Page 1 of 41
READING UNDERSTANDING AND APPLYING NURSING
RESEARCH EXAM QUESTIONS NEWEST 2026 EXAM
QUESTIONS LATEST VERSION SOLVED QUESTIONS &
ANSWERS VERIFIED 100 %
Ch.1 Empirical data
Documented evidence (data) gathered through direct observation rather than a
researcher's subjective
belief.
A nurse researcher collects patients' heart rates before and after a relaxation
intervention. This is an example of
Answer: B
Rationale: Empirical data are obtained through direct observation or measurement
(e.g., heart rate, blood pressure).
Which of the following best defines empirical data in nursing research?
Data derived from measurable observation and experience
A nurse records patients' respiratory rates every hour for 12 hours to study the
effects of anxiety on breathing. This represents which type of research
approach?
B. Empirical—objective observation
Answer: B
Rationale: Objective, measurable data (such as respiratory rates) are empirical in
nature.
A nurse collects data on wound healing by measuring wound size and
infection rate. This demonstrates which characteristic of empirical evidence?
A. It's based on theoretical frameworks
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B. It's observable, objective, and measurable
C. It's subjective and personal
D. It cannot be replicated
Answer: B
Rationale: Empirical evidence relies on observable, quantifiable measurements.
Nursing research
A systematic process of investigating problems to gain knowledge about improving
care that nurses provide.
Nursing science
The body of knowledge that is unique to the discipline of nursing.
A nurse explains to a student that nursing science is based on which key
principle?
A. It relies on tradition and authority for practice decisions.
B. It combines empirical evidence, theory, and clinical experience to improve
patient care.
C. It depends mainly on physicians' research findings.
D. It focuses only on caring behaviors, not data.
Answer: B
Rationale: Nursing science integrates empirical data, theoretical frameworks, and
clinical expertise to generate knowledge and guide safe, effective nursing practice.
Which statement best reflects the goal of nursing science in professional
practice?
A. To replace human judgment with technology
B. To promote evidence-based care that improves patient outcomes
C. To emphasize intuition over data collection
D. To eliminate the need for research in nursing
Answer: B
Rationale: The goal of nursing science is to apply research-based evidence to
enhance quality of care, support decision-making, and advance the profession.
Objectivity
Ability to distance the research process as much as possible from the
scientist's personal beliefs, values, and
attitudes.
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A nurse researcher avoids letting personal beliefs influence the interpretation
of study results. This action demonstrates which essential principle of
research?
A. Validity
B. Reliability
C. Objectivity
D. Generalizability
Answer: C. Objectivity
Rationale: Objectivity means maintaining neutrality and preventing personal bias
from affecting data collection or interpretation. It ensures that conclusions are based
on evidence, not opinion.
During data analysis, a nurse researcher notices results that contradict
personal expectations but reports them accurately. This behavior best
represents:
A. Ethical deception
B. Subjectivity
C. Objectivity
D. Sampling bias
Answer: C. Objectivity
Rationale: The researcher demonstrates objectivity by reporting data truthfully,
regardless of personal assumptions or desired outcomes — a key aspect of scientific
integrity.
Scientific inquiry
The process of analyzing data critically that have been
gathered systematically about a particular phenomenon.
A nurse wants to determine whether turning patients every two hours reduces
the risk of pressure injuries. This demonstrates which step of scientific
inquiry?
A. Collecting empirical data
B. Identifying a clinical problem and forming a research question
C. Reviewing ethical principles
D. Implementing evidence-based practice guidelines
Answer: B
Rationale: Scientific inquiry begins with identifying a problem or question that can be
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studied systematically. The nurse's curiosity about turning frequency leads to a
research question.
A nurse researcher designs a study, collects data, analyzes results, and
publishes findings in a journal. This process best represents:
A. The stages of scientific inquiry that build nursing knowledge
B. A single nursing intervention
C. Theories unrelated to practice
D. Data gathering without purpose
Answer: A
Rationale: Scientific inquiry is a systematic process—developing questions,
collecting and analyzing data, and sharing findings—to expand evidence-based
nursing knowledge.
Scientific method
A systematic research process that involves the following steps: and defining the
problem, formulating research questions or hypotheses or both, collecting data,
analyzing data, and reporting results.
A nurse researcher follows these steps: identifies a problem, reviews
literature, forms a hypothesis, collects data, analyzes results, and draws
conclusions. Which process is the nurse using?
A. Nursing process
B. Scientific method
C. Evidence-based practice
D. Conceptual framework
Answer: B. Scientific method
Rationale:
The scientific method is a systematic, logical process used to generate and test
knowledge through observation and experimentation. It includes defining a problem,
forming a hypothesis, collecting and analyzing data, and reaching conclusions.
A nurse plans to study whether repositioning patients every 2 hours reduces
pressure ulcers. After collecting and analyzing the data, the nurse concludes
that frequent repositioning decreases ulcer development. This step of the
scientific method represents:
A. Hypothesis formulation
B. Data collection
READING UNDERSTANDING AND APPLYING NURSING
RESEARCH EXAM QUESTIONS NEWEST 2026 EXAM
QUESTIONS LATEST VERSION SOLVED QUESTIONS &
ANSWERS VERIFIED 100 %
Ch.1 Empirical data
Documented evidence (data) gathered through direct observation rather than a
researcher's subjective
belief.
A nurse researcher collects patients' heart rates before and after a relaxation
intervention. This is an example of
Answer: B
Rationale: Empirical data are obtained through direct observation or measurement
(e.g., heart rate, blood pressure).
Which of the following best defines empirical data in nursing research?
Data derived from measurable observation and experience
A nurse records patients' respiratory rates every hour for 12 hours to study the
effects of anxiety on breathing. This represents which type of research
approach?
B. Empirical—objective observation
Answer: B
Rationale: Objective, measurable data (such as respiratory rates) are empirical in
nature.
A nurse collects data on wound healing by measuring wound size and
infection rate. This demonstrates which characteristic of empirical evidence?
A. It's based on theoretical frameworks
, Page 2 of 41
B. It's observable, objective, and measurable
C. It's subjective and personal
D. It cannot be replicated
Answer: B
Rationale: Empirical evidence relies on observable, quantifiable measurements.
Nursing research
A systematic process of investigating problems to gain knowledge about improving
care that nurses provide.
Nursing science
The body of knowledge that is unique to the discipline of nursing.
A nurse explains to a student that nursing science is based on which key
principle?
A. It relies on tradition and authority for practice decisions.
B. It combines empirical evidence, theory, and clinical experience to improve
patient care.
C. It depends mainly on physicians' research findings.
D. It focuses only on caring behaviors, not data.
Answer: B
Rationale: Nursing science integrates empirical data, theoretical frameworks, and
clinical expertise to generate knowledge and guide safe, effective nursing practice.
Which statement best reflects the goal of nursing science in professional
practice?
A. To replace human judgment with technology
B. To promote evidence-based care that improves patient outcomes
C. To emphasize intuition over data collection
D. To eliminate the need for research in nursing
Answer: B
Rationale: The goal of nursing science is to apply research-based evidence to
enhance quality of care, support decision-making, and advance the profession.
Objectivity
Ability to distance the research process as much as possible from the
scientist's personal beliefs, values, and
attitudes.
, Page 3 of 41
A nurse researcher avoids letting personal beliefs influence the interpretation
of study results. This action demonstrates which essential principle of
research?
A. Validity
B. Reliability
C. Objectivity
D. Generalizability
Answer: C. Objectivity
Rationale: Objectivity means maintaining neutrality and preventing personal bias
from affecting data collection or interpretation. It ensures that conclusions are based
on evidence, not opinion.
During data analysis, a nurse researcher notices results that contradict
personal expectations but reports them accurately. This behavior best
represents:
A. Ethical deception
B. Subjectivity
C. Objectivity
D. Sampling bias
Answer: C. Objectivity
Rationale: The researcher demonstrates objectivity by reporting data truthfully,
regardless of personal assumptions or desired outcomes — a key aspect of scientific
integrity.
Scientific inquiry
The process of analyzing data critically that have been
gathered systematically about a particular phenomenon.
A nurse wants to determine whether turning patients every two hours reduces
the risk of pressure injuries. This demonstrates which step of scientific
inquiry?
A. Collecting empirical data
B. Identifying a clinical problem and forming a research question
C. Reviewing ethical principles
D. Implementing evidence-based practice guidelines
Answer: B
Rationale: Scientific inquiry begins with identifying a problem or question that can be
, Page 4 of 41
studied systematically. The nurse's curiosity about turning frequency leads to a
research question.
A nurse researcher designs a study, collects data, analyzes results, and
publishes findings in a journal. This process best represents:
A. The stages of scientific inquiry that build nursing knowledge
B. A single nursing intervention
C. Theories unrelated to practice
D. Data gathering without purpose
Answer: A
Rationale: Scientific inquiry is a systematic process—developing questions,
collecting and analyzing data, and sharing findings—to expand evidence-based
nursing knowledge.
Scientific method
A systematic research process that involves the following steps: and defining the
problem, formulating research questions or hypotheses or both, collecting data,
analyzing data, and reporting results.
A nurse researcher follows these steps: identifies a problem, reviews
literature, forms a hypothesis, collects data, analyzes results, and draws
conclusions. Which process is the nurse using?
A. Nursing process
B. Scientific method
C. Evidence-based practice
D. Conceptual framework
Answer: B. Scientific method
Rationale:
The scientific method is a systematic, logical process used to generate and test
knowledge through observation and experimentation. It includes defining a problem,
forming a hypothesis, collecting and analyzing data, and reaching conclusions.
A nurse plans to study whether repositioning patients every 2 hours reduces
pressure ulcers. After collecting and analyzing the data, the nurse concludes
that frequent repositioning decreases ulcer development. This step of the
scientific method represents:
A. Hypothesis formulation
B. Data collection
