NSG 448 Exam 4 V2 | NSG 448 Evidence-Based
Project Capstone | Actual Q&A with Rationale
(NSG448 Exam 4) | Grand Canyon University
1. A nurse researcher is developing a PICOT question for a project on pressure ulcer
prevention. Which of the following elements are considered essential components of a well-
formulated PICOT question? (Select all that apply)
A. Patient population
B. Intervention of interest
C. Comparison intervention
D. Outcome
E. Timeframe
F. Financial cost
Correct Answer: A, B, C, D, E
Explanation: The PICOT format is a consistent formula for developing answerable clinical
questions. The acronym stands for Population, Intervention, Comparison, Outcome, and
Time. While financial considerations are important for project feasibility, they are not a
formal part of the PICOT mnemonic used in evidence-based practice frameworks.
,2. When evaluating a research study, the nurse understands that ‘internal validity’ refers to
which of the following?
A. The generalizability of the findings to a larger population.
B. The extent to which the independent variable caused the observed change in the
dependent variable.
C. The consistency of the measurement tool over time.
D. The degree to which the instrument measures the construct it claims to measure.
Correct Answer: B
Explanation: Internal validity is specifically concerned with whether the results of a study
can be attributed to the intervention rather than extraneous variables. High internal
validity minimizes bias and confounding factors within the study design itself. This differs
from external validity, which focuses on generalizability to other settings or populations.
3. Which level of evidence is considered the ‘gold standard’ in the hierarchy of evidence for
clinical decision-making?
A. Systematic reviews or meta-analyses of randomized controlled trials (RCTs)
B. Expert opinion
C. Case-control studies
D. Single descriptive or qualitative studies
Correct Answer: A
,Explanation: Systematic reviews and meta-analyses represent Level I evidence because
they synthesize data from multiple high-quality RCTs to provide a comprehensive
conclusion. This level of evidence provides the strongest basis for changing clinical practice
due to its rigorous methodological approach. Lower levels, such as expert opinion or case
studies, carry a higher risk of bias and lower statistical power.
4. A nurse is conducting an EBP project and needs to ensure the protection of human
subjects. Which of the following are the three basic ethical principles identified in the
Belmont Report? (Select all that apply)
A. Justice
B. Beneficence
C. Efficiency
D. Respect for persons
E. Veracity
Correct Answer: A, B, D
Explanation: The Belmont Report established three core ethical principles for research
involving human subjects: Respect for Persons (autonomy), Beneficence (do no
harm/maximize benefits), and Justice (fair distribution of burdens and benefits). These
principles guide Institutional Review Boards (IRBs) in evaluating the ethics of proposed
research. While veracity and efficiency are important in nursing practice, they are not the
three foundational principles of the Belmont Report.
, 5. In quantitative research, a ‘p-value’ of less than 0.05 typically indicates which of the
following?
A. The results are clinically significant but not statistically significant.
B. The findings are statistically significant and unlikely to have occurred by chance.
C. There is a 5% chance that the null hypothesis is true.
D. The study should be discarded due to high probability of error.
Correct Answer: B
Explanation: A p-value of < 0.05 is the standard threshold for statistical significance in
most nursing research, indicating that the probability of the results occurring by random
chance is less than 5%. This allows the researcher to reject the null hypothesis in favor of
the alternative hypothesis. However, statistical significance does not always equate to
clinical significance, which must be evaluated separately by the practitioner.
6. Which sampling method involves selecting participants who are easily accessible to the
researcher?
A. Simple random sampling
B. Convenience sampling
C. Stratified sampling
D. Snowball sampling
Correct Answer: B
Project Capstone | Actual Q&A with Rationale
(NSG448 Exam 4) | Grand Canyon University
1. A nurse researcher is developing a PICOT question for a project on pressure ulcer
prevention. Which of the following elements are considered essential components of a well-
formulated PICOT question? (Select all that apply)
A. Patient population
B. Intervention of interest
C. Comparison intervention
D. Outcome
E. Timeframe
F. Financial cost
Correct Answer: A, B, C, D, E
Explanation: The PICOT format is a consistent formula for developing answerable clinical
questions. The acronym stands for Population, Intervention, Comparison, Outcome, and
Time. While financial considerations are important for project feasibility, they are not a
formal part of the PICOT mnemonic used in evidence-based practice frameworks.
,2. When evaluating a research study, the nurse understands that ‘internal validity’ refers to
which of the following?
A. The generalizability of the findings to a larger population.
B. The extent to which the independent variable caused the observed change in the
dependent variable.
C. The consistency of the measurement tool over time.
D. The degree to which the instrument measures the construct it claims to measure.
Correct Answer: B
Explanation: Internal validity is specifically concerned with whether the results of a study
can be attributed to the intervention rather than extraneous variables. High internal
validity minimizes bias and confounding factors within the study design itself. This differs
from external validity, which focuses on generalizability to other settings or populations.
3. Which level of evidence is considered the ‘gold standard’ in the hierarchy of evidence for
clinical decision-making?
A. Systematic reviews or meta-analyses of randomized controlled trials (RCTs)
B. Expert opinion
C. Case-control studies
D. Single descriptive or qualitative studies
Correct Answer: A
,Explanation: Systematic reviews and meta-analyses represent Level I evidence because
they synthesize data from multiple high-quality RCTs to provide a comprehensive
conclusion. This level of evidence provides the strongest basis for changing clinical practice
due to its rigorous methodological approach. Lower levels, such as expert opinion or case
studies, carry a higher risk of bias and lower statistical power.
4. A nurse is conducting an EBP project and needs to ensure the protection of human
subjects. Which of the following are the three basic ethical principles identified in the
Belmont Report? (Select all that apply)
A. Justice
B. Beneficence
C. Efficiency
D. Respect for persons
E. Veracity
Correct Answer: A, B, D
Explanation: The Belmont Report established three core ethical principles for research
involving human subjects: Respect for Persons (autonomy), Beneficence (do no
harm/maximize benefits), and Justice (fair distribution of burdens and benefits). These
principles guide Institutional Review Boards (IRBs) in evaluating the ethics of proposed
research. While veracity and efficiency are important in nursing practice, they are not the
three foundational principles of the Belmont Report.
, 5. In quantitative research, a ‘p-value’ of less than 0.05 typically indicates which of the
following?
A. The results are clinically significant but not statistically significant.
B. The findings are statistically significant and unlikely to have occurred by chance.
C. There is a 5% chance that the null hypothesis is true.
D. The study should be discarded due to high probability of error.
Correct Answer: B
Explanation: A p-value of < 0.05 is the standard threshold for statistical significance in
most nursing research, indicating that the probability of the results occurring by random
chance is less than 5%. This allows the researcher to reject the null hypothesis in favor of
the alternative hypothesis. However, statistical significance does not always equate to
clinical significance, which must be evaluated separately by the practitioner.
6. Which sampling method involves selecting participants who are easily accessible to the
researcher?
A. Simple random sampling
B. Convenience sampling
C. Stratified sampling
D. Snowball sampling
Correct Answer: B
