NURSING RESEARCH (EVIDENCE-BASED
PRACTICE)
STUDY GUIDE 2026/2027
100 ACCURATE QUESTIONS & DETAILED
ANSWERS**
FOUNDATIONS OF NURSING RESEARCH & EBP
1. What is nursing research?
Answer: Nursing research is the systematic, rigorous scientific inquiry used to generate,
validate, and refine knowledge that directly impacts nursing practice, education, administration,
and patient outcomes.
2. What is Evidence-Based Practice (EBP)?
Answer: EBP is the integration of the best current research evidence, clinical expertise, and
patient preferences/values to guide healthcare decisions.
3. Which three components form the foundation of EBP?
Answer:
• Best available research evidence
• Clinical expertise
• Patient values and preferences
4. How does EBP differ from nursing research?
Answer: Nursing research generates new knowledge, while EBP applies existing research
findings to clinical practice.
,5. What is the primary goal of nursing research?
Answer: To improve patient care quality, safety, and outcomes through scientifically
validated knowledge.
TYPES OF NURSING RESEARCH
6. What is quantitative research?
Answer: Research that uses numerical data and statistical analysis to test hypotheses and
examine relationships between variables.
7. What is qualitative research?
Answer: Research that explores human experiences, perceptions, and meanings using non-
numerical data such as interviews and observations.
8. What is mixed-methods research?
Answer: A research approach that combines both quantitative and qualitative methods in a
single study.
9. Which research type seeks to explain cause-and-effect relationships?
Answer: Experimental (quantitative) research.
10. Which research design focuses on lived experiences?
Answer: Phenomenological research.
RESEARCH DESIGNS
11. What is a descriptive research design?
Answer: A design used to describe characteristics of a population or phenomenon without
manipulating variables.
,12. What is correlational research?
Answer: Research that examines relationships between variables without implying
causation.
13. What is an experimental study?
Answer: A study in which the researcher manipulates an independent variable to determine
its effect on a dependent variable.
14. What is a quasi-experimental study?
Answer: An experimental-type study that lacks random assignment to groups.
15. What is a randomized controlled trial (RCT)?
Answer: A study where participants are randomly assigned to experimental or control
groups to test intervention effectiveness.
RESEARCH PROCESS
16. What is the first step in the research process?
Answer: Identifying a research problem or question.
17. What is a literature review?
Answer: A systematic search and critical appraisal of existing research related to the study
topic.
18. Why is a literature review important?
Answer: It prevents duplication, identifies gaps in knowledge, and supports the study’s
rationale.
19. What is a research hypothesis?
Answer: A clear, testable prediction of the relationship between variables.
, 20. What is a null hypothesis?
Answer: A statement that there is no relationship or difference between variables.
VARIABLES & MEASUREMENT
21. What is an independent variable?
Answer: The variable manipulated or controlled by the researcher.
22. What is a dependent variable?
Answer: The outcome variable measured to determine the effect of the independent
variable.
23. What are extraneous variables?
Answer: Variables other than the independent variable that may influence study results.
24. What is operational definition?
Answer: A precise description of how variables are measured or manipulated in a study.
25. What is reliability?
Answer: The consistency and stability of a measurement tool.
VALIDITY & BIAS
26. What is validity?
Answer: The extent to which a tool measures what it is intended to measure.
27. What is internal validity?
Answer: The degree to which study results are caused by the independent variable rather
than other factors.
PRACTICE)
STUDY GUIDE 2026/2027
100 ACCURATE QUESTIONS & DETAILED
ANSWERS**
FOUNDATIONS OF NURSING RESEARCH & EBP
1. What is nursing research?
Answer: Nursing research is the systematic, rigorous scientific inquiry used to generate,
validate, and refine knowledge that directly impacts nursing practice, education, administration,
and patient outcomes.
2. What is Evidence-Based Practice (EBP)?
Answer: EBP is the integration of the best current research evidence, clinical expertise, and
patient preferences/values to guide healthcare decisions.
3. Which three components form the foundation of EBP?
Answer:
• Best available research evidence
• Clinical expertise
• Patient values and preferences
4. How does EBP differ from nursing research?
Answer: Nursing research generates new knowledge, while EBP applies existing research
findings to clinical practice.
,5. What is the primary goal of nursing research?
Answer: To improve patient care quality, safety, and outcomes through scientifically
validated knowledge.
TYPES OF NURSING RESEARCH
6. What is quantitative research?
Answer: Research that uses numerical data and statistical analysis to test hypotheses and
examine relationships between variables.
7. What is qualitative research?
Answer: Research that explores human experiences, perceptions, and meanings using non-
numerical data such as interviews and observations.
8. What is mixed-methods research?
Answer: A research approach that combines both quantitative and qualitative methods in a
single study.
9. Which research type seeks to explain cause-and-effect relationships?
Answer: Experimental (quantitative) research.
10. Which research design focuses on lived experiences?
Answer: Phenomenological research.
RESEARCH DESIGNS
11. What is a descriptive research design?
Answer: A design used to describe characteristics of a population or phenomenon without
manipulating variables.
,12. What is correlational research?
Answer: Research that examines relationships between variables without implying
causation.
13. What is an experimental study?
Answer: A study in which the researcher manipulates an independent variable to determine
its effect on a dependent variable.
14. What is a quasi-experimental study?
Answer: An experimental-type study that lacks random assignment to groups.
15. What is a randomized controlled trial (RCT)?
Answer: A study where participants are randomly assigned to experimental or control
groups to test intervention effectiveness.
RESEARCH PROCESS
16. What is the first step in the research process?
Answer: Identifying a research problem or question.
17. What is a literature review?
Answer: A systematic search and critical appraisal of existing research related to the study
topic.
18. Why is a literature review important?
Answer: It prevents duplication, identifies gaps in knowledge, and supports the study’s
rationale.
19. What is a research hypothesis?
Answer: A clear, testable prediction of the relationship between variables.
, 20. What is a null hypothesis?
Answer: A statement that there is no relationship or difference between variables.
VARIABLES & MEASUREMENT
21. What is an independent variable?
Answer: The variable manipulated or controlled by the researcher.
22. What is a dependent variable?
Answer: The outcome variable measured to determine the effect of the independent
variable.
23. What are extraneous variables?
Answer: Variables other than the independent variable that may influence study results.
24. What is operational definition?
Answer: A precise description of how variables are measured or manipulated in a study.
25. What is reliability?
Answer: The consistency and stability of a measurement tool.
VALIDITY & BIAS
26. What is validity?
Answer: The extent to which a tool measures what it is intended to measure.
27. What is internal validity?
Answer: The degree to which study results are caused by the independent variable rather
than other factors.
