Understanding Nursing Research: Chapter
6, Understanding and Critically Appraising
the Literature Review
1. What is the primary purpose for reviewing the literature in quantitative research? - ANS-*Gain
a broad understanding of the information available related to a problem
The primary purpose for reviewing the literature is to gain a broad background or understanding
of the information available related to a problem. Secondarily, researchers seek information that
will guide them in developing the methodology of a study.
\2. Theses, dissertations, and studies of clinical nursing problems are examples of which of the
following types of literature? - ANS-*Empirical
Theses, dissertations, and studies of clinical nursing problems are examples of empirical
literature because they are all research projects.
\3. What type of source is written by the person who originated it or is responsible for generating
the ideas? - ANS-*Primary
A primary source is a source that is written by the person who originated it or is responsible for
generating the ideas published. An academic lecture, literature review, and textbook are
considered secondary sources.
\4. Which of the following is not an essential step in summarizing research literature to
determine its usefulness for practice? - ANS-*Locating all sources on a clinical problem
Not all sources must be located on a selected topic because only the relevant sources need to
be located and included in the literature review.
\5. Which of the following databases is the most helpful in locating research sources that might
be summarized for use in nursing practice? - ANS-*CINAHL
Cumulative Index to Nursing & Allied Health Literature (CINAHL) Information System is the
online version for CINAHL that was initiated in 1983 and has the most extensive listing of
nursing sources.
\6. A primary step in appraising a literature review is to evaluate the: - ANS-*Relevance of the
sources cited
It is important that the sources in a literature review be relevant. One would not expect to find
secondary sources, studies published in the last year, or abstracts of studies in a literature
review.
6, Understanding and Critically Appraising
the Literature Review
1. What is the primary purpose for reviewing the literature in quantitative research? - ANS-*Gain
a broad understanding of the information available related to a problem
The primary purpose for reviewing the literature is to gain a broad background or understanding
of the information available related to a problem. Secondarily, researchers seek information that
will guide them in developing the methodology of a study.
\2. Theses, dissertations, and studies of clinical nursing problems are examples of which of the
following types of literature? - ANS-*Empirical
Theses, dissertations, and studies of clinical nursing problems are examples of empirical
literature because they are all research projects.
\3. What type of source is written by the person who originated it or is responsible for generating
the ideas? - ANS-*Primary
A primary source is a source that is written by the person who originated it or is responsible for
generating the ideas published. An academic lecture, literature review, and textbook are
considered secondary sources.
\4. Which of the following is not an essential step in summarizing research literature to
determine its usefulness for practice? - ANS-*Locating all sources on a clinical problem
Not all sources must be located on a selected topic because only the relevant sources need to
be located and included in the literature review.
\5. Which of the following databases is the most helpful in locating research sources that might
be summarized for use in nursing practice? - ANS-*CINAHL
Cumulative Index to Nursing & Allied Health Literature (CINAHL) Information System is the
online version for CINAHL that was initiated in 1983 and has the most extensive listing of
nursing sources.
\6. A primary step in appraising a literature review is to evaluate the: - ANS-*Relevance of the
sources cited
It is important that the sources in a literature review be relevant. One would not expect to find
secondary sources, studies published in the last year, or abstracts of studies in a literature
review.
