Deck 6: Nursing Research and Evidence-Based Practice

Question 1

A nurse is interested in understanding the meaning of the human experience of surviving polio. Subject recruitment targets persons who have been diagnosed with the disease. The researcher reflects on the data and identifies common themes in order to understand the "lived experience." These characteristics are consistent with the qualitative research method known as:

A) grounded theory.
B) ethnography.
C) phenomenology.
D) case study.

Answer 1

phenomenology.

Question 2

Which type of data analysis results in the non-numerical organization of data?

A) Descriptive
B) Inferential
C) Qualitative
D) Quantitative

Answer 2

Qualitative

Question 3

A researcher conducts a survey to determine the perceived health status of elderly persons living independently at home. The same subjects participate in a phone call in which they describe the lived experience of living with chronic illness. When writing up the research study, the nurse would describe using:

A) a control group.
B) triangulation.
C) a pilot study.
D) secondary data analysis.

Answer 3

triangulation.

Question 4

A nurse is interested in studying the rituals of a tribe living in remote areas of Africa. The researcher is accepted into the tribe and observes firsthand the rituals practiced. Themes were analyzed to arrive at a description of the culture including rituals. The nurse is practicing which type of research?

A) Qualitative, Ethnography
B) Qualitative, Phenomenology
C) Quantitative, Quasi-experimental
D) Quantitative, Secondary data analysis

Question 5

A public health nurse is interested in determining which educational programs are needed in the aggregates served. The researcher personally interviews individuals who are walking on the streets in the community. This type of research design is:

A) quasi-experimental.
B) survey.
C) case study.
D) ethnography.

Question 6

A nurse is interested in learning how reminiscence therapy can improve memory in cognitively intact persons over the age of 65 years. Findings from three groups are compared. Group 1 receives music therapy, Group 2 receives life review therapy, and Group 3 does not receive therapy, but data are collected from all three groups and compared. Group 3 is known as the:

A) pilot study.
B) survey.
C) needs assessment.
D) control group.

Question 7

The use of research to guide nursing practice is called:

A) utilization.
B) dissemination.
C) generalizability.
D) analysis.

Question 8

Which organization provides federal funding for research?

A) National Institute of Nursing Research
B) Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
C) W. K. Kellogg Foundation
D) Sigma Theta Tau International

Question 9

A nurse interested in life satisfaction among patients receiving hemodialysis reviews databases and identifies relevant studies which are then statistically analyzed providing generalization through multiple studies. The nurse researcher is using which type of research?

A) Quasi-experimental
B) Secondary analysis
C) Meta-analysis
D) Survey

Question 10

A nurse is reading an abstract about a study related to Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever. The purpose is stated as follows: "To examine the generalizability of two randomized placebo-controlled clinical trials in patients with Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever to determine whether steroid therapy resulted in the positive outcomes." The nurse knows generalizability refers to the:

A) conclusion that findings can be generalized from the sample to the entire population.
B) fact that the group of steroids used are from the same organic compounds.
C) possibility the subjects were carefully selected and that outside influence is thus suspected.
D) fact that the type of bacteria carried by ticks is universal.

Question 11

A qualitative researcher reviews data collected with a grief support group to develop a theory of how widows and widowers mourn. The researcher is using which qualitative research design?

A) Phenomenology
B) Grounded theory
C) Case study
D) Hypothesis generation

Question 12

A nurse studied a community to determine if there were clients who would benefit from a hospice program if one were developed. This type of research is:

A) a survey.
B) quasi-experimental.
C) a needs assessment method.
D) a pilot study.

Question 13

Nurses on a busy medical schedule want to reduce documentation time and improve order entry. Additionally, patient records from previous visits are often incomplete or do not include care from other providers. To improve patient care, a taskforce suggests using an Electronic Medical Record for 1 month to determine whether this provides the desired outcomes. This unit is participating in which type of study?

A) Ethnography
B) Pilot
C) Secondary data analysis
D) Phenomenology

Question 14

The informed consent documents must include: (Select all that apply.)

A) an explanation of potential risks and benefits to participants in the study.
B) medical terminology rather than lay terms to prevent misunderstanding of the study.
C) a statement on how the anonymity and confidentiality of participants are protected.
D) explanation of the cost of the study.
E) details on how to contact the investigator.

Question 15

A new nurse researcher is interested in tracing the history of nursing research. The researcher learns that nursing research began with:

A) the work of Florence Nightingale during the Crimean War.
B) studies between 1900 and 1940 following Nightingale's work.
C) studies to improve patient care by doctorally prepared nurses.
D) studies based on the naturalistic paradigm.

Question 16

Institutional review boards determine whether research studies involving human subjects will:

A) be published.
B) add to the body of nursing knowledge.
C) cause harm.
D) receive funding.

Question 17

A researcher is interested in learning if elderly persons perceive their health to be satisfactory even with comorbidities and chronic illness. A large multisite assistive living facility will be the site. The researcher lists residents in alphabetical order and chooses every third person on the list. To ensure improved generalizability, the researcher is using:

A) triangulation.
B) randomization.
C) informed consent.
D) a meta-analysis approach.

Question 18

The research hypothesis is that aromatherapy reduces stress more effectively than does acupuncture. The researcher does not identify a control group. This study would be a(n) _________ design.

A) experimental
B) quasi-experimental
C) survey
D) meta-analysis

Question 19

Which statement about qualitative research is correct?

A) Qualitative research requires less time than quantitative research because complex statistical analysis is not necessary.
B) To be statistically significant, qualitative studies must consist of large, randomly selected sample sizes.
C) Because qualitative studies deal with human concepts such as suffering and quality of life, results can be generalized.
D) Interviews are the primary means of collecting data that enable the researcher to describe unclear phenomena.

Question 20

A nurse researcher who is seeking funding for a study should identify _____ of funding agencies.

A) board members
B) priorities
C) budgets
D) accreditation

Question 21

A researcher is interested in quality of life and after an extensive literature review quantitatively integrates data from identified studies and describes the findings. This researcher is using which approach? (Select all that apply.)

A) Survey
B) Triangulation
C) Meta-analysis
D) State of the science summary
E) Quasi-experimental design

Question 22

A researcher seeks funding from an agency that limits studies to quantitative research. The researcher can select from which of the following study designs? (Select all that apply.)

A) Survey
B) Grounded theory
C) Phenomenology
D) Needs assessment
E) Experimental

Question 23

Development and validation of the body of knowledge and foundation on which practice is based is called ____________.