Download NUR 3165 – Nursing Research: Research Critique Practice Exam Questions and Correct Answer and more Exams Nursing in PDF only on Docsity!
NUR 3165 – Nursing Research: Research Critique
Practice Exam Questions and Correct Answers
(Verified Answers) with Rationales 2025
- What is the primary purpose of a research critique in nursing? A. To identify grammatical errors B. To evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of a study C. To create a new study from existing research D. To replicate a study's results
Critiquing allows nurses to assess the validity, reliability, and
applicability of research findings to practice.
- Which section of a research article explains the purpose and hypothesis? A. Methods B. Results C. Introduction D. Discussion
The introduction outlines the background, purpose, and hypothesis or
research question.
- When reviewing the methodology of a study, which of the following is most important? A. The gender of the researcher
B. Study design and sampling C. Literature review summary D. Funding source
The methodology section should clearly explain how the study was
conducted, including design and sampling, to determine credibility.
- Which type of research is best suited to explore lived experiences? A. Experimental B. Phenomenological C. Correlational D. Quasi-experimental
Phenomenology focuses on understanding individuals’ lived
experiences.
- What does validity in research refer to? A. How consistent the data is B. The accuracy of the measurement C. The number of participants D. The statistical analysis used
Validity refers to whether the research truly measures what it intended
to measure.
- What is the primary concern when evaluating a study’s sample? A. The length of the study B. How well it represents the target population
Confidentiality protects participants' privacy by not revealing identifying
information.
10.In qualitative research, what does "data saturation" mean? A. All possible methods are used B. The data is statistically significant C. No new themes are emerging D. Data has been peer-reviewed
Data saturation occurs when additional data collection no longer adds
new information.
11.Which part of a research article should be analyzed to determine if ethical principles were upheld? A. Literature review B. Methods section C. Results section D. Conclusion
The methods section often details ethical approval and informed
consent procedures.
12.What indicates a high-quality literature review in a research critique? A. Citations older than 10 years B. Use of current and relevant sources C. Inclusion of only nursing journals D. Review of only theoretical frameworks
A strong literature review includes recent, relevant, peer-reviewed
sources.
13.When evaluating data collection methods , what should be examined? A. Participant hobbies B. Reliability and validity of instruments C. Journals used for publication D. Number of citations
Reliable and valid data collection tools support the integrity of results.
14.Which term refers to consistency in measurement? A. Validity B. Reliability C. Variability D. Generalizability
Reliability is about consistent results over time or across raters.
15.What is the purpose of a research critique rubric? A. To give grades B. To compare different studies C. To provide a structured evaluation D. To ensure random critique
Rubrics provide a standardized format for evaluating research.
16.Why is peer-review important in nursing research? A. Increases publication fees B. Helps recruit participants
Participants may respond in ways they think are socially acceptable
rather than truthfully.
20.The term “generalizability” refers to: A. Internal consistency B. How easy the study is to read C. Applicability of findings to other populations D. Number of data points
Generalizability is the extent to which results can be applied to settings
outside the study.
21.In critiquing quantitative studies, why is statistical significance important? A. It shows participant interest B. It indicates whether results are likely due to chance C. It predicts publication D. It reflects ethical approval
Statistical significance suggests that results are not random.
22.In a randomized controlled trial (RCT), what strengthens validity? A. Small sample B. No control group C. Random assignment D. Observational data
Randomization reduces bias and improves internal validity.
23.What does an operational definition do in a study? A. Describes theory B. Explains limitations C. Defines how variables are measured D. Identifies funding
Operational definitions clarify exactly how concepts are measured.
24.Which is an example of a research question? A. Participants were satisfied. B. Does music therapy reduce anxiety in surgical patients? C. Results were significant. D. The study used surveys.
Research questions guide the focus of a study and are typically phrased
as inquiries.
25.What is triangulation in qualitative research? A. Comparing studies B. Using multiple data sources or methods C. Increasing sample size D. Adjusting variables
Triangulation increases credibility by incorporating multiple
perspectives.
26.When critiquing the results section, what should be examined most closely? A. The writing style
C. Methods section D. Results section
Limitations are typically discussed toward the end, helping readers
evaluate the strength of conclusions.
30.Which of the following is an example of a qualitative research method? A. Randomized control trial B. Focus group interviews C. Cross-sectional survey D. Meta-analysis
Focus groups are commonly used in qualitative research to gather
detailed insights.
31.What does IRB approval ensure? A. The study will be published B. The study meets ethical standards C. The participants are skilled researchers D. The results are valid
Institutional Review Board approval ensures protection of participants
and ethical study conduct.
32.Which of the following is most important when critiquing literature sources used in a study? A. They are written by nurses B. They are recent, relevant, and peer-reviewed
C. They are from the same hospital D. They include long quotes
High-quality literature reviews rely on credible, timely, and relevant
sources.
33.What is the main advantage of using a control group in research? A. It reduces costs B. It provides a comparison to the intervention group C. It helps advertise the study D. It improves recruitment
A control group allows researchers to compare outcomes and attribute
effects to the intervention.
34.Which study design is most appropriate for determining cause and effect? A. Case study B. Experimental C. Descriptive D. Correlational
Only experimental designs can establish causal relationships.
35.In a research critique, what is the purpose of assessing the theoretical framework? A. To rate the author’s creativity B. To determine if the study has a guiding theory C. To analyze the grammar of the paper D. To find errors in referencing
39.What is an abstract in a research article? A. A poem B. A summary of the study C. A detailed discussion D. A list of participants
The abstract briefly summarizes the purpose, methods, results, and
conclusions of the study.
40.What strengthens credibility in a qualitative study? A. Use of statistics B. Member checking C. Randomization D. p-values
Member checking involves participants verifying the researcher’s
interpretation of their input.
41.A major strength of using mixed-methods research is: A. It's cheaper B. Only one tool is needed C. It combines depth and generalizability D. It requires no analysis
Mixed methods incorporate the strengths of both qualitative and
quantitative designs.
42.Which is the best source for critiquing clinical nursing research? A. Wikipedia B. News articles C. Peer-reviewed nursing journals D. Blogs by nurses
Peer-reviewed journals contain validated, expert-reviewed content
appropriate for critique.
43.What is a dependent variable? A. The manipulated factor B. The outcome being measured C. The researcher's goal D. The population sample
The dependent variable is what researchers measure in response to
changes in the independent variable.
44.When assessing sample size, what is considered ideal in quantitative research? A. As few as possible B. Equal to the number of variables C. Large enough to provide statistical power D. An even number
A large enough sample increases statistical power and reliability of
findings.
B. Qualitative C. Experimental D. Correlational
Experimental studies involve manipulation of variables to test causality.
49.Why is it important to critique nursing research articles? A. To criticize the authors B. To ensure the study is valid, reliable, and applicable to practice C. To write faster papers D. To learn statistical software
Critiquing helps nurses evaluate research quality and its relevance to
clinical practice.
50.What does the term “research utilization” mean in nursing? A. Creating research B. Applying research findings to practice C. Teaching students D. Writing textbooks
Research utilization involves integrating study findings into clinical
decision-making.
