NCLEX RN – NURSING RESEARCH

1. What should be included in “scholarly literature”? Select all that apply.

A. Research reports reported in primary sources only

B. Conceptual and theoretical literature from primary sources only
C. Published and unpublished reports of research
D. Primary and secondary sources

2. Reviews of the literature are conducted for PURPOSES OF RESEARCH as well

as for the CONSUMER OF RESEARCH. How are these reviews similar? Select all
that apply.

A. Amount of literature required to be reviewed

B. Degree of critical reading required
C. Importance of conceptual literature
D. Purpose of the review

3. What are characteristics of the literature review required for a quantitative

research study? Select all that apply.

A. The review is exhaustive and must include all studies conducted in the area
B. Doctoral dissertations and masters’ theses are excellent sources of information
C. Computer-accessed materials are acceptable
D. Primary sources are not as important as secondary sources
4. Which of the following is an example of a primary source in a research study?

A. A published commentary on the findings of another study

B. A doctoral dissertation that critiques all research in the area of attention deficit
disorder
C. A textbook of medical-surgical nursing
D. A journal article about a study that used large, previously unpublished databases
generated by the United States census

5. What is the best source to use when conducting a level I systematic meta-analysis
of the literature?

A. An electronic database
B. Doctoral dissertations
C. The Cochrane Statistical Methods
D. An electronic database and Doctoral dissertations

6. What is a characteristic of an audio recording of an unpublished research study

reported at a professional conference?

A. Databased literature
B. Secondary Sources
C. Are more difficult to analyze than written reports.
D. Are not useful because they are not published
7. What is the first step in the qualitative research process?

A. Data analysis
B. Sample
C. Review of literature
D. Study design

8. Which mode of clinical application for qualitative research is considered to be the

sharing of qualitative findings with the patient?

A. Insight or empathy
B. Anticipatory guidance
C. Assessment of status or progress
D. Coaching

9. Which research process steps may be noted in an article’s abstract? Select all that
apply.

A. Identifying the phenomenon

B. Research question study purpose
C. Literature review
D. Design
E. Sample
F. Legal-ethical issues
G. Data-collection procedure
10. What does a level-of-evidence model use to evaluate the strength of a research
study and its findings? Select all that apply.

A. Creativity
B. Quality
C. Quantity
D. Consistency
E. Efficiency

11. What are the critiquing criteria used to judge the worth of a research study?
Select all that apply.

A. Measures
B. Objectives
C. Standards
D. Effectiveness
E. Evaluation guides
F. Questions

12. Which statement best describes qualitative research? Select all that apply.

A. Studies are conducted in natural settings.

B. Data are collected from a large number of subjects.
C. Data collected tend to be numeric.
D. The research design is systematic and subjective.
13. What does a critique of a research study always include? Select all that apply.

A. Determining its strengths and weaknesses

B. Researching similar studies
C. Using critical reading skills
D. Explaining your own personal opinions

14. For which of the following research questions would qualitative methods be most
appropriate?

A. Which pain medications decrease the need for sleep medication in elderlypatients?
B. What is the meaning of health for migrant farm-worker women?
C. Under what conditions does a decubitus ulcer heal most quickly?
D. How does frequency of medication administration impact the degree of pain
experienced following knee replacement surgery?

15. Which of the following phrases would be found in a report of a qualitative

study?

A. “The hypothesis of this study is?”

B. “Perceived pain was measured using the Abbott pain scale?”
C. “The control group received no instruction?”
D. “Subjects were asked to relate their perceptions of pain?”

16. Which of the following phrases would be found in a report of a quantitative

study?

A. “A convenience sample was chosen?”

B. “The phenomenon studied was?”
C. “Data were analyzed and interpreted?”
D. “Researchers sought to explore the meaning of the hospital experience?”
17. Which of the following hypotheses are indicative of an experimental research
design? Select all that apply.

A. Frequent irrigation of Foley catheters will be positively related to urinary tract

infections.
B. The incidence of urinary tract infections will be greater in patients whose Foley
catheters are irrigated frequently than in those whose Foley catheters are irrigated less
frequently.
C. Frequent irrigation of Foley catheters is associated with urinary tract infections.
D. The incidence of urinary tract infections will not differ between patients with or
without Foley catheters.

18. Which statements are part of the criteria used to judge the soundness of a stated
research question? Select all that apply.

A. A relationship between two or more variables

B. An operational definition of each variable
C. The nature of the population being tested
D. The possibility of empirical testing

19. Which criteria are used to determine testability of a hypothesis? Select all that
apply.

A. Use of quantifiable words such as greater than or less than

B. A hypothesis stated in such a way that it can be clearly supported or not supported
C. The use of value-laden words in a hypothesis
D. Data-collection efforts that prove the validity of the hypothesis
20. What are the advantages to using directional hypotheses? Select all that apply.

A. The indication of the use of a theory base to derive the hypothesis

B. The provision of a specific theoretical frame of reference
C. Ensurance that findings will be generalizable
D. The indication of a nonbiased selection of subjects

21. Which one of the following statements about hypotheses is most accurate?

A. Hypotheses represent the main idea to be studied and are the foundations of research
studies.
B. Hypotheses help frame a test of the validity of a theory.
C. Hypotheses provide the means to test nursing theory.
D. A hypothesis can also be called a problem statement.

22. A nurse wants to study the effectiveness of meditation on people

with anxiety disorder. Which variable would be most relevant to explore in the
literature on this topic?

A. Use of meditation during childbirth

B. Meditation techniques found to be effective
C. Pain management for people with anxiety disorders
D. Outcomes of meditation when used by elderly populations

23. What is a characteristic of an independent variable?

A. It is the variable that is predicted to change.

B. It varies with a change in the dependent variable.
C. It is manipulated by the researcher.
D. It can be identified only by changes in the dependent variable.
24. Which statement is most accurate regarding hypotheses?

A. Hypotheses operationally define the dependent variables.

B. Hypotheses are statements about the relationships among variables.
C. Hypotheses describe the effect of the dependent variable on the independent variable.
D. Hypotheses must include a definition of the treatment or intervention used.

25. What is a characteristic of a hypothesis?

A. It flows from interpretation of the data collected.

B. It operationally defines the variable to be studied.
C. It eliminates the need to designate a dependent variable.
D. It implies a causative or associative relationship.

26. When should a hypothesis be developed by the researcher during the research
process?

A. Before development of the research question

B. After development of the research question
C. After a research design is determined
D. Before any statistical analysis

27. Which research hypothesis is most testable?

A. There is a relationship between meditation and anxiety disorders.

B. Patients with anxiety disorders who learn meditation techniques have less anxiety than
those who do not.
C. Teaching one meditation technique to patients with anxiety disorders will be better
than teaching multiple techniques.
D. The ability to meditate causes lower anxiety in patients with anxiety disorder than
those who do not meditate.
28. What is a characteristic of a statistical hypothesis?

A. It is a null hypothesis.
B. It predicts a positive relationship among variables.
C. It is a complex hypothesis.
D. It describes data-analysis methods.

29. When will a null hypothesis be rejected?

A. There is no association among variables.

B. There is evidence of significance.
C. The independent and dependent variables are related.
D. The research hypothesis is rejected.

30. Which level is characteristic of the strength of the evidence provided by the
results of a quasi-experimental study?

A. Level I
B. Level II
C. Level III
D. Level IV

31. A researcher wants to discover why patients of certain ethnic backgrounds are
reluctant to ask for pain medication. Because there are little data in the literature on
this topic, the researcher designs a study to explore the relationships between
cultural belief systems, the experience of pain, and the effective use of medication to
relieve pain. The researcher plans to use the findings of this study to formulate
hypotheses for a future study. What is a characteristic of this study?

A. It is a quasi-experimental study.
B. It will lead to level II data.
C. It has a directional hypothesis.
D. It is a hypothesis-generating study.

32. The nurse develops the following hypothesis: Elderly women receive less
aggressive treatment for breast cancer than do younger women. Which variable
would be considered to be the dependent variable?

A. Degree of treatment received

B. Age of the patient
C. Type of cancer being treated
D. Use of inpatient treatment

33. The nurse develops the following hypothesis: Elderly women receive less
aggressive treatment for breast cancer than do younger women. Which variable
would be considered to be the independent variable?

A. Degree of treatment received

B. Age of the patient
C. Type of cancer being treated
D. Use of inpatient treatment

34. The following are considered steps in the qualitative research process, except?

A. Literature review
B. Hypothesis
C. Sample
D. Data collection
35. Which of the following could be considered the “context” of a study? Select all
that apply.

A. Cultural understandings and beliefs of study participants

B. The physical setting of the study
C. The sample selected for the study
D. The number of subjects in the study

36. Which beliefs guide the constructivist paradigm? Select all that apply.

A. There are multiple realities.

B. The truth is objective.
C. Context does not matter as much as truth.
D. The participant (subject) is an active part of the study

37. Which of the following are consistent with the constructivist paradigm? Select
all that apply.

A. Subjectivism is valued.
B. Natural laws exist.
C. Time and place are important.
D. Generalizability is valued.

38. Which paradigm provides the basis for qualitative research?

A. Empirical analytical research

B. Constructivism
C. Postpositivism
D. Naturalistic research
39. Which type of research allows researchers to be neutral observers?

A. Qualitative research
B. Ethnographic research
C. Quantitative research
D. Case studies

40. Which type of research study can be affected by detracting values of the
researcher?

A. Qualitative
B. Naturalistic
C. Ethnographic
D. Quantitative

41. What is the purpose of grounded theory?

A. To support theoretical frameworks

B. To generate theory from data
C. To develop explanatory models
D. To find significant differences among groups of people

42. Why is it important to understand the philosophy underlying each type of

research?

A. Conclusions reached should be congruent with the research question.

B. The research method that best meets intended purpose of the study should be used.
C. The paradigm of the method should be the same as that of the researcher.
D. The reader should understand the level of abstraction of the study.
43. Which conceptual analysis point of the framework for rigor used for interpretive
phenomenology refers to how the study findings will continue to have meaning for
the reader?

A. Resonance
B. Concreteness
C. Actualization
D. Openness

44. Which question will critique the sampling of a research project?

A. Is the strategy used for analysis compatible with the purpose of the study?
B. What is the projected significance of the work to nursing?
C. Are the informants who were chosen appropriate to inform the research?
D. What are the philosophic underpinnings of the research method?

45. Which question will critique the method of a research project?

A. Is the strategy used for analysis compatible with the purpose of the study?
B. What is the projected significance of the work to nursing?
C. Are the informants who were chosen appropriate to inform the research?
D. What are the philosophic underpinnings of the research method?

46. Which question will critique the purpose of a research project?

A. Is the strategy used for analysis compatible with the purpose of the study?
B. What is the projected significance of the work to nursing?
C. Are the informants who were chosen appropriate to inform the research?
D. What are the philosophic underpinnings of the research method?
47. Which question will critique the credibility of a research project?

A. Is the strategy used for analysis compatible with the purpose of the study?
B. Does the researcher document the research process?
C. Are the researcher’s conceptualizations true to the data?
D. Has adequate time been allowed to understand fully the phenomenon?

48. Which question will critique the auditability of a research project?

A. Is the strategy used for analysis compatible with the purpose of the study?
B. Does the researcher document the research process?
C. Are the researcher’s conceptualizations true to the data?
D. Has adequate time been allowed to fully understand the phenomenon?

49. Which question will critique the fittingness of a research project?

A. Is the strategy used for analysis compatible with the purpose of the study?
B. Does the researcher document the research process?
C. Are the researcher’s conceptualizations true to the data?
D. Has adequate time been allowed to fully understand the phenomenon?

50. What are the uses of qualitative research methods? Select all that apply.

A. Guiding nursing practice

B. Studying the effects of nursing care on an outcome variable
C. Developing survey instruments
D. Developing nursing theory
51. What are scientific criteria appropriate for qualitative research? Select all that
apply.

A. Auditability
B. Credibility
C. Fittingness
D. Reliability

52. What are ethical concerns for qualitative researchers? Select all that apply.

A. Because the study emerges over time, the researcher may not anticipate and inform the
participants of a potential threat.
B. To maintain a naturalistic environment for interviews, formal documents such as
consent forms are not used.
C. Because there are so few participants in a qualitative study, no participant can opt out
of the study.
D. Because the researcher and participant interact over a period of time, relationships
developed between them may change the focus of the interaction

53. Which of the following is most accurate regarding the grounded-theory method?

A. Data are collected using an etic perspective.

B. It is a process of constructing human experience.
C. Secondary sources are sometimes used.
D. It is an inductive approach.
54. What is the term used for the coding and clustering of data to form categories in
the grounded-theory method?

A. Theoretical sampling
B. Constant-comparative method
C. Emic method
D. Metasynthesis

55. What is a characteristic of an intrinsic case study?

A. It yields a better understanding of each case.

B. It provides a foundation to challenge a generalization.
C. It does not include quantitative data.
D. It can scrutinize only uncomplicated phenomena.

56. What is a characteristic of metasynthesis?

A. It is useful for triangulating research.

B. It synthesizes critical masses of qualitative findings.
C. It leads to a higher reliability of research findings.
D. It cannot be conducted on historical or case study findings.

57. What is meant by the “fittingness” of a research study?

A. Truth of findings as judged by the participants

B. The appropriateness of the interview questions posed
C. Faithfulness to everyday reality of the participants
D. The adequacy of the coding system used
58. How can qualitative outcome analysis be used? Select all that apply.

A. To determine the reliability of intervention outcomes in a study

B. To confirm the applicability of clinical strategies
C. To develop interventions and then test those selected
D. To build theory

59. When critiquing a qualitative study, which of the following questions are helpful
in determining the study’s auditability? Select all that apply.

A. Has adequate time been allowed to understand the phenomenon fully?

B. Can the reader follow the researcher’s thinking?
C. Are the results meaningful to individuals not involved in the research?
D. Does the researcher document the research process?

60. Which question is helpful in determining the study’s credibility?

A. Do the participants recognize the experience as their own?

B. What strategies were used to analyze the data?
C. How were human subjects protected?
D. Are the findings applicable outside the study situation?

ANSWERS AND RATIONALE

1. Answer: C, D

2. Answer: B, C

3. Answer: B, C
4. Answer: D. A journal article about a study that used large, previously
unpublished databases generated by the United States census

This is a report of an original study, so it is the primary source of the study.

5. Answer: C. The Cochrane Statistical Methods

6. Answer: A. Databased literature

Audio and video recordings of research presentations are examples of databased

literature.

7. Answer: C. Review of literature

Review of literature is the 1st step in the qualitative research process. Data analysis is the
sixth step in the qualitative research process. Sampling is the third step in the qualitative
research process. The study design is the second step in the qualitative research process.

8. Answer: B. Anticipatory guidance

Anticipatory guidance is the sharing of qualitative findings with the patient. Other
options are not considered to be the sharing of qualitative findings with the patient.

9. Answer: A, B, D

10. Answer: B, C, D

11. Answer: A, C, E, F

12. Answer: A, D
13. Answer: A, C

14. Answer: B. What is the meaning of health for migrant farm-worker women?

This question seeks to explore a phenomenon (health) for a specific population.

15. Answer: D. “Subjects were asked to relate their perceptions of pain?”

Data collected were perceptions of pain, not numeric data. Other options are found in a
report of a quantitative study.

16. Answer: A. “A convenience sample was chosen?”

When a sample of convenience is chosen, the study is a quantitative study. Qualitative

studies explore phenomena. Data collected in qualitative studies are “interpreted.”
Qualitative studies explore the meaning of human experience.

17. Answer: B, D

18. Answer: A, C, D

19. Answer: A, B

Quantifiable words increase the testability of a hypothesis (A). The more clearly the
hypothesis is stated, the easier it will be to accept or reject it based on study findings (B).
Hypotheses should not have value-laden words (C). Data-collection processes are not part
of the criterion used to evaluate the testability of hypotheses (D).

20. Answer: A, B

21. Answer: B. Hypotheses help frame a test of the validity of a theory.

Although theories cannot be tested directly, hypotheses provide a bridge between theory
and the real world. It is the research question that represents the main idea to be studied
(A). Theories cannot be tested directly (C). The research question is also called the
problem statement (D).

22. Answer: B. Meditation techniques found to be effective

23. Answer: C. It is manipulated by the researcher.

The independent variable is manipulated by the researcher and has a presumed effect on
the dependent variable. It is the dependent variable that is predicted to change (A). The
independent variable is presumed to change the dependent variable (B). The independent
variable is manipulated by the researcher and is identified at the beginning of the study
(D).

24. Answer: B. Hypotheses are statements about the relationships among variables.

Hypotheses are statements about the relationships between two or more variables that
suggest an answer to the research question. Hypotheses are not concerned with
operationally defining the variables involved in the study (A). The independent variable
is not affected or changed by the dependent variable (C). Hypotheses are not concerned
with operationally defining the variables involved in the study, including treatments or
interventions (D).

25. Answer: D. It implies a causative or associative relationship.

A hypothesis implies a causative or associative relationship. A hypothesis guides the

research design and collection of data (A). Operational definitions are not included in the
hypothesis (B). The hypothesis indicates the dependent variable (C).

26. Answer: B. After development of the research question

The hypothesis is developed after development of the research question.

27. Answer: D. The ability to meditate causes lower anxiety in patients with anxiety
disorder than those who do not meditate.

This hypothesis meets the criteria of testability.

28. Answer: A. It is a null hypothesis.

Statistical hypotheses, called null hypotheses, state that there is no relationship between
the independent and dependent variables.

29. Answer: C. The independent and dependent variables are related.

Because the null hypothesis states that there is no relationship between the independent
and dependent variables, it is rejected if they are related.

30. Answer: C. Level III

Evidence provided by quasi-experimental studies is level III. Level I evidence is obtained

from a systematic review of all randomized, controlled trials. Level II evidence is
obtained from at least one well-designed randomized, controlled trial. Level IV evidence
is obtained from nonexperimental studies.

31. Answer: D. It is a hypothesis-generating study.

Not enough is known in this area at this time to formulate hypotheses, so the researcher
will conduct this qualitative study and use the findings to generate hypotheses for future
studies. This is a qualitative study, not a quasi-experimental study. Level II evidence is
obtained from at least one well-designed randomized, controlled trial. This study has no
hypothesis.
32. Answer: A. Degree of treatment received

The degree of treatment received is considered the dependent variable.

33. Answer: B. Age of the patient

The age of the patient would be the independent variable.

34. Answer: B. Hypothesis

A hypothesis is the tool of quantitative studies, and is only found in such studies.

35. Answer: A, B

36. Answer: A, D

37. Answer: A, C

38. Answer: B. Constructivism

The paradigm that provides the basis for qualitative research is constructivism.

39. Answer: C. Quantitative research

In qualitative research, researchers are never considered neutral (A). In ethnography, a

type of qualitative research, researchers are never considered neutral (B). In case studies,
a type of qualitative research, researchers are never considered neutral (D).

40. Answer: D. Quantitative

41. Answer: B. To generate theory from data

The grounded theory method refers to a qualitative approach of building theory about a
phenomenon about which little is known.

42. Answer: B. The research method that best meets intended purpose of the study
should be used.

Different research methods accomplish different goals and offer different types and levels
of evidence that inform practice.

43. Answer: C. Actualization

44. Answer: C. Are the informants who were chosen appropriate to inform the
research?

45. Answer: A. Is the strategy used for analysis compatible with the purpose of the
study?

46. Answer: B. What is the projected significance of the work to nursing?

47. Answer: D. Has adequate time been allowed to understand fully the
phenomenon?

48. Answer: B. Does the researcher document the research process?

49. Answer: A. Is the strategy used for analysis compatible with the purpose of the
study?

50. Answer: A, C, D
51. Answer: A, B, C

52. Answer: A, D

53. Answer: D. It is an inductive approach.

Data are collected using the emic perspective (A). The grounded-theory method is a
process of constructing theory from human experience (B). In grounded-theory only
primary sources (the participants) are used (C).

54. Answer: B. Constant-comparative method

55. Answer: A. It yields a better understanding of each case.

An intrinsic case study is undertaken to have a better understanding of the case.

56. Answer: B. It synthesizes critical masses of qualitative findings.

57. Answer: C. Faithfulness to everyday reality of the participants

Credibility is the truth of findings as judged by the participants (A). Auditability assists
the reader to judge the appropriateness of the interview questions posed (B). Auditability
assists the reader to judge the adequacy of the coding system used (D).

58. Answer: B, C, D

59. Answer: B, C

60. Answer: A. Do the participants recognize the experience as their own?