Reading, Understanding, and Applying Nursing
Research | Verified Practice and Application Questions
with Answers & Detailed Rationales | Comprehensive
Study Guide for Nursing Students | Updated 2026
Edition | Evidence-Based Practice & Research
Application
Question 1
What is the primary purpose of nursing research?
A) To improve patient care. (Correct Option)
B) To increase hospital revenue
C) To enhance nurse salaries
D) To replace clinical judgment
Rationale:
The primary purpose of nursing research is to improve patient care by generating
evidence-based practices that enhance outcomes.
Question 2
Which type of research design is best for establishing cause-and-effect relationships?
A) Experimental. (Correct Option)
B) Descriptive
C) Correlational
D) Qualitative
Rationale:
Experimental research design allows for manipulation of variables to determine causal
relationships.
Question 3
What is the significance of a literature review in nursing research?
A) To identify gaps in existing knowledge. (Correct Option)
B) To prove a hypothesis
C) To summarize clinical guidelines
D) To increase sample size
Rationale:
,Reading, Understanding, and Applying Nursing
Research | Verified Practice and Application Questions
with Answers & Detailed Rationales | Comprehensive
Study Guide for Nursing Students | Updated 2026
Edition | Evidence-Based Practice & Research
Application
A literature review helps identify gaps in existing knowledge, guiding future research
directions.
Question 4
In qualitative research, which method is commonly used to gather data?
A) Interviews. (Correct Option)
B) Surveys
C) Laboratory tests
D) Observational studies
Rationale:
Interviews are a common method in qualitative research, allowing for in-depth
exploration of participants' experiences.
Question 5
What is a key characteristic of quantitative research?
A) Use of statistical analysis. (Correct Option)
B) Focus on subjective experiences
C) Exploration of meanings
D) Flexibility in data collection
Rationale:
Quantitative research relies on statistical analysis to evaluate relationships and
outcomes.
Question 6
What does the term "sample size" refer to in research?
A) The number of participants in a study. (Correct Option)
B) The total cost of the research
,Reading, Understanding, and Applying Nursing
Research | Verified Practice and Application Questions
with Answers & Detailed Rationales | Comprehensive
Study Guide for Nursing Students | Updated 2026
Edition | Evidence-Based Practice & Research
Application
C) The duration of the study
D) The number of researchers involved
Rationale:
Sample size refers to the number of participants included in a study, which affects the
validity and reliability of the research findings.
Question 7
What is the purpose of a hypothesis in research?
A) To provide a testable prediction. (Correct Option)
B) To summarize existing literature
C) To describe the research design
D) To analyze data
Rationale:
A hypothesis provides a testable prediction that guides the research process and
analysis.
Question 8
Which ethical principle requires researchers to ensure no harm comes to participants?
A) Nonmaleficence. (Correct Option)
B) Autonomy
C) Justice
D) Beneficence
Rationale:
Nonmaleficence is the ethical principle that mandates researchers to avoid causing
harm to participants.
Question 9
In the context of nursing research, what is meant by "informed consent"?
, Reading, Understanding, and Applying Nursing
Research | Verified Practice and Application Questions
with Answers & Detailed Rationales | Comprehensive
Study Guide for Nursing Students | Updated 2026
Edition | Evidence-Based Practice & Research
Application
A) Participants' agreement to participate after being fully informed. (Correct Option)
B) A legal document signed by researchers
C) A verbal agreement of participation
D) A requirement only for experimental studies
Rationale:
Informed consent ensures that participants agree to participate after being fully
informed of the study's nature, risks, and benefits.
Question 10
What is a primary focus of evidence-based practice in nursing?
A) Integration of research evidence into clinical decision-making. (Correct Option)
B) Following traditional practices without question
C) Emphasizing personal experience over research
D) Relying solely on expert opinion
Rationale:
Evidence-based practice focuses on integrating research evidence with clinical
expertise and patient preferences to guide decision-making.
Question 11
What does "peer review" ensure in the context of publishing research?
A) Quality and validity of the research. (Correct Option)
B) Increased visibility of the study
C) Faster publication times
D) Higher funding for the research
Rationale:
Peer review ensures that research is evaluated by experts in the field for quality and
validity before publication.
Research | Verified Practice and Application Questions
with Answers & Detailed Rationales | Comprehensive
Study Guide for Nursing Students | Updated 2026
Edition | Evidence-Based Practice & Research
Application
Question 1
What is the primary purpose of nursing research?
A) To improve patient care. (Correct Option)
B) To increase hospital revenue
C) To enhance nurse salaries
D) To replace clinical judgment
Rationale:
The primary purpose of nursing research is to improve patient care by generating
evidence-based practices that enhance outcomes.
Question 2
Which type of research design is best for establishing cause-and-effect relationships?
A) Experimental. (Correct Option)
B) Descriptive
C) Correlational
D) Qualitative
Rationale:
Experimental research design allows for manipulation of variables to determine causal
relationships.
Question 3
What is the significance of a literature review in nursing research?
A) To identify gaps in existing knowledge. (Correct Option)
B) To prove a hypothesis
C) To summarize clinical guidelines
D) To increase sample size
Rationale:
,Reading, Understanding, and Applying Nursing
Research | Verified Practice and Application Questions
with Answers & Detailed Rationales | Comprehensive
Study Guide for Nursing Students | Updated 2026
Edition | Evidence-Based Practice & Research
Application
A literature review helps identify gaps in existing knowledge, guiding future research
directions.
Question 4
In qualitative research, which method is commonly used to gather data?
A) Interviews. (Correct Option)
B) Surveys
C) Laboratory tests
D) Observational studies
Rationale:
Interviews are a common method in qualitative research, allowing for in-depth
exploration of participants' experiences.
Question 5
What is a key characteristic of quantitative research?
A) Use of statistical analysis. (Correct Option)
B) Focus on subjective experiences
C) Exploration of meanings
D) Flexibility in data collection
Rationale:
Quantitative research relies on statistical analysis to evaluate relationships and
outcomes.
Question 6
What does the term "sample size" refer to in research?
A) The number of participants in a study. (Correct Option)
B) The total cost of the research
,Reading, Understanding, and Applying Nursing
Research | Verified Practice and Application Questions
with Answers & Detailed Rationales | Comprehensive
Study Guide for Nursing Students | Updated 2026
Edition | Evidence-Based Practice & Research
Application
C) The duration of the study
D) The number of researchers involved
Rationale:
Sample size refers to the number of participants included in a study, which affects the
validity and reliability of the research findings.
Question 7
What is the purpose of a hypothesis in research?
A) To provide a testable prediction. (Correct Option)
B) To summarize existing literature
C) To describe the research design
D) To analyze data
Rationale:
A hypothesis provides a testable prediction that guides the research process and
analysis.
Question 8
Which ethical principle requires researchers to ensure no harm comes to participants?
A) Nonmaleficence. (Correct Option)
B) Autonomy
C) Justice
D) Beneficence
Rationale:
Nonmaleficence is the ethical principle that mandates researchers to avoid causing
harm to participants.
Question 9
In the context of nursing research, what is meant by "informed consent"?
, Reading, Understanding, and Applying Nursing
Research | Verified Practice and Application Questions
with Answers & Detailed Rationales | Comprehensive
Study Guide for Nursing Students | Updated 2026
Edition | Evidence-Based Practice & Research
Application
A) Participants' agreement to participate after being fully informed. (Correct Option)
B) A legal document signed by researchers
C) A verbal agreement of participation
D) A requirement only for experimental studies
Rationale:
Informed consent ensures that participants agree to participate after being fully
informed of the study's nature, risks, and benefits.
Question 10
What is a primary focus of evidence-based practice in nursing?
A) Integration of research evidence into clinical decision-making. (Correct Option)
B) Following traditional practices without question
C) Emphasizing personal experience over research
D) Relying solely on expert opinion
Rationale:
Evidence-based practice focuses on integrating research evidence with clinical
expertise and patient preferences to guide decision-making.
Question 11
What does "peer review" ensure in the context of publishing research?
A) Quality and validity of the research. (Correct Option)
B) Increased visibility of the study
C) Faster publication times
D) Higher funding for the research
Rationale:
Peer review ensures that research is evaluated by experts in the field for quality and
validity before publication.
