NUR 3270 NURSING RESEARCH AND
EVIDENCE-BASED PRACTICE EXAM V2
QUESTIONS WITH VERIFIED ANSWERS
AND DETAILED EXPLANATIONS
1. Which of the following describes the ‘control’ component of an experimental study design?
A. The implementation of a specific intervention by the researcher.
B. The researcher’s ability to manipulate the independent variable.
C. The process of assigning participants to groups based on specific characteristics.
D. The measures used to hold the conditions of the study uniform to avoid bias.
Answer: D
Conceptual Explanation: Control refers to the methods used to minimize the influence of
extraneous variables and ensure that the results are due to the intervention.
2. In a study exploring the effect of a new wound dressing on healing time, the independent
variable is:
A. The time it takes for the wound to heal.
B. The size of the initial wound.
C. The age of the patients.
D. The type of wound dressing used.
,Answer: D
Conceptual Explanation: The independent variable is the intervention or factor being
manipulated to see if it causes a change in the outcome.
3. A researcher is conducting a study to understand the lived experience of mothers whose
children are in neonatal intensive care. Which research design is most appropriate?
A. Grounded Theory
B. Ethnography
C. Phenomenology
D. Correlational Study
Answer: C
Conceptual Explanation: Phenomenology focuses on describing the ‘lived experience’ of
individuals regarding a specific phenomenon.
4. Which level of evidence is considered the highest in the evidence-based practice hierarchy?
A. A single randomized controlled trial (RCT).
B. Expert opinion and case reports.
C. Systematic reviews or meta-analyses of all relevant RCTs.
D. Evidence from a well-designed case-control study.
Answer: C
, Conceptual Explanation: Systematic reviews of RCTs are at the top of the evidence
pyramid as they synthesize all available high-quality data.
5. What is the primary purpose of an Institutional Review Board (IRB)?
A. To ensure that the research study has a large enough sample size.
B. To protect the rights and welfare of human subjects involved in research.
C. To verify that the statistical analysis used in the study is correct.
D. To provide funding for clinical research projects.
Answer: B
Conceptual Explanation: The IRB’s main function is ethical oversight to protect human
participants from harm.
6. A researcher fails to reject the null hypothesis when it is actually false. This is known as:
A. Type I error
B. Type II error
C. Sampling bias
D. Statistical significance
Answer: B
Conceptual Explanation: A Type II error occurs when a false null hypothesis is not
rejected (a ‘false negative’).
EVIDENCE-BASED PRACTICE EXAM V2
QUESTIONS WITH VERIFIED ANSWERS
AND DETAILED EXPLANATIONS
1. Which of the following describes the ‘control’ component of an experimental study design?
A. The implementation of a specific intervention by the researcher.
B. The researcher’s ability to manipulate the independent variable.
C. The process of assigning participants to groups based on specific characteristics.
D. The measures used to hold the conditions of the study uniform to avoid bias.
Answer: D
Conceptual Explanation: Control refers to the methods used to minimize the influence of
extraneous variables and ensure that the results are due to the intervention.
2. In a study exploring the effect of a new wound dressing on healing time, the independent
variable is:
A. The time it takes for the wound to heal.
B. The size of the initial wound.
C. The age of the patients.
D. The type of wound dressing used.
,Answer: D
Conceptual Explanation: The independent variable is the intervention or factor being
manipulated to see if it causes a change in the outcome.
3. A researcher is conducting a study to understand the lived experience of mothers whose
children are in neonatal intensive care. Which research design is most appropriate?
A. Grounded Theory
B. Ethnography
C. Phenomenology
D. Correlational Study
Answer: C
Conceptual Explanation: Phenomenology focuses on describing the ‘lived experience’ of
individuals regarding a specific phenomenon.
4. Which level of evidence is considered the highest in the evidence-based practice hierarchy?
A. A single randomized controlled trial (RCT).
B. Expert opinion and case reports.
C. Systematic reviews or meta-analyses of all relevant RCTs.
D. Evidence from a well-designed case-control study.
Answer: C
, Conceptual Explanation: Systematic reviews of RCTs are at the top of the evidence
pyramid as they synthesize all available high-quality data.
5. What is the primary purpose of an Institutional Review Board (IRB)?
A. To ensure that the research study has a large enough sample size.
B. To protect the rights and welfare of human subjects involved in research.
C. To verify that the statistical analysis used in the study is correct.
D. To provide funding for clinical research projects.
Answer: B
Conceptual Explanation: The IRB’s main function is ethical oversight to protect human
participants from harm.
6. A researcher fails to reject the null hypothesis when it is actually false. This is known as:
A. Type I error
B. Type II error
C. Sampling bias
D. Statistical significance
Answer: B
Conceptual Explanation: A Type II error occurs when a false null hypothesis is not
rejected (a ‘false negative’).
