CHSOS COMPREHENSIVE EXAM 2026
QUESTIONS WITH CORRECT ANSWERS
◉ Advocacy and Inquiry. Answer: • A method of debriefing in which an
observer states what was observed or performed in a simulation activity
(advocacy) or shares critical or appreciative insights about it explicitly
(advocacy) and then asks the learners for an explanation of their
thoughts or actions (inquiry)(Rudolph et al, 2007).
• Inquiry seeks to learn what others think, know, want, or feel; whereas
advocacy includes statements that communicate what an individual
thinks, knows, wants or feels (Bolman & Deal, 2013).
◉ Advocacy and Inquiry. Answer: A method of debriefing in which an
observer states what was observed or performed in a simulation activity
(advocacy) or shares critical or appreciative insights about it explicitly
(advocacy) and then asks the learners for an explanation of their
thoughts or actions (inquiry)(Rudolph et al, 2007).
• Inquiry seeks to learn what others think, know, want, or feel; whereas
advocacy includes statements that communicate what an individual
thinks, knows, wants or feels (Bolman & Deal, 2013).
◉ Alpha and Beta Testing. Answer: • Alpha- early testing of a product
by the developers or programmers, but not by potential users. The
purpose of alpha-testing is to find and resolve as many 'bugs' or
,problems in the software that were unanticipated during the design and
development. (Lee-Jayaram et al, 2019)
• Beta - early testing of a software, program, simulation, or game, by
potential users. The purpose of beta-testing is identical to alpha-testing.
(Lee-Jayaram et al, 2019)
◉ Artificial Intelligence (AI). Answer: A system of computerized data-
gathering and prediction that models human behavior and decision-
making with minimal human intervention. In healthcare simulation, AI
often refers to underlying programming that provides physiological or
systembased algorithm changes based on inputs from users and learners.
Often paired with machine learning, in which the software is
programmed to alter algorithms and predictions based on observed data
and results without human intervention. Virtual patients use artificial
intelligence to react appropriately to the user or learner. (Bennett and
Hauser, 2013)
◉ Assessment. Answer: Refers to processes that provide information
about or feedback about individual participants, groups, or programs.
Specifically, assessment refers to observations of progress related to
knowledge, skills, and attitudes (KSA). Findings of assessment are used
to improve future outcomes (Scheckel, 2016; INACSL Standards
Committee, 2016c, pp. S39-S40). • Involves measurement of the KSAs
which can be recorded (Levine, DeMaria, Schwartz, & Sim, 2014).
Formative - a type of assessment (sometimes called an evaluation)
"wherein the facilitator's focus is on the participant's progress toward
goal attainment through preset criteria; a process for an individual or
group engaged in a simulation activity for the purpose of providing
,constructive feedback for that individual or group to improve (National
League for Nursing Simulation Innovation Resource Center [NLN-
SIRC], 2013; Scheckel, 2016)" (INACSL Standards Committee, 2016c,
p.S41).
Often completed at the same time as the instruction (Hamdorf & Davies,
2016), development of the individual is the focus for the simulation
objectives/outcomes to be reached (INACSL Standards Committee,
2016c). • Summative - a type of assessment (sometimes called an
evaluation) "at the end of a learning period or at a discrete point in time
in which participants are provided with feedback about their
achievement of outcome through preset criteria; a process for
determining the competence of a participant engaged in healthcare
activity. The assessment of achievement of outcome criteria may be
associated with an assigned grade (NLN-SIRC, 2013; Scheckel, 2016)"
(INACSL Standards Committee, 2016c, p. S41).
Performance of the individual is compared to a specific standard
(Hamdorf & Davies, 2016). • High-stakes - a type of assessment
(sometimes called an evaluation) "associated with a simulation activity
◉ Assessor. Answer: • A person who performs assessment of individuals
according to pre-established criteria.
• Assessors must have specific and substantial training, expertise, and
competency in assessment (Dictionary.com).
◉ Augmented Reality. Answer: A type of virtual reality in which
synthetic stimuli are superimposed on real-world objects, usually to
make information that is otherwise imperceptible to human senses
, perceptible (M&S Glossary). • A technology that overlays digital
computer-generated information on objects or places in the real world
for the purpose of enhancing the user experience. • The combination of
reality and overlay of digital information designed to enhance the
learning process. • A spectrum of mixed-reality simulation that is part
way between the real world and the virtual world. • A form of virtual
reality that includes head-mounted displays, overlays of computer
screens, wearable computers, or displays projected onto humans and
manikins (D.R. Berryman et al; M. Bajura et al; H. Fuchs et al).
◉ Avatar. Answer: • A virtual object used to represent a physical object
(e.g., a human) in a virtual world. • A graphical representation, typically
three-dimensional, of a person capable of relatively complex actions,
including facial expressions and physical responses, while participating
in a virtual simulation-based experience. The user controls the avatar
through the use of a mouse, keyboard, or a type of joystick to move
through the virtual simulation-based experience (Riley, 2008). •
Controlled avatars may be either 1st-person perspective or 3rd-person
perspective in virtual simulations. A 3rd-person perspective places the
view and camera so the user and learner can see the controlled avatar
(e.g., the player). A 1st-person perspective places the camera such that
the user and learner views the world through the eyes of the avatar (i.e.,
the controlled avatar is never visible on the screen). These perspectives
only apply to screen-based simulations using a mouse, keyboard, or
joystick. Virtual Reality simulations are almost always 1st-person.
(Schuurink and Toet, 2010)
◉ Back Story or Backstory or Back-story. Answer: "A narrative, which
provides a history and/or background and is created for a fictional
QUESTIONS WITH CORRECT ANSWERS
◉ Advocacy and Inquiry. Answer: • A method of debriefing in which an
observer states what was observed or performed in a simulation activity
(advocacy) or shares critical or appreciative insights about it explicitly
(advocacy) and then asks the learners for an explanation of their
thoughts or actions (inquiry)(Rudolph et al, 2007).
• Inquiry seeks to learn what others think, know, want, or feel; whereas
advocacy includes statements that communicate what an individual
thinks, knows, wants or feels (Bolman & Deal, 2013).
◉ Advocacy and Inquiry. Answer: A method of debriefing in which an
observer states what was observed or performed in a simulation activity
(advocacy) or shares critical or appreciative insights about it explicitly
(advocacy) and then asks the learners for an explanation of their
thoughts or actions (inquiry)(Rudolph et al, 2007).
• Inquiry seeks to learn what others think, know, want, or feel; whereas
advocacy includes statements that communicate what an individual
thinks, knows, wants or feels (Bolman & Deal, 2013).
◉ Alpha and Beta Testing. Answer: • Alpha- early testing of a product
by the developers or programmers, but not by potential users. The
purpose of alpha-testing is to find and resolve as many 'bugs' or
,problems in the software that were unanticipated during the design and
development. (Lee-Jayaram et al, 2019)
• Beta - early testing of a software, program, simulation, or game, by
potential users. The purpose of beta-testing is identical to alpha-testing.
(Lee-Jayaram et al, 2019)
◉ Artificial Intelligence (AI). Answer: A system of computerized data-
gathering and prediction that models human behavior and decision-
making with minimal human intervention. In healthcare simulation, AI
often refers to underlying programming that provides physiological or
systembased algorithm changes based on inputs from users and learners.
Often paired with machine learning, in which the software is
programmed to alter algorithms and predictions based on observed data
and results without human intervention. Virtual patients use artificial
intelligence to react appropriately to the user or learner. (Bennett and
Hauser, 2013)
◉ Assessment. Answer: Refers to processes that provide information
about or feedback about individual participants, groups, or programs.
Specifically, assessment refers to observations of progress related to
knowledge, skills, and attitudes (KSA). Findings of assessment are used
to improve future outcomes (Scheckel, 2016; INACSL Standards
Committee, 2016c, pp. S39-S40). • Involves measurement of the KSAs
which can be recorded (Levine, DeMaria, Schwartz, & Sim, 2014).
Formative - a type of assessment (sometimes called an evaluation)
"wherein the facilitator's focus is on the participant's progress toward
goal attainment through preset criteria; a process for an individual or
group engaged in a simulation activity for the purpose of providing
,constructive feedback for that individual or group to improve (National
League for Nursing Simulation Innovation Resource Center [NLN-
SIRC], 2013; Scheckel, 2016)" (INACSL Standards Committee, 2016c,
p.S41).
Often completed at the same time as the instruction (Hamdorf & Davies,
2016), development of the individual is the focus for the simulation
objectives/outcomes to be reached (INACSL Standards Committee,
2016c). • Summative - a type of assessment (sometimes called an
evaluation) "at the end of a learning period or at a discrete point in time
in which participants are provided with feedback about their
achievement of outcome through preset criteria; a process for
determining the competence of a participant engaged in healthcare
activity. The assessment of achievement of outcome criteria may be
associated with an assigned grade (NLN-SIRC, 2013; Scheckel, 2016)"
(INACSL Standards Committee, 2016c, p. S41).
Performance of the individual is compared to a specific standard
(Hamdorf & Davies, 2016). • High-stakes - a type of assessment
(sometimes called an evaluation) "associated with a simulation activity
◉ Assessor. Answer: • A person who performs assessment of individuals
according to pre-established criteria.
• Assessors must have specific and substantial training, expertise, and
competency in assessment (Dictionary.com).
◉ Augmented Reality. Answer: A type of virtual reality in which
synthetic stimuli are superimposed on real-world objects, usually to
make information that is otherwise imperceptible to human senses
, perceptible (M&S Glossary). • A technology that overlays digital
computer-generated information on objects or places in the real world
for the purpose of enhancing the user experience. • The combination of
reality and overlay of digital information designed to enhance the
learning process. • A spectrum of mixed-reality simulation that is part
way between the real world and the virtual world. • A form of virtual
reality that includes head-mounted displays, overlays of computer
screens, wearable computers, or displays projected onto humans and
manikins (D.R. Berryman et al; M. Bajura et al; H. Fuchs et al).
◉ Avatar. Answer: • A virtual object used to represent a physical object
(e.g., a human) in a virtual world. • A graphical representation, typically
three-dimensional, of a person capable of relatively complex actions,
including facial expressions and physical responses, while participating
in a virtual simulation-based experience. The user controls the avatar
through the use of a mouse, keyboard, or a type of joystick to move
through the virtual simulation-based experience (Riley, 2008). •
Controlled avatars may be either 1st-person perspective or 3rd-person
perspective in virtual simulations. A 3rd-person perspective places the
view and camera so the user and learner can see the controlled avatar
(e.g., the player). A 1st-person perspective places the camera such that
the user and learner views the world through the eyes of the avatar (i.e.,
the controlled avatar is never visible on the screen). These perspectives
only apply to screen-based simulations using a mouse, keyboard, or
joystick. Virtual Reality simulations are almost always 1st-person.
(Schuurink and Toet, 2010)
◉ Back Story or Backstory or Back-story. Answer: "A narrative, which
provides a history and/or background and is created for a fictional
