NR-505 – Advanced Research Methods Explores
research methodologies, data analysis, evidence
generation, scholarly inquiry, critical evaluation,
and healthcare investigations.
Section 1: Foundations of Research & Scientific Inquiry (Q1-20)
Question 1
A graduate student is designing a study to examine the lived experience of patients
with chronic pain. Which research paradigm is most appropriate?
A) Positivism
B) Post-positivism
C) Constructivism (interpretivism)
D) Critical theory
Rationale: Constructivism seeks to understand subjective experiences and
meanings. Positivism/post-positivism seek objective, measurable facts.
Question 2
A researcher states that “reality exists but can only be known imperfectly due to
human limitations.” This reflects which paradigm?
A) Positivism
B) Post-positivism
C) Constructivism
D) Pragmatism
Rationale: Post-positivism accepts a critical realist ontology: reality exists but can
only be approximated. Positivism believes reality is fully knowable.
Question 3
,Which of the following is a nomothetic causal explanation?
A) Understanding one patient’s unique story of recovery
B) Identifying that smoking increases lung cancer risk across populations
C) Exploring cultural meanings of illness in one tribe
D) A case study of a rare disease
Rationale: Nomothetic explanations seek general, probabilistic laws across
populations. Idiographic explanations focus on the particular, unique case.
Question 4
A researcher is conducting a study to test the effectiveness of a new diabetic
education program. The independent variable is:
A) Blood glucose levels
B) Diabetes education program (intervention)
C) Patient age
D) Patient satisfaction
Rationale: Independent variable is manipulated or categorized (intervention).
Dependent variable is the outcome (blood glucose).
Question 5
A researcher randomly assigns patients to either an intervention group or a waitlist
control group. This study design is a:
A) Randomized controlled trial (RCT)
B) Case-control study
C) Cohort study
D) Qualitative descriptive study
Rationale: Random assignment is the defining feature of an RCT, the gold
standard for causal inference.
Question 6
In a study examining the relationship between hours of sleep and blood pressure,
sleep hours is measured on a continuous scale. This is an example of a:
,A) Nominal variable
B) Ordinal variable
C) Interval/ratio variable
D) Dichotomous variable
Rationale: Hours of sleep has equal intervals and a true zero (ratio level).
Continuous data allow parametric statistics.
Question 7
A researcher is conducting a systematic review and wishes to combine results
from multiple RCTs statistically. This is called:
A) Scoping review
B) Meta-analysis
C) Narrative synthesis
D) Qualitative meta-synthesis
Rationale: Meta-analysis is the statistical pooling of results from multiple studies.
Qualitative meta-synthesis integrates qualitative findings.
Question 8
A graduate student is appraising a research article. The purpose statement should
be found in which section?
A) Results
B) Introduction (end of introduction/literature review)
C) Discussion
D) Methods
Rationale: The purpose (aim) of the study is typically stated at the end of the
introduction after the literature review.
Question 9
A researcher is conducting a study with human subjects. Which document must be
submitted to the IRB before initiating the study?
A) The published article
, B) A research protocol including informed consent, recruitment, and data
protection plans
C) The final results
D) A list of potential publications
Rationale: IRB approval is required before any data collection. The protocol
details protection of human subjects.
Question 10
Which historical event led to the creation of the National Research Act and the
Belmont Report?
A) Thalidomide disaster
B) Tuskegee Syphilis Study
C) Nuremberg trials
D) Willowbrook hepatitis study
Rationale: The Tuskegee study (1932-1972) led to the Belmont Report (1979) and
IRB requirements. Nuremberg trials produced the Nuremberg Code.
Question 11
The Belmont Report identifies three basic ethical principles for research involving
human subjects. These are:
A) Privacy, confidentiality, anonymity
B) Respect for persons, beneficence, justice
C) Autonomy, nonmaleficence, justice
D) Informed consent, risk/benefit, debriefing
Rationale: Belmont principles: Respect for persons (autonomy, informed consent),
Beneficence (maximize benefits, minimize harms), Justice (fair distribution of
burdens/benefits).
Question 12
A researcher is studying a vulnerable population (prisoners). The IRB requires
additional protections. Which is an example of justice?
research methodologies, data analysis, evidence
generation, scholarly inquiry, critical evaluation,
and healthcare investigations.
Section 1: Foundations of Research & Scientific Inquiry (Q1-20)
Question 1
A graduate student is designing a study to examine the lived experience of patients
with chronic pain. Which research paradigm is most appropriate?
A) Positivism
B) Post-positivism
C) Constructivism (interpretivism)
D) Critical theory
Rationale: Constructivism seeks to understand subjective experiences and
meanings. Positivism/post-positivism seek objective, measurable facts.
Question 2
A researcher states that “reality exists but can only be known imperfectly due to
human limitations.” This reflects which paradigm?
A) Positivism
B) Post-positivism
C) Constructivism
D) Pragmatism
Rationale: Post-positivism accepts a critical realist ontology: reality exists but can
only be approximated. Positivism believes reality is fully knowable.
Question 3
,Which of the following is a nomothetic causal explanation?
A) Understanding one patient’s unique story of recovery
B) Identifying that smoking increases lung cancer risk across populations
C) Exploring cultural meanings of illness in one tribe
D) A case study of a rare disease
Rationale: Nomothetic explanations seek general, probabilistic laws across
populations. Idiographic explanations focus on the particular, unique case.
Question 4
A researcher is conducting a study to test the effectiveness of a new diabetic
education program. The independent variable is:
A) Blood glucose levels
B) Diabetes education program (intervention)
C) Patient age
D) Patient satisfaction
Rationale: Independent variable is manipulated or categorized (intervention).
Dependent variable is the outcome (blood glucose).
Question 5
A researcher randomly assigns patients to either an intervention group or a waitlist
control group. This study design is a:
A) Randomized controlled trial (RCT)
B) Case-control study
C) Cohort study
D) Qualitative descriptive study
Rationale: Random assignment is the defining feature of an RCT, the gold
standard for causal inference.
Question 6
In a study examining the relationship between hours of sleep and blood pressure,
sleep hours is measured on a continuous scale. This is an example of a:
,A) Nominal variable
B) Ordinal variable
C) Interval/ratio variable
D) Dichotomous variable
Rationale: Hours of sleep has equal intervals and a true zero (ratio level).
Continuous data allow parametric statistics.
Question 7
A researcher is conducting a systematic review and wishes to combine results
from multiple RCTs statistically. This is called:
A) Scoping review
B) Meta-analysis
C) Narrative synthesis
D) Qualitative meta-synthesis
Rationale: Meta-analysis is the statistical pooling of results from multiple studies.
Qualitative meta-synthesis integrates qualitative findings.
Question 8
A graduate student is appraising a research article. The purpose statement should
be found in which section?
A) Results
B) Introduction (end of introduction/literature review)
C) Discussion
D) Methods
Rationale: The purpose (aim) of the study is typically stated at the end of the
introduction after the literature review.
Question 9
A researcher is conducting a study with human subjects. Which document must be
submitted to the IRB before initiating the study?
A) The published article
, B) A research protocol including informed consent, recruitment, and data
protection plans
C) The final results
D) A list of potential publications
Rationale: IRB approval is required before any data collection. The protocol
details protection of human subjects.
Question 10
Which historical event led to the creation of the National Research Act and the
Belmont Report?
A) Thalidomide disaster
B) Tuskegee Syphilis Study
C) Nuremberg trials
D) Willowbrook hepatitis study
Rationale: The Tuskegee study (1932-1972) led to the Belmont Report (1979) and
IRB requirements. Nuremberg trials produced the Nuremberg Code.
Question 11
The Belmont Report identifies three basic ethical principles for research involving
human subjects. These are:
A) Privacy, confidentiality, anonymity
B) Respect for persons, beneficence, justice
C) Autonomy, nonmaleficence, justice
D) Informed consent, risk/benefit, debriefing
Rationale: Belmont principles: Respect for persons (autonomy, informed consent),
Beneficence (maximize benefits, minimize harms), Justice (fair distribution of
burdens/benefits).
Question 12
A researcher is studying a vulnerable population (prisoners). The IRB requires
additional protections. Which is an example of justice?
