,NUR 3643 Final Exam Research and Theory | Questions and Answers
2026/2027 | Rasmussen University
TABLE OF CONTENTS
MODULE 1 — Foundations of Nursing Research and Theory
MODULE 2 — Theories Guiding Nursing Practice
MODULE 3 — Components of the Research Process
MODULE 4 — Quantitative Research Methodologies
MODULE 5 — Qualitative Research Methodologies
MODULE 6 — Appraisal of Research Studies
MODULE 7 — Evidence-Based Practice
MODULE 8 — Clinical Questions, PICO, and Practice Problems
MODULE 9 — Evidence Retrieval and Evidence Appraisal
MODULE 10 — Implementation, Evaluation, Sustainability, and Dissemination
MODULE 1 — Foundations of Nursing Research and Theory
Q1. What is the primary purpose of nursing research?
A) To replace clinical judgment
B) To create hospital policies without evidence
C) To generate knowledge that can improve nursing practice and client
outcomes
D) To document routine patient care
Correct Answer: C) To generate knowledge that can improve nursing practice
and client outcomes
Rationale: Nursing research systematically develops or tests knowledge
that can inform practice, improve outcomes, and strengthen the scientific
foundation of nursing.
Q2. Which statement best distinguishes nursing research from
evidence-based practice?
A) Research generates or tests knowledge, whereas evidence-based practice
uses available evidence with clinical expertise and client needs
B) Research and evidence-based practice are identical processes
C) Evidence-based practice uses only qualitative research
D) Research is limited to hospital-based problems
Correct Answer: A) Research generates or tests knowledge, whereas
evidence-based practice uses available evidence with clinical expertise and
client needs
,Rationale: Research is a systematic method for generating or testing
knowledge. Evidence-based practice uses the best available evidence
together with clinical expertise and client preferences or circumstances to
guide practice.
Q3. A nurse notices that falls are increasing on a unit and wants to
investigate why. Which action best represents the beginning of a
research process?
A) Immediately implementing a new intervention
B) Identifying and clearly defining the research problem
C) Writing the final discussion
D) Selecting a statistical test before identifying the question
Correct Answer: B) Identifying and clearly defining the research problem
Rationale: A research project begins with recognition and definition of a
problem or area of inquiry. The problem provides the foundation for
developing the purpose, question, and methodology.
Q4. Why is a theoretical framework useful in nursing research?
A) It guarantees that a hypothesis will be supported
B) It eliminates the need for data collection
C) It determines the exact statistical test automatically
D) It provides concepts and relationships that help organize and interpret the
study
Correct Answer: D) It provides concepts and relationships that help organize
and interpret the study
Rationale: A theoretical framework provides a conceptual structure for
understanding the variables, relationships, or phenomena being
investigated.
Q5. Which feature is characteristic of a scientific approach to
nursing inquiry?
A) Systematic methods for collecting and interpreting evidence
B) Reliance on personal opinion alone
C) Selection of findings before data are collected
D) Avoidance of replication
Correct Answer: A) Systematic methods for collecting and interpreting
evidence
, Rationale: Scientific inquiry uses systematic methods, transparent
procedures, and evidence-based interpretation rather than relying solely on
personal beliefs or assumptions.
Q6. A nurse wants to understand how patients experience living
with chronic pain. Which broad approach is most appropriate?
A) Qualitative inquiry
B) Laboratory experimentation only
C) Administrative auditing
D) Cost accounting
Correct Answer: A) Qualitative inquiry
Rationale: Qualitative research is well suited to exploring experiences,
perceptions, meanings, and perspectives that are difficult to capture through
numerical measurement alone.
Q7. A researcher measures blood pressure numerically before and
after an intervention. Which characteristic is most consistent with
this approach?
A) Narrative inquiry
B) Quantitative measurement
C) Phenomenological description
D) Ethnographic observation
Correct Answer: B) Quantitative measurement
Rationale: Quantitative research emphasizes measurable variables and
numerical data that can be analyzed statistically.
Q8. Which statement best describes the relationship between
nursing theory and nursing research?
A) Theory and research are unrelated
B) Research should never be based on theory
C) Theory can guide research questions, while research can strengthen,
modify, or challenge theory
D) Research always proves a theory correct
Correct Answer: C) Theory can guide research questions, while research can
strengthen, modify, or challenge theory
2026/2027 | Rasmussen University
TABLE OF CONTENTS
MODULE 1 — Foundations of Nursing Research and Theory
MODULE 2 — Theories Guiding Nursing Practice
MODULE 3 — Components of the Research Process
MODULE 4 — Quantitative Research Methodologies
MODULE 5 — Qualitative Research Methodologies
MODULE 6 — Appraisal of Research Studies
MODULE 7 — Evidence-Based Practice
MODULE 8 — Clinical Questions, PICO, and Practice Problems
MODULE 9 — Evidence Retrieval and Evidence Appraisal
MODULE 10 — Implementation, Evaluation, Sustainability, and Dissemination
MODULE 1 — Foundations of Nursing Research and Theory
Q1. What is the primary purpose of nursing research?
A) To replace clinical judgment
B) To create hospital policies without evidence
C) To generate knowledge that can improve nursing practice and client
outcomes
D) To document routine patient care
Correct Answer: C) To generate knowledge that can improve nursing practice
and client outcomes
Rationale: Nursing research systematically develops or tests knowledge
that can inform practice, improve outcomes, and strengthen the scientific
foundation of nursing.
Q2. Which statement best distinguishes nursing research from
evidence-based practice?
A) Research generates or tests knowledge, whereas evidence-based practice
uses available evidence with clinical expertise and client needs
B) Research and evidence-based practice are identical processes
C) Evidence-based practice uses only qualitative research
D) Research is limited to hospital-based problems
Correct Answer: A) Research generates or tests knowledge, whereas
evidence-based practice uses available evidence with clinical expertise and
client needs
,Rationale: Research is a systematic method for generating or testing
knowledge. Evidence-based practice uses the best available evidence
together with clinical expertise and client preferences or circumstances to
guide practice.
Q3. A nurse notices that falls are increasing on a unit and wants to
investigate why. Which action best represents the beginning of a
research process?
A) Immediately implementing a new intervention
B) Identifying and clearly defining the research problem
C) Writing the final discussion
D) Selecting a statistical test before identifying the question
Correct Answer: B) Identifying and clearly defining the research problem
Rationale: A research project begins with recognition and definition of a
problem or area of inquiry. The problem provides the foundation for
developing the purpose, question, and methodology.
Q4. Why is a theoretical framework useful in nursing research?
A) It guarantees that a hypothesis will be supported
B) It eliminates the need for data collection
C) It determines the exact statistical test automatically
D) It provides concepts and relationships that help organize and interpret the
study
Correct Answer: D) It provides concepts and relationships that help organize
and interpret the study
Rationale: A theoretical framework provides a conceptual structure for
understanding the variables, relationships, or phenomena being
investigated.
Q5. Which feature is characteristic of a scientific approach to
nursing inquiry?
A) Systematic methods for collecting and interpreting evidence
B) Reliance on personal opinion alone
C) Selection of findings before data are collected
D) Avoidance of replication
Correct Answer: A) Systematic methods for collecting and interpreting
evidence
, Rationale: Scientific inquiry uses systematic methods, transparent
procedures, and evidence-based interpretation rather than relying solely on
personal beliefs or assumptions.
Q6. A nurse wants to understand how patients experience living
with chronic pain. Which broad approach is most appropriate?
A) Qualitative inquiry
B) Laboratory experimentation only
C) Administrative auditing
D) Cost accounting
Correct Answer: A) Qualitative inquiry
Rationale: Qualitative research is well suited to exploring experiences,
perceptions, meanings, and perspectives that are difficult to capture through
numerical measurement alone.
Q7. A researcher measures blood pressure numerically before and
after an intervention. Which characteristic is most consistent with
this approach?
A) Narrative inquiry
B) Quantitative measurement
C) Phenomenological description
D) Ethnographic observation
Correct Answer: B) Quantitative measurement
Rationale: Quantitative research emphasizes measurable variables and
numerical data that can be analyzed statistically.
Q8. Which statement best describes the relationship between
nursing theory and nursing research?
A) Theory and research are unrelated
B) Research should never be based on theory
C) Theory can guide research questions, while research can strengthen,
modify, or challenge theory
D) Research always proves a theory correct
Correct Answer: C) Theory can guide research questions, while research can
strengthen, modify, or challenge theory
