Chapter 04: Developing Research Questions,
Hypotheses, and Clinical Questions
LoBiondo-Wood: Nursing Research in Canada, 4th Edition
1. What is the difference between a hypothesis and a research problem?
a. There is no difference between a research problem and a hypothesis.
b. A hypothesis is theory based, and a research question is practice based.
c. A hypothesis attempts to answer the question posed by the research problem.
d. A research problem defines clinical research, and a hypothesis defines bench
research.
ANS: C
Feedback
A. Hypotheses test research questions by connecting them to statistical analysis and
flow from research questions.
B. A hypothesis is sometimes theory based, and sometimes it is not. Research
questions are not always practice based; sometimes they originate in educational
theory that connects to nursing education research, and sometimes they originate
in basic research rather than in applied research.
C. A hypothesis attempts to answer the research question.
D. Research problems are present in all types of research; a hypothesis may be
present in basic or applied research.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Comprehension
MSC: NCLEX Client Care Needs Category: Safe and Effective Care Environment;
Health Promotion and Maintenance
,2. How is a hypothesis related to a theory?
a. A hypothesis can determine the validity of a theory.
b. A hypothesis can be used to evaluate the merit of a theory.
c. A theory can determine the validity of a hypothesis.
d. A theory can be used to evaluate the merit of a hypothesis.
ANS: B
Feedback
A. A hypothesis bridges theory to the real world and empirical testing.
B. The merits of a theory are evaluated through a hypothesis.
C. A hypothesis tests the validity of a theory’s assumptions.
D. A theory being used to evaluate the merit of a hypothesis is the reverse of the
correct answer.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Knowledge
MSC: NCLEX Client Care Needs Category: Safe and Effective Care Environment;
Health Promotion and Maintenance
3. Which of the following statements represents a potential area of research?
a. “Most of our admissions occur at night.”
b. “It is difficult to find personnel willing to work the night shift.”
c. “It seems that most of the patient falls on our unit occur during the night shift.”
d. “The night shift personnel are not attending promptly to the needs of our patient.”
ANS: C
Feedback
, A. The significance of this statement is doubtful regarding its potential contribution
to the scientific body of nursing knowledge.
B. The significance of this statement is doubtful regarding its potential contribution
to the scientific body of nursing knowledge.
C. A specific patient problem has been identified, and the potential contribution of
its study to the scientific body of nursing knowledge is promising. The problem is
relevant to patients’ state of health.
D. The significance of this statement is doubtful regarding its potential contribution
to the scientific body of nursing knowledge; it is a subjective observation.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Application
MSC: NCLEX Client Care Needs Category: Safe and Effective Care Environment;
Health Promotion and Maintenance
4. When an idea or a clinical situation has emerged as a potential research problem, what is
the next appropriate step?
a. Identifying the variables
b. Formulating a hypothesis
c. Performing a literature review
d. Validating that the problem really exists
ANS: C
Feedback
A. It is too soon to identify the variables; the variables will be confirmed by
literature review, which will provide a critical analysis of the factors in the
potential research question or problem.
B. The study may not be a hypothesis-testing study; literature review will provide
direction by revealing the gaps in the literature.
Hypotheses, and Clinical Questions
LoBiondo-Wood: Nursing Research in Canada, 4th Edition
1. What is the difference between a hypothesis and a research problem?
a. There is no difference between a research problem and a hypothesis.
b. A hypothesis is theory based, and a research question is practice based.
c. A hypothesis attempts to answer the question posed by the research problem.
d. A research problem defines clinical research, and a hypothesis defines bench
research.
ANS: C
Feedback
A. Hypotheses test research questions by connecting them to statistical analysis and
flow from research questions.
B. A hypothesis is sometimes theory based, and sometimes it is not. Research
questions are not always practice based; sometimes they originate in educational
theory that connects to nursing education research, and sometimes they originate
in basic research rather than in applied research.
C. A hypothesis attempts to answer the research question.
D. Research problems are present in all types of research; a hypothesis may be
present in basic or applied research.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Comprehension
MSC: NCLEX Client Care Needs Category: Safe and Effective Care Environment;
Health Promotion and Maintenance
,2. How is a hypothesis related to a theory?
a. A hypothesis can determine the validity of a theory.
b. A hypothesis can be used to evaluate the merit of a theory.
c. A theory can determine the validity of a hypothesis.
d. A theory can be used to evaluate the merit of a hypothesis.
ANS: B
Feedback
A. A hypothesis bridges theory to the real world and empirical testing.
B. The merits of a theory are evaluated through a hypothesis.
C. A hypothesis tests the validity of a theory’s assumptions.
D. A theory being used to evaluate the merit of a hypothesis is the reverse of the
correct answer.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Knowledge
MSC: NCLEX Client Care Needs Category: Safe and Effective Care Environment;
Health Promotion and Maintenance
3. Which of the following statements represents a potential area of research?
a. “Most of our admissions occur at night.”
b. “It is difficult to find personnel willing to work the night shift.”
c. “It seems that most of the patient falls on our unit occur during the night shift.”
d. “The night shift personnel are not attending promptly to the needs of our patient.”
ANS: C
Feedback
, A. The significance of this statement is doubtful regarding its potential contribution
to the scientific body of nursing knowledge.
B. The significance of this statement is doubtful regarding its potential contribution
to the scientific body of nursing knowledge.
C. A specific patient problem has been identified, and the potential contribution of
its study to the scientific body of nursing knowledge is promising. The problem is
relevant to patients’ state of health.
D. The significance of this statement is doubtful regarding its potential contribution
to the scientific body of nursing knowledge; it is a subjective observation.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Application
MSC: NCLEX Client Care Needs Category: Safe and Effective Care Environment;
Health Promotion and Maintenance
4. When an idea or a clinical situation has emerged as a potential research problem, what is
the next appropriate step?
a. Identifying the variables
b. Formulating a hypothesis
c. Performing a literature review
d. Validating that the problem really exists
ANS: C
Feedback
A. It is too soon to identify the variables; the variables will be confirmed by
literature review, which will provide a critical analysis of the factors in the
potential research question or problem.
B. The study may not be a hypothesis-testing study; literature review will provide
direction by revealing the gaps in the literature.
