can be found in qualitative studies.
C. “Data Collection” section can be found in qualitative studies.
D. “Discussion and Recommendations” section can be found in qualitative studies.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Comprehension
MSC: NCLEX Client Care Needs Category: Safe and Effective Care Environment;
Health Promotion and Maintenance
3. You were reading a nursing research article on comparing methods of teaching patients
newly diagnosed with diabetes about self-administering insulin by injection. You found
that you had to read the article four times before you were comfortable evaluating the
accuracy and quality of the reported results. How would you interpret this situation?
a. You were reading the article too fast to comprehend key concepts.
b. The article is written at a level too high for your analytical skills.
c. You were probably using critical reading skills to analyze the article.
d. Your knowledge of diabetes is insufficient.
ANS: C
Feedback
A. Reading an article several times is not an indication that one is reading too fast.
, B. Articles need to be read several times, and this does not indicate that the article is
too complex.
C. Several critical readings are needed to understand the content of an article.
D. Reading an article several times is not an indication of the reader’s inadequate
knowledge.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Analysis
MSC: NCLEX Client Care Needs Category: Safe and Effective Care Environment;
Health Promotion and Maintenance
4. Which component of a research report is not appropriate for presentation in an abstract?
a. The explanation of the purpose of the study
b. The description of the reliability of the instruments
c. The conclusion of the authors that hypothesis A was not supported
d. The discussion that presents strategies for how the study could be strengthened
ANS: D
Feedback
A. The purpose of the study is cited in the abstract.
B. The instrument used for the study and its reliability would be included in the
abstract.
C. A study’s hypothesis and whether it was supported or rejected would be found in
the abstract.
D. A discussion of the study’s strengths would not be present in the abstract but
would be part of the report in the Discussion section.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Comprehension
MSC: NCLEX Client Care Needs Category: Safe and Effective Care Environment;
Health Promotion and Maintenance
Overview of the Research Process
LoBiondo-Wood: Nursing Research in Canada, 4th Edition
1. Which of the following activities or situations is a hallmark of critical reading?
a. Checking the age of the author
b. Clarifying unfamiliar concepts or terms
c. Memorizing key sentences within the text
d. Understanding the concepts at first reading
ANS: B
Feedback
A. The age of the author is irrelevant to the critique.
B. Critical reading involves clarifying unfamiliar concepts.
C. Critical reading requires an in-depth analysis beyond basic memorization.
D. Several readings are usually required to understand concepts.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Analysis
MSC: NCLEX Client Care Needs Category: Safe and Effective Care Environment;
Health Promotion and Maintenance
2. Which of the following research steps would you expect to see in the report of a
quantitative research study but not in the report of a qualitative research study?
a. “Instruments”
b. “Literature Review”
c. “Data Collection” procedures
, d. “Discussion and Recommendations”
ANS: A
Feedback
A. “Instruments” implies numerical data that are used in quantitative research.
Qualitative data usually take the form of narrative text.
B. “Literature Review” can be found in qualitative studies.
C. “Data Collection” section can be found in qualitative studies.
D. “Discussion and Recommendations” section can be found in qualitative studies.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Comprehension
MSC: NCLEX Client Care Needs Category: Safe and Effective Care Environment;
Health Promotion and Maintenance
3. You were reading a nursing research article on comparing methods of teaching patients
newly diagnosed with diabetes about self-administering insulin by injection. You found
that you had to read the article four times before you were comfortable evaluating the
accuracy and quality of the reported results. How would you interpret this situation?
a. You were reading the article too fast to comprehend key concepts.
b. The article is written at a level too high for your analytical skills.
c. You were probably using critical reading skills to analyze the article.
d. Your knowledge of diabetes is insufficient.
ANS: C
Feedback
A. Reading an article several times is not an indication that one is reading too fast.
, B. Articles need to be read several times, and this does not indicate that the article is
too complex.
C. Several critical readings are needed to understand the content of an article.
D. Reading an article several times is not an indication of the reader’s inadequate
knowledge.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Analysis
MSC: NCLEX Client Care Needs Category: Safe and Effective Care Environment;
Health Promotion and Maintenance
4. Which component of a research report is not appropriate for presentation in an abstract?
a. The explanation of the purpose of the study
b. The description of the reliability of the instruments
c. The conclusion of the authors that hypothesis A was not supported
d. The discussion that presents strategies for how the study could be strengthened
ANS: D
Feedback
A. The purpose of the study is cited in the abstract.
B. The instrument used for the study and its reliability would be included in the
abstract.
C. A study’s hypothesis and whether it was supported or rejected would be found in
the abstract.
D. A discussion of the study’s strengths would not be present in the abstract but
would be part of the report in the Discussion section.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Comprehension
MSC: NCLEX Client Care Needs Category: Safe and Effective Care Environment;
Health Promotion and Maintenance
