70-413 Exam Research & Evidence-Based Practice 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which research design is most appropriate when studying the lived experience of patients coping with a terminal diagnosis?
- Randomized controlled trial
- Phenomenological qualitative study (Correct answer)
- Cross-sectional survey
- Cohort study
Correct answer: Phenomenological qualitative study
Phenomenological qualitative research explores subjective human experiences in depth, making it ideal for understanding how individuals live with terminal illness.
Question 2: In a research study, the 'p-value' of 0.03 indicates that:
- The study has a 3% chance of being replicated
- There is a 3% probability the results occurred by chance (Correct answer)
- The effect size is small
- The confidence interval is 97%
Correct answer: There is a 3% probability the results occurred by chance
A p-value of 0.03 means there is a 3% probability that the observed results are due to random chance, suggesting statistical significance at the α=0.05 level.
Question 3: Which sampling method would best ensure representation of all age groups in a study on medication adherence?
- Convenience sampling
- Snowball sampling
- Stratified random sampling (Correct answer)
- Purposive sampling
Correct answer: Stratified random sampling
Stratified random sampling divides the population into subgroups (strata) such as age groups, then randomly samples from each, ensuring proportional representation.
Question 4: A nurse reads a study where researchers observed patient behavior without intervening. This is best classified as:
- Experimental research
- Quasi-experimental research
- Observational research (Correct answer)
- Action research
Correct answer: Observational research
Observational research involves watching and recording behaviors or outcomes without any intervention or manipulation of variables by the researcher.
Question 5: Which data collection method is most vulnerable to social desirability bias?
- Physiological measurements
- Medical record review
- Self-reported questionnaires (Correct answer)
- Blinded laboratory tests
Correct answer: Self-reported questionnaires
Self-reported questionnaires are most susceptible to social desirability bias because respondents may answer in ways they believe are more socially acceptable rather than truthfully.
Question 6: When a researcher uses the same instrument to collect data in the same way every time, this is referred to as:
- Internal validity
- Reliability (Correct answer)
- Construct validity
- Transferability
Correct answer: Reliability
Reliability refers to the consistency and repeatability of a measurement instrument or data collection procedure across time and conditions.
Question 7: A hospital administrator wants to determine whether a new hand hygiene protocol reduced infection rates over 12 months compared to the previous year. Which design best fits?
- Randomized controlled trial
- Case-control study
- Pre-post quasi-experimental design (Correct answer)
- Focus group study
Correct answer: Pre-post quasi-experimental design
A pre-post quasi-experimental design compares outcomes before and after an intervention without random assignment, which is practical for evaluating hospital protocol changes.
Which research design is most appropriate when studying the lived experience of patients coping with a terminal diagnosis?