NUR 131 – Nursing Research Complete Nursing
Research Study Guide Questions with Answers
and Detailed Rationales
Question 1
A nurse researcher is designing a study to determine the effectiveness of a new
wound care protocol. The nurse plans to use the highest level of evidence
available. Which of the following represents the strongest level of evidence for
guiding clinical practice?
A) Expert opinion from experienced wound care nurses
B) A single randomized controlled trial
C) A systematic review and meta-analysis of multiple randomized controlled
trials
D) A qualitative study exploring patient experiences with wound care
Answer: C. A systematic review and meta-analysis of multiple randomized
controlled trials
Rationale: According to the evidence hierarchy, systematic reviews and meta-
analyses of RCTs represent the highest level of evidence. Expert opinion (A) is the
lowest level. A single RCT (B) is strong but not as strong as a systematic review.
Qualitative studies (D) provide valuable insights but are not the strongest level of
evidence for determining effectiveness.
Question 2
A nurse is reading a research article that reports a p-value of 0.03 for the primary
outcome. The nurse correctly interprets this as:
A) There is a 3% chance that the results are clinically significant
B) There is a 3% probability that the results occurred by chance alone
C) The results are definitely true and clinically significant
D) The study has a 97% power to detect a difference
,Answer: B. There is a 3% probability that the results occurred by chance
alone
Rationale: A p-value represents the probability that the observed results occurred
by chance if the null hypothesis is true. A p-value < 0.05 is typically considered
statistically significant. The p-value does not indicate clinical significance (A),
certainty (C), or study power (D).
Question 3
A nurse is developing a research question using the PICOT format. Which of the
following correctly identifies the components of PICOT?
A) Population, Intervention, Comparison, Outcome, Time
B) Problem, Intervention, Control, Observation, Theory
C) Patient, Implementation, Clinical, Observation, Treatment
D) Population, Investigation, Control, Outcome, Timing
Answer: A. Population, Intervention, Comparison, Outcome, Time
Rationale: PICOT stands for Population (who), Intervention (what), Comparison
(compared to what), Outcome (what result), and Time (over what period). The
other options include incorrect elements or are not the standard PICOT format.
Question 4
A nurse is critically appraising a research study. Which of the following questions
best addresses the validity of the study?
A) Were the results statistically significant?
B) Did the study measure what it intended to measure?
C) Were the results clinically significant?
D) Were the participants representative of the population?
Answer: B. Did the study measure what it intended to measure?
Rationale: Validity refers to whether the study measured what it intended to
measure. Statistical significance (A) is important but relates to results. Clinical
significance (C) relates to the importance of findings. Representativeness (D)
relates to generalizability.
,Question 5
A nurse researcher is conducting a study on pain management techniques. Which
of the following actions would best ensure the ethical protection of human
subjects?
A) Obtaining informed consent and ensuring confidentiality
B) Using a large sample size to increase power
C) Publishing results regardless of findings
D) Using placebo controls to test effectiveness
Answer: A. Obtaining informed consent and ensuring confidentiality
Rationale: Informed consent and confidentiality are fundamental ethical
protections for human subjects. Large sample sizes (B), publication (C), and
placebo controls (D) are important research considerations but do not directly
address ethical protection of human subjects.
Question 6
A nurse is evaluating a research study and notes that the study has high internal
validity. Which of the following best describes internal validity?
A) The results can be generalized to other populations
B) The study accurately demonstrates a cause-and-effect relationship
C) The study used appropriate statistical tests
D) The study was conducted in a real-world setting
Answer: B. The study accurately demonstrates a cause-and-effect relationship
Rationale: Internal validity refers to the degree to which the study accurately
demonstrates a cause-and-effect relationship. External validity (A) refers to
generalizability. Appropriate statistics (C) and real-world settings (D) are related
but not definitions of internal validity.
Question 7
, A nurse is conducting a literature review and finds a study that is classified as
Level I evidence. Which of the following is characteristic of Level I evidence?
A) Expert opinion
B) Systematic review of randomized controlled trials
C) Case-control study
D) Cohort study
Answer: B. Systematic review of randomized controlled trials
Rationale: Level I evidence is the highest level and includes systematic reviews
and meta-analyses of RCTs. Expert opinion (A) is Level VII. Case-control studies
(C) are Level IV. Cohort studies (D) are Level II.
Question 8
A nurse is reading a research article and encounters the term "statistical power."
Which of the following is the correct definition of statistical power?
A) The probability of making a Type I error
B) The probability of detecting an effect when one truly exists
C) The probability of failing to detect an effect when one exists
D) The strength of the relationship between variables
Answer: B. The probability of detecting an effect when one truly exists
Rationale: Statistical power is the probability of correctly rejecting the null
hypothesis when it is false (detecting a true effect). Type I error (A) is the
probability of rejecting a true null hypothesis. Type II error (C) is the probability of
failing to detect an effect. The strength of a relationship (D) is effect size.
Question 9
A nurse researcher is planning a study and wants to minimize bias. Which of the
following study designs is most effective in reducing bias?
A) Case study
B) Double-blind randomized controlled trial
C) Retrospective chart review
D) Cross-sectional survey
Research Study Guide Questions with Answers
and Detailed Rationales
Question 1
A nurse researcher is designing a study to determine the effectiveness of a new
wound care protocol. The nurse plans to use the highest level of evidence
available. Which of the following represents the strongest level of evidence for
guiding clinical practice?
A) Expert opinion from experienced wound care nurses
B) A single randomized controlled trial
C) A systematic review and meta-analysis of multiple randomized controlled
trials
D) A qualitative study exploring patient experiences with wound care
Answer: C. A systematic review and meta-analysis of multiple randomized
controlled trials
Rationale: According to the evidence hierarchy, systematic reviews and meta-
analyses of RCTs represent the highest level of evidence. Expert opinion (A) is the
lowest level. A single RCT (B) is strong but not as strong as a systematic review.
Qualitative studies (D) provide valuable insights but are not the strongest level of
evidence for determining effectiveness.
Question 2
A nurse is reading a research article that reports a p-value of 0.03 for the primary
outcome. The nurse correctly interprets this as:
A) There is a 3% chance that the results are clinically significant
B) There is a 3% probability that the results occurred by chance alone
C) The results are definitely true and clinically significant
D) The study has a 97% power to detect a difference
,Answer: B. There is a 3% probability that the results occurred by chance
alone
Rationale: A p-value represents the probability that the observed results occurred
by chance if the null hypothesis is true. A p-value < 0.05 is typically considered
statistically significant. The p-value does not indicate clinical significance (A),
certainty (C), or study power (D).
Question 3
A nurse is developing a research question using the PICOT format. Which of the
following correctly identifies the components of PICOT?
A) Population, Intervention, Comparison, Outcome, Time
B) Problem, Intervention, Control, Observation, Theory
C) Patient, Implementation, Clinical, Observation, Treatment
D) Population, Investigation, Control, Outcome, Timing
Answer: A. Population, Intervention, Comparison, Outcome, Time
Rationale: PICOT stands for Population (who), Intervention (what), Comparison
(compared to what), Outcome (what result), and Time (over what period). The
other options include incorrect elements or are not the standard PICOT format.
Question 4
A nurse is critically appraising a research study. Which of the following questions
best addresses the validity of the study?
A) Were the results statistically significant?
B) Did the study measure what it intended to measure?
C) Were the results clinically significant?
D) Were the participants representative of the population?
Answer: B. Did the study measure what it intended to measure?
Rationale: Validity refers to whether the study measured what it intended to
measure. Statistical significance (A) is important but relates to results. Clinical
significance (C) relates to the importance of findings. Representativeness (D)
relates to generalizability.
,Question 5
A nurse researcher is conducting a study on pain management techniques. Which
of the following actions would best ensure the ethical protection of human
subjects?
A) Obtaining informed consent and ensuring confidentiality
B) Using a large sample size to increase power
C) Publishing results regardless of findings
D) Using placebo controls to test effectiveness
Answer: A. Obtaining informed consent and ensuring confidentiality
Rationale: Informed consent and confidentiality are fundamental ethical
protections for human subjects. Large sample sizes (B), publication (C), and
placebo controls (D) are important research considerations but do not directly
address ethical protection of human subjects.
Question 6
A nurse is evaluating a research study and notes that the study has high internal
validity. Which of the following best describes internal validity?
A) The results can be generalized to other populations
B) The study accurately demonstrates a cause-and-effect relationship
C) The study used appropriate statistical tests
D) The study was conducted in a real-world setting
Answer: B. The study accurately demonstrates a cause-and-effect relationship
Rationale: Internal validity refers to the degree to which the study accurately
demonstrates a cause-and-effect relationship. External validity (A) refers to
generalizability. Appropriate statistics (C) and real-world settings (D) are related
but not definitions of internal validity.
Question 7
, A nurse is conducting a literature review and finds a study that is classified as
Level I evidence. Which of the following is characteristic of Level I evidence?
A) Expert opinion
B) Systematic review of randomized controlled trials
C) Case-control study
D) Cohort study
Answer: B. Systematic review of randomized controlled trials
Rationale: Level I evidence is the highest level and includes systematic reviews
and meta-analyses of RCTs. Expert opinion (A) is Level VII. Case-control studies
(C) are Level IV. Cohort studies (D) are Level II.
Question 8
A nurse is reading a research article and encounters the term "statistical power."
Which of the following is the correct definition of statistical power?
A) The probability of making a Type I error
B) The probability of detecting an effect when one truly exists
C) The probability of failing to detect an effect when one exists
D) The strength of the relationship between variables
Answer: B. The probability of detecting an effect when one truly exists
Rationale: Statistical power is the probability of correctly rejecting the null
hypothesis when it is false (detecting a true effect). Type I error (A) is the
probability of rejecting a true null hypothesis. Type II error (C) is the probability of
failing to detect an effect. The strength of a relationship (D) is effect size.
Question 9
A nurse researcher is planning a study and wants to minimize bias. Which of the
following study designs is most effective in reducing bias?
A) Case study
B) Double-blind randomized controlled trial
C) Retrospective chart review
D) Cross-sectional survey
