MSN Evidence-Based Practice and Research Methods 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: In the hierarchy of evidence, which study design provides the strongest evidence for clinical decision-making?
- Expert opinion and case reports
- Systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (Correct answer)
- A single well-designed cohort study
- A cross-sectional survey with large sample size
Correct answer: Systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials
Systematic reviews and meta-analyses of RCTs sit at the top of the evidence hierarchy because they pool high-quality, unbiased experimental data across multiple studies.
Question 2: Which statistical measure is used in a meta-analysis to combine effect sizes across studies?
- Pearson correlation coefficient
- Pooled odds ratio or standardized mean difference (Correct answer)
- Confidence interval width
- P-value from the largest study
Correct answer: Pooled odds ratio or standardized mean difference
Meta-analyses calculate pooled effect estimates (e.g., pooled odds ratio or standardized mean difference) by weighting individual study results, usually by precision or sample size.
Question 3: The PICO framework is used in EBP to formulate clinical questions. What does the 'C' stand for?
- Cost of the intervention
- Comparison or control intervention (Correct answer)
- Compliance of the patient
- Clinician's expertise
Correct answer: Comparison or control intervention
In PICO, C stands for Comparison—the alternative intervention or control condition against which the primary intervention is evaluated.
Question 4: A researcher reports a p-value of 0.03. Which statement best interprets this finding?
- There is a 97% probability the intervention works
- There is a 3% probability of obtaining results this extreme if the null hypothesis is true (Correct answer)
- The effect size is clinically meaningful
- The study has a 3% chance of a Type II error
Correct answer: There is a 3% probability of obtaining results this extreme if the null hypothesis is true
A p-value of 0.03 means that if the null hypothesis were true, there is a 3% chance of observing data at least as extreme as the results obtained.
Question 5: Which type of reliability refers to the consistency of results when the same test is administered twice to the same group?
- Inter-rater reliability
- Test-retest reliability (Correct answer)
- Internal consistency
- Content validity
Correct answer: Test-retest reliability
Test-retest reliability measures temporal stability by correlating scores from two administrations of the same instrument to the same sample.
Question 6: Institutional Review Board (IRB) approval is required primarily to protect which principle?
- Funding transparency
- Research participant rights, safety, and welfare (Correct answer)
- Publication integrity
- Researcher confidentiality
Correct answer: Research participant rights, safety, and welfare
IRBs review research protocols to ensure protection of human subjects' rights, safety, and welfare in accordance with federal regulations and ethical principles.
MSN Evidence-Based Practice and Research Methods 1
In the hierarchy of evidence, which study design provides the strongest evidence for clinical decision-making?