LATEST UPDATED NU 560 FINAL EXAM -
EVIDENCE-BASED PRACTICE AND
RESEARCH METHODS | COMPLETE EXAM
WITH CORRECT ANSWERS AND
RATIONALES. A+ GUARANTEED SUCCESS
1. A nurse researcher is conducting a systematic
review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled
trials. According to the evidence hierarchy, this
represents which level of evidence?
A) Level I (highest level)
B) Level II
C) Level III
D) Level IV
Correct answer: A
Rationale: Systematic reviews and meta-analyses of
randomized controlled trials represent the highest
level of evidence (Level I) in the evidence hierarchy,
followed by individual RCTs (Level II), quasi-
experimental studies (Level III), and non-
experimental studies (Level IV).
,2. A nurse is developing a PICOT question. Which
component specifies the time frame for the outcome
measurement?
A) P (Population)
B) I (Intervention)
C) C (Comparison)
D) T (Time)
Correct answer: D
Rationale: The PICOT acronym stands for Population,
Intervention, Comparison, Outcome, and Time. The T
specifies the time frame for measuring the outcome
(e.g., within 30 days, at 6 months, post-intervention
immediately).
3. A nurse researcher is designing a study and wants
to eliminate selection bias. Which method is most
effective?
A) Convenience sampling
B) Purposive sampling
C) Random assignment (randomization)
D) Quota sampling
Correct answer: C
,Rationale: Random assignment (randomization) to
intervention and control groups is the most effective
method for eliminating selection bias. It ensures that
known and unknown confounding variables are
equally distributed between groups. Convenience
and purposive sampling are non-probability methods
that introduce selection bias.
4. A nurse is appraising a research article and notes
that the study design is a randomized controlled trial
(RCT). The nurse knows that the purpose of blinding
in an RCT is to:
A) Increase the sample size
B) Reduce bias from participants or researchers
knowing group assignment
C) Ensure that the study has adequate power
D) Increase the external validity
Correct answer: B
Rationale: Blinding (or masking) is used in RCTs to
reduce performance bias (participants or providers
changing behavior based on knowledge of group
assignment) and detection bias (outcome assessors
influenced by knowledge of group assignment).
Double-blind means both participants and
researchers are unaware of group assignment.
, 5. The ethical principle that requires researchers to
distribute the benefits and burdens of research fairly
across populations is called:
A) Respect for persons
B) Beneficence
C) Nonmaleficence
D) Justice
Correct answer: D
Rationale: Justice requires that the selection of
research participants is fair and that the benefits and
burdens of research are distributed equitably.
Vulnerable populations (prisoners, children,
pregnant women, cognitively impaired) should not be
disproportionately burdened or excluded from
potential benefits without justification.
6. A nurse researcher is conducting a study and
wants to measure the internal consistency reliability
of a new scale. Which statistic is most appropriate?
A) Pearson correlation coefficient (r)
B) Cronbach's alpha
C) Cohen's kappa
D) Intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC)
EVIDENCE-BASED PRACTICE AND
RESEARCH METHODS | COMPLETE EXAM
WITH CORRECT ANSWERS AND
RATIONALES. A+ GUARANTEED SUCCESS
1. A nurse researcher is conducting a systematic
review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled
trials. According to the evidence hierarchy, this
represents which level of evidence?
A) Level I (highest level)
B) Level II
C) Level III
D) Level IV
Correct answer: A
Rationale: Systematic reviews and meta-analyses of
randomized controlled trials represent the highest
level of evidence (Level I) in the evidence hierarchy,
followed by individual RCTs (Level II), quasi-
experimental studies (Level III), and non-
experimental studies (Level IV).
,2. A nurse is developing a PICOT question. Which
component specifies the time frame for the outcome
measurement?
A) P (Population)
B) I (Intervention)
C) C (Comparison)
D) T (Time)
Correct answer: D
Rationale: The PICOT acronym stands for Population,
Intervention, Comparison, Outcome, and Time. The T
specifies the time frame for measuring the outcome
(e.g., within 30 days, at 6 months, post-intervention
immediately).
3. A nurse researcher is designing a study and wants
to eliminate selection bias. Which method is most
effective?
A) Convenience sampling
B) Purposive sampling
C) Random assignment (randomization)
D) Quota sampling
Correct answer: C
,Rationale: Random assignment (randomization) to
intervention and control groups is the most effective
method for eliminating selection bias. It ensures that
known and unknown confounding variables are
equally distributed between groups. Convenience
and purposive sampling are non-probability methods
that introduce selection bias.
4. A nurse is appraising a research article and notes
that the study design is a randomized controlled trial
(RCT). The nurse knows that the purpose of blinding
in an RCT is to:
A) Increase the sample size
B) Reduce bias from participants or researchers
knowing group assignment
C) Ensure that the study has adequate power
D) Increase the external validity
Correct answer: B
Rationale: Blinding (or masking) is used in RCTs to
reduce performance bias (participants or providers
changing behavior based on knowledge of group
assignment) and detection bias (outcome assessors
influenced by knowledge of group assignment).
Double-blind means both participants and
researchers are unaware of group assignment.
, 5. The ethical principle that requires researchers to
distribute the benefits and burdens of research fairly
across populations is called:
A) Respect for persons
B) Beneficence
C) Nonmaleficence
D) Justice
Correct answer: D
Rationale: Justice requires that the selection of
research participants is fair and that the benefits and
burdens of research are distributed equitably.
Vulnerable populations (prisoners, children,
pregnant women, cognitively impaired) should not be
disproportionately burdened or excluded from
potential benefits without justification.
6. A nurse researcher is conducting a study and
wants to measure the internal consistency reliability
of a new scale. Which statistic is most appropriate?
A) Pearson correlation coefficient (r)
B) Cronbach's alpha
C) Cohen's kappa
D) Intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC)
