NRP 571 ADVANCED NURSING
RESEARCH AND EVIDENCE-BASED
PRACTICE EXAM PREP QUESTIONS
AND ANSWERS | 2026/2027 UPDATE |
100% CORRECT
1. Which level of evidence is considered the ‘gold standard’ in the hierarchy of evidence for
clinical decision-making?
A. Randomized Controlled Trials (RCTs)
B. Expert Opinion
C. Case-Control Studies
D. Meta-analysis of Systematic Reviews
Answer: D
Conceptual Explanation: A meta-analysis of systematic reviews of all relevant RCTs is at
the top of the evidence hierarchy (Level I) because it synthesizes findings from multiple
high-quality studies.
2. A researcher is conducting a study and fails to reject the null hypothesis when it is actually
false. This is known as:
A. Type II Error
,B. Type I Error
C. Sampling Bias
D. Standard Error
Answer: A
Conceptual Explanation: A Type II error (beta) occurs when the null hypothesis is
accepted as true when it is actually false, often due to an insufficient sample size (low
power).
3. In the PICO(T) format for developing a research question, what does the ‘C’ represent?
A. Comparison
B. Context
C. Clinical Outcome
D. Control Group
Answer: A
Conceptual Explanation: In PICO(T), C stands for Comparison, which represents the
alternative intervention or standard of care being compared against the new intervention.
4. Which qualitative research tradition focuses on the ‘lived experience’ of individuals?
A. Grounded Theory
B. Ethnography
, C. Phenomenology
D. Case Study
Answer: C
Conceptual Explanation: Phenomenology is a qualitative method used to describe and
understand the essence of a lived experience from the perspective of the participants.
5. A researcher wants to ensure that a new survey instrument consistently measures the
same construct over time. This refers to:
A. Reliability
B. Content Validity
C. Construct Validity
D. Sensitivity
Answer: A
Conceptual Explanation: Reliability refers to the consistency and stability of a
measurement over time and across different conditions.
6. What is the primary purpose of ‘bracketing’ in phenomenological research?
A. To categorize data into themes
B. To recruit a diverse sample
C. To set aside the researcher’s personal biases and preconceptions
RESEARCH AND EVIDENCE-BASED
PRACTICE EXAM PREP QUESTIONS
AND ANSWERS | 2026/2027 UPDATE |
100% CORRECT
1. Which level of evidence is considered the ‘gold standard’ in the hierarchy of evidence for
clinical decision-making?
A. Randomized Controlled Trials (RCTs)
B. Expert Opinion
C. Case-Control Studies
D. Meta-analysis of Systematic Reviews
Answer: D
Conceptual Explanation: A meta-analysis of systematic reviews of all relevant RCTs is at
the top of the evidence hierarchy (Level I) because it synthesizes findings from multiple
high-quality studies.
2. A researcher is conducting a study and fails to reject the null hypothesis when it is actually
false. This is known as:
A. Type II Error
,B. Type I Error
C. Sampling Bias
D. Standard Error
Answer: A
Conceptual Explanation: A Type II error (beta) occurs when the null hypothesis is
accepted as true when it is actually false, often due to an insufficient sample size (low
power).
3. In the PICO(T) format for developing a research question, what does the ‘C’ represent?
A. Comparison
B. Context
C. Clinical Outcome
D. Control Group
Answer: A
Conceptual Explanation: In PICO(T), C stands for Comparison, which represents the
alternative intervention or standard of care being compared against the new intervention.
4. Which qualitative research tradition focuses on the ‘lived experience’ of individuals?
A. Grounded Theory
B. Ethnography
, C. Phenomenology
D. Case Study
Answer: C
Conceptual Explanation: Phenomenology is a qualitative method used to describe and
understand the essence of a lived experience from the perspective of the participants.
5. A researcher wants to ensure that a new survey instrument consistently measures the
same construct over time. This refers to:
A. Reliability
B. Content Validity
C. Construct Validity
D. Sensitivity
Answer: A
Conceptual Explanation: Reliability refers to the consistency and stability of a
measurement over time and across different conditions.
6. What is the primary purpose of ‘bracketing’ in phenomenological research?
A. To categorize data into themes
B. To recruit a diverse sample
C. To set aside the researcher’s personal biases and preconceptions
