NUR 3270 NURSING RESEARCH AND
EVIDENCE-BASED PRACTICE EXAM 4
QUESTIONS WITH VERIFIED ANSWERS
AND DETAILED EXPLANATIONS
1. A researcher is studying the lived experience of post-partum depression among adolescent
mothers. Which qualitative research tradition is most appropriate for this study?
A. Grounded Theory
B. Historical Research
C. Ethnography
D. Phenomenology
Answer: D
Conceptual Explanation: Phenomenology focuses on the ‘lived experience’ and the
meaning participants assign to a specific phenomenon.
2. A nurse researcher finds a Cronbach’s alpha of 0.85 for a new pain assessment tool. How
should this result be interpreted?
A. The tool has poor internal consistency.
B. The tool shows high inter-rater reliability.
C. The tool has excellent content validity.
,D. The tool has high internal consistency reliability.
Answer: D
Conceptual Explanation: A Cronbach’s alpha coefficient of 0.70 or higher is generally
considered acceptable, and 0.80 or higher is considered good for internal consistency.
3. In a study examining the effect of a new wound care protocol on healing time, what is the
independent variable?
A. The new wound care protocol
B. The rate of wound healing
C. The age of the patients
D. The type of wound dressing used in the control group
Answer: A
Conceptual Explanation: The independent variable is the intervention or condition being
manipulated or tested by the researcher.
4. What is the primary purpose of an Institutional Review Board (IRB)?
A. To ensure the study has a high enough sample size
B. To provide funding for clinical research trials
C. To verify the statistical accuracy of the research findings
D. To protect the rights and welfare of human research subjects
, Answer: D
Conceptual Explanation: The IRB’s main function is the ethical review of research to
protect human subjects from harm.
5. A researcher rejects the null hypothesis when it is actually true. This is an example of which
type of error?
A. Type I Error
B. Type II Error
C. Standard Error
D. Measurement Error
Answer: A
Conceptual Explanation: A Type I error occurs when a researcher concludes that a
significant difference exists (rejects the null) when there is actually no difference.
6. Which of the following represents the highest level of evidence in the evidence-based
practice hierarchy?
A. Single Randomized Controlled Trial (RCT)
B. Systematic review or meta-analysis of RCTs
C. Case-control studies
D. Expert opinion
Answer: B
EVIDENCE-BASED PRACTICE EXAM 4
QUESTIONS WITH VERIFIED ANSWERS
AND DETAILED EXPLANATIONS
1. A researcher is studying the lived experience of post-partum depression among adolescent
mothers. Which qualitative research tradition is most appropriate for this study?
A. Grounded Theory
B. Historical Research
C. Ethnography
D. Phenomenology
Answer: D
Conceptual Explanation: Phenomenology focuses on the ‘lived experience’ and the
meaning participants assign to a specific phenomenon.
2. A nurse researcher finds a Cronbach’s alpha of 0.85 for a new pain assessment tool. How
should this result be interpreted?
A. The tool has poor internal consistency.
B. The tool shows high inter-rater reliability.
C. The tool has excellent content validity.
,D. The tool has high internal consistency reliability.
Answer: D
Conceptual Explanation: A Cronbach’s alpha coefficient of 0.70 or higher is generally
considered acceptable, and 0.80 or higher is considered good for internal consistency.
3. In a study examining the effect of a new wound care protocol on healing time, what is the
independent variable?
A. The new wound care protocol
B. The rate of wound healing
C. The age of the patients
D. The type of wound dressing used in the control group
Answer: A
Conceptual Explanation: The independent variable is the intervention or condition being
manipulated or tested by the researcher.
4. What is the primary purpose of an Institutional Review Board (IRB)?
A. To ensure the study has a high enough sample size
B. To provide funding for clinical research trials
C. To verify the statistical accuracy of the research findings
D. To protect the rights and welfare of human research subjects
, Answer: D
Conceptual Explanation: The IRB’s main function is the ethical review of research to
protect human subjects from harm.
5. A researcher rejects the null hypothesis when it is actually true. This is an example of which
type of error?
A. Type I Error
B. Type II Error
C. Standard Error
D. Measurement Error
Answer: A
Conceptual Explanation: A Type I error occurs when a researcher concludes that a
significant difference exists (rejects the null) when there is actually no difference.
6. Which of the following represents the highest level of evidence in the evidence-based
practice hierarchy?
A. Single Randomized Controlled Trial (RCT)
B. Systematic review or meta-analysis of RCTs
C. Case-control studies
D. Expert opinion
Answer: B
