NURS 403 Final Exam UPDATED ACTUAL
Questions and CORRECT Answers
What are the "Levels of Evidence"? - CORRECT ANSWER A hierarchy ranking research strength from most to
least reliable. Highest = systematic reviews & meta-analyses; lowest = expert opinion. Used to guide evidence-informed
clinical decisions.
What does it mean to "know the language and mechanics of research methods"? - CORRECT ANSWER Nurses
should understand basic research terminology and recognize differences between quantitative (numeric) and qualitative
(experiential) methods.
What does it mean to appraise research for validity? - CORRECT ANSWER Assessing whether the study's results
represent the "truth value" in the real world. Was it well-designed, believable, and trustworthy?
What is clinical significance? - CORRECT ANSWER Whether study findings meaningfully improve patient
outcomes or practice, beyond just statistical significance.
What is generalizability? - CORRECT ANSWER In quantitative research, the extent to which results apply to a
broader population.
What is transferability? - CORRECT ANSWER In qualitative research, whether findings can apply to similar
contexts or groups.
What research skill must all nurses be able to perform for EIP? - CORRECT ANSWER Conduct systematic,
organized searches for evidence using databases, keywords, and filters.
Step 1 of EIP: Ask - CORRECT ANSWER Formulate a clear, searchable clinical question using frameworks like
PICO or SPIDER.
Step 2 of EIP: Acquire/Search - CORRECT ANSWER Locate the best available evidence using systematic,
comprehensive database searching.
Step 3 of EIP: Appraise - CORRECT ANSWER Critically evaluate research for quality, validity, bias,
methodology, credibility, and relevance.
Step 4 of EIP: Apply/Integrate - CORRECT ANSWER Combine evidence with clinical expertise, patient context,
and values to make practice decisions.
Step 5 of EIP: Assess/Evaluate - CORRECT ANSWER Evaluate outcomes after integrating evidence into practice;
check for improvement or unintended effects.
Step 6 of EIP: Disseminate - CORRECT ANSWER Share findings or improved practices with colleagues via
presentations, reports, discussions, or CoPs.
What does PICOT stand for in quantitative research? - CORRECT ANSWER P = Population, I = Intervention, C =
Comparison, O = Outcome, T = Time
Identify the PICOT components in this question: "In patients with acute MI, how does being a smoker compared to a non-
smoker influence morbidity and mortality rates during the first 5 years after MI?" - CORRECT ANSWER P=
patients with acute MI, I = smoker, C = non-smoker, O = morbidity and mortality, T = 5 years post-MI
When developing a quantitative clinical question, what should you identify? - CORRECT ANSWER Key variables,
the relationship among them, and the population under study
What is a hypothesis in quantitative research? - CORRECT ANSWER A tentative prediction about the relationship
between two or more variables, which can be directional, non-directional, or a null (statistical) hypothesis
, Example: An undergraduate student who is a smoker wants to quit. She has tried nicotine gum and wonders if nicotine
patches will work better. Formulate a PICOT question. - CORRECT ANSWER Among undergraduate students, is
the use of nicotine patches more effective than nicotine gum for smoking cessation at 1 year post-intervention?
P = undergraduate students
I = nicotine patches
C = nicotine gum
O = smoking cessation
T = 1 year
How do researchers begin quantitative research? - CORRECT ANSWER With a focus (research question)
How do qualitative research questions differ from quantitative? - CORRECT ANSWER Qualitative questions are
linked to the research's theoretical tradition and explore experiences, meanings, or cultural descriptions rather than
numeric outcomes
Match the qualitative research approach with the type of question:
Grounded theory
Phenomenology
Ethnography - CORRECT ANSWER Grounded theory = process questions
Phenomenology = meaning questions
Ethnography = cultural description questions
Give an example of a qualitative research question about parents with autistic children. - CORRECT
ANSWER What is the lived experience of parents who have a child with autism?
What is primary literature in nursing research? - CORRECT ANSWER Original research where data was collected
and analyzed to answer a research question (e.g., journal articles, empirical evidence, interviews, diaries, statistical
records).
What is secondary literature in nursing research? - CORRECT ANSWER Synthesized or summarized information
from primary research (e.g., textbooks, systematic reviews, literature reviews, clinical practice guidelines, knowledge
synthesis from Cochrane Collaboration or Joanna Briggs Institute).
Why is primary literature preferred for evidence-based practice? - CORRECT ANSWER Because it provides
original data and findings, which are closest to the source of evidence.
What should you be cautious of when using journal articles? - CORRECT ANSWER Predatory journals that may
publish low-quality or unverified research.
Difference between primary research and secondary research? - CORRECT ANSWER Primary research collects
and analyzes original data; secondary research evaluates, combines, or synthesizes data from primary studies.
What is critical thinking in nursing research? - CORRECT ANSWER The rational examination of ideas,
assumptions, principles, arguments, conclusions, statements, beliefs, and actions.
What is critical reading in nursing research? - CORRECT ANSWER An active, intellectually engaging process
where the reader has an inner dialogue with the writer to fully understand the material.
What are the four steps of critical appraisal of an article? - CORRECT ANSWER 1. Preliminary - familiarize and
skim the article
2. Comprehensive - understand researcher's purpose or intent
3. Analytical - analyze parts of the study and develop a critique
4. Synthesized - understand the whole article and its place in the cumulative body of knowledge
What is the purpose of the critical appraisal process? - CORRECT ANSWER To systematically evaluate research
articles to determine validity, reliability, and applicability to clinical practice.
What is the hierarchy of evidence? - CORRECT ANSWER A ranking system that organizes research evidence by
strength, with systematic reviews and meta-analyses at the top and expert opinion or textbooks at the bottom.
Questions and CORRECT Answers
What are the "Levels of Evidence"? - CORRECT ANSWER A hierarchy ranking research strength from most to
least reliable. Highest = systematic reviews & meta-analyses; lowest = expert opinion. Used to guide evidence-informed
clinical decisions.
What does it mean to "know the language and mechanics of research methods"? - CORRECT ANSWER Nurses
should understand basic research terminology and recognize differences between quantitative (numeric) and qualitative
(experiential) methods.
What does it mean to appraise research for validity? - CORRECT ANSWER Assessing whether the study's results
represent the "truth value" in the real world. Was it well-designed, believable, and trustworthy?
What is clinical significance? - CORRECT ANSWER Whether study findings meaningfully improve patient
outcomes or practice, beyond just statistical significance.
What is generalizability? - CORRECT ANSWER In quantitative research, the extent to which results apply to a
broader population.
What is transferability? - CORRECT ANSWER In qualitative research, whether findings can apply to similar
contexts or groups.
What research skill must all nurses be able to perform for EIP? - CORRECT ANSWER Conduct systematic,
organized searches for evidence using databases, keywords, and filters.
Step 1 of EIP: Ask - CORRECT ANSWER Formulate a clear, searchable clinical question using frameworks like
PICO or SPIDER.
Step 2 of EIP: Acquire/Search - CORRECT ANSWER Locate the best available evidence using systematic,
comprehensive database searching.
Step 3 of EIP: Appraise - CORRECT ANSWER Critically evaluate research for quality, validity, bias,
methodology, credibility, and relevance.
Step 4 of EIP: Apply/Integrate - CORRECT ANSWER Combine evidence with clinical expertise, patient context,
and values to make practice decisions.
Step 5 of EIP: Assess/Evaluate - CORRECT ANSWER Evaluate outcomes after integrating evidence into practice;
check for improvement or unintended effects.
Step 6 of EIP: Disseminate - CORRECT ANSWER Share findings or improved practices with colleagues via
presentations, reports, discussions, or CoPs.
What does PICOT stand for in quantitative research? - CORRECT ANSWER P = Population, I = Intervention, C =
Comparison, O = Outcome, T = Time
Identify the PICOT components in this question: "In patients with acute MI, how does being a smoker compared to a non-
smoker influence morbidity and mortality rates during the first 5 years after MI?" - CORRECT ANSWER P=
patients with acute MI, I = smoker, C = non-smoker, O = morbidity and mortality, T = 5 years post-MI
When developing a quantitative clinical question, what should you identify? - CORRECT ANSWER Key variables,
the relationship among them, and the population under study
What is a hypothesis in quantitative research? - CORRECT ANSWER A tentative prediction about the relationship
between two or more variables, which can be directional, non-directional, or a null (statistical) hypothesis
, Example: An undergraduate student who is a smoker wants to quit. She has tried nicotine gum and wonders if nicotine
patches will work better. Formulate a PICOT question. - CORRECT ANSWER Among undergraduate students, is
the use of nicotine patches more effective than nicotine gum for smoking cessation at 1 year post-intervention?
P = undergraduate students
I = nicotine patches
C = nicotine gum
O = smoking cessation
T = 1 year
How do researchers begin quantitative research? - CORRECT ANSWER With a focus (research question)
How do qualitative research questions differ from quantitative? - CORRECT ANSWER Qualitative questions are
linked to the research's theoretical tradition and explore experiences, meanings, or cultural descriptions rather than
numeric outcomes
Match the qualitative research approach with the type of question:
Grounded theory
Phenomenology
Ethnography - CORRECT ANSWER Grounded theory = process questions
Phenomenology = meaning questions
Ethnography = cultural description questions
Give an example of a qualitative research question about parents with autistic children. - CORRECT
ANSWER What is the lived experience of parents who have a child with autism?
What is primary literature in nursing research? - CORRECT ANSWER Original research where data was collected
and analyzed to answer a research question (e.g., journal articles, empirical evidence, interviews, diaries, statistical
records).
What is secondary literature in nursing research? - CORRECT ANSWER Synthesized or summarized information
from primary research (e.g., textbooks, systematic reviews, literature reviews, clinical practice guidelines, knowledge
synthesis from Cochrane Collaboration or Joanna Briggs Institute).
Why is primary literature preferred for evidence-based practice? - CORRECT ANSWER Because it provides
original data and findings, which are closest to the source of evidence.
What should you be cautious of when using journal articles? - CORRECT ANSWER Predatory journals that may
publish low-quality or unverified research.
Difference between primary research and secondary research? - CORRECT ANSWER Primary research collects
and analyzes original data; secondary research evaluates, combines, or synthesizes data from primary studies.
What is critical thinking in nursing research? - CORRECT ANSWER The rational examination of ideas,
assumptions, principles, arguments, conclusions, statements, beliefs, and actions.
What is critical reading in nursing research? - CORRECT ANSWER An active, intellectually engaging process
where the reader has an inner dialogue with the writer to fully understand the material.
What are the four steps of critical appraisal of an article? - CORRECT ANSWER 1. Preliminary - familiarize and
skim the article
2. Comprehensive - understand researcher's purpose or intent
3. Analytical - analyze parts of the study and develop a critique
4. Synthesized - understand the whole article and its place in the cumulative body of knowledge
What is the purpose of the critical appraisal process? - CORRECT ANSWER To systematically evaluate research
articles to determine validity, reliability, and applicability to clinical practice.
What is the hierarchy of evidence? - CORRECT ANSWER A ranking system that organizes research evidence by
strength, with systematic reviews and meta-analyses at the top and expert opinion or textbooks at the bottom.
