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FOUNDATIONS OF CLINICAL RESEARCH, 4TH EDITION
(PORTNEY) EXAM LATEST VERSION QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS 2026 EDITION
FOUNDATIONS OF CLINICAL RESEARCH, 4TH EDITION (PORTNEY) – 250 EXAM-
STYLE QUESTIONS WITH RATIONALES
SECTION 1: FRAMEWORKS FOR GENERATING & APPLYING EVIDENCE (CHAPTERS 1-
2) – Questions 1-60
1. What type of research is defined as a structured process of investigating facts
and theories and exploring connections, with the purpose of improving individual
and public health?
A) Basic research
B) Clinical research
C) Qualitative research
D) Evidence-based practice
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Clinical research is a structured process of investigating facts and theories
and exploring connections. The purpose of clinical research is related to improving
individual and population health . It involves systematic investigation to generate
evidence that can be applied to clinical practice.
2. Another name for clinical research is:
A) Applied research
B) Basic research
C) Evidence-based practice
D) Animal studies
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Clinical research is also known as applied research because it has direct
application to clinical practice. Basic research and animal studies primarily focus on
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the study of theories and mechanisms of disease and treatment. Evidence-based
practice utilizes clinical research but is not a form of research itself .
3. Qualitative research is based on which of the following?
A) Social constructivism
B) Logical positivism
C) The scientific method
D) Measurement under standardized conditions
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Social constructivism is focused on the belief that all reality is
fundamentally social, and therefore the only way to understand it is through an
individual's experience. Qualitative research focuses on the investigation of these
socially constructed realities through immersion, interviews, and observation .
4. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) definition of clinical research includes all
of the following EXCEPT:
A) Patient-oriented research
B) Health services research
C) Epidemiological studies
D) Bench research
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Bench research is also known as basic or preclinical research and includes
research focused on theories and understanding mechanisms of disease or treatment.
The three-part definition of clinical research from the NIH includes patient-oriented
research, epidemiological and behavioral studies, and outcomes research and health
services research .
5. The first step of the scientific method is:
A) Designing the study
B) Analyzing the data
C) Implementing the study
D) Identifying the research question
Correct Answer: D
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Rationale: The research question needs to be identified through a review of the
literature to provide a rationale for the study and justify why the study needs to be
conducted prior to data collection. The other steps follow the development of the
research question .
6. Evidence-based practice relates to which steps of the research process?
A) Identification of the research question and design of the study
B) Design of the study and implementation of the study
C) Implementation of the study and analysis of the data
D) Dissemination of the findings and identification of the research question
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Evidence-based practice relates to the use of best evidence along with
clinical expertise and patient values in making clinical decisions. Therefore, EBP utilizes
research findings which have been disseminated. Utilization of evidence in practice can
also relate to the development of new research questions .
7. From a research perspective, the relationship between impairments in body
functions and activity limitations is:
A) Perfect
B) Partial
C) Absent
D) Not dependent on health condition and contextual factors
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: A relationship between impairments and activity limitations exists; however,
it is often much less than 100% and is not always a straight line. The strength of the
relationship will depend on the health condition, as well as personal and environmental
factors .
8. Members of different professions working together in an integrative fashion is
considered what type of research?
A) Intraprofessional
B) Interprofessional
C) Multiprofessional
D) Transprofessional
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Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Interprofessional research has persons from different professions working
together in an integrative fashion. Multiprofessional research also incorporates persons
from different professions but their work is generally in parallel where each group stays
in their own boundaries and works separately .
9. Which of the following study designs is primarily considered an example of
exploratory research?
A) Cohort studies
B) Randomized controlled trials
C) Descriptive surveys
D) Normative research
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Descriptive surveys are examples of exploratory research. They are used to
describe characteristics of a population or phenomenon without testing specific
hypotheses. Cohort studies and RCTs are explanatory research designs .
10. Pragmatic clinical trials are classified as which type of research?
A) Descriptive research
B) Explanatory research
C) Exploratory research
D) Methodological research
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Pragmatic clinical trials are classified as explanatory research because they
aim to explain the effectiveness of interventions in real-world clinical settings. They test
hypotheses about intervention effectiveness under conditions that closely resemble
clinical practice .
11. Research that directly takes knowledge from bench to bedside is known as:
A) The scientific method
B) Basic research
C) Evidence-based practice
D) Translational research
Correct Answer: D
FOUNDATIONS OF CLINICAL RESEARCH, 4TH EDITION
(PORTNEY) EXAM LATEST VERSION QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS 2026 EDITION
FOUNDATIONS OF CLINICAL RESEARCH, 4TH EDITION (PORTNEY) – 250 EXAM-
STYLE QUESTIONS WITH RATIONALES
SECTION 1: FRAMEWORKS FOR GENERATING & APPLYING EVIDENCE (CHAPTERS 1-
2) – Questions 1-60
1. What type of research is defined as a structured process of investigating facts
and theories and exploring connections, with the purpose of improving individual
and public health?
A) Basic research
B) Clinical research
C) Qualitative research
D) Evidence-based practice
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Clinical research is a structured process of investigating facts and theories
and exploring connections. The purpose of clinical research is related to improving
individual and population health . It involves systematic investigation to generate
evidence that can be applied to clinical practice.
2. Another name for clinical research is:
A) Applied research
B) Basic research
C) Evidence-based practice
D) Animal studies
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Clinical research is also known as applied research because it has direct
application to clinical practice. Basic research and animal studies primarily focus on
, Page 2 of 80
the study of theories and mechanisms of disease and treatment. Evidence-based
practice utilizes clinical research but is not a form of research itself .
3. Qualitative research is based on which of the following?
A) Social constructivism
B) Logical positivism
C) The scientific method
D) Measurement under standardized conditions
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Social constructivism is focused on the belief that all reality is
fundamentally social, and therefore the only way to understand it is through an
individual's experience. Qualitative research focuses on the investigation of these
socially constructed realities through immersion, interviews, and observation .
4. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) definition of clinical research includes all
of the following EXCEPT:
A) Patient-oriented research
B) Health services research
C) Epidemiological studies
D) Bench research
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Bench research is also known as basic or preclinical research and includes
research focused on theories and understanding mechanisms of disease or treatment.
The three-part definition of clinical research from the NIH includes patient-oriented
research, epidemiological and behavioral studies, and outcomes research and health
services research .
5. The first step of the scientific method is:
A) Designing the study
B) Analyzing the data
C) Implementing the study
D) Identifying the research question
Correct Answer: D
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Rationale: The research question needs to be identified through a review of the
literature to provide a rationale for the study and justify why the study needs to be
conducted prior to data collection. The other steps follow the development of the
research question .
6. Evidence-based practice relates to which steps of the research process?
A) Identification of the research question and design of the study
B) Design of the study and implementation of the study
C) Implementation of the study and analysis of the data
D) Dissemination of the findings and identification of the research question
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Evidence-based practice relates to the use of best evidence along with
clinical expertise and patient values in making clinical decisions. Therefore, EBP utilizes
research findings which have been disseminated. Utilization of evidence in practice can
also relate to the development of new research questions .
7. From a research perspective, the relationship between impairments in body
functions and activity limitations is:
A) Perfect
B) Partial
C) Absent
D) Not dependent on health condition and contextual factors
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: A relationship between impairments and activity limitations exists; however,
it is often much less than 100% and is not always a straight line. The strength of the
relationship will depend on the health condition, as well as personal and environmental
factors .
8. Members of different professions working together in an integrative fashion is
considered what type of research?
A) Intraprofessional
B) Interprofessional
C) Multiprofessional
D) Transprofessional
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Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Interprofessional research has persons from different professions working
together in an integrative fashion. Multiprofessional research also incorporates persons
from different professions but their work is generally in parallel where each group stays
in their own boundaries and works separately .
9. Which of the following study designs is primarily considered an example of
exploratory research?
A) Cohort studies
B) Randomized controlled trials
C) Descriptive surveys
D) Normative research
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Descriptive surveys are examples of exploratory research. They are used to
describe characteristics of a population or phenomenon without testing specific
hypotheses. Cohort studies and RCTs are explanatory research designs .
10. Pragmatic clinical trials are classified as which type of research?
A) Descriptive research
B) Explanatory research
C) Exploratory research
D) Methodological research
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Pragmatic clinical trials are classified as explanatory research because they
aim to explain the effectiveness of interventions in real-world clinical settings. They test
hypotheses about intervention effectiveness under conditions that closely resemble
clinical practice .
11. Research that directly takes knowledge from bench to bedside is known as:
A) The scientific method
B) Basic research
C) Evidence-based practice
D) Translational research
Correct Answer: D
