Presentations Research & Evidence-Based Practice 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A presenter claims 'Studies show our product works.' What is the primary weakness of this evidence statement?
- It uses passive voice
- It lacks specific citations and sample size details (Correct answer)
- It does not include a visual chart
- It is too technical for general audiences
Correct answer: It lacks specific citations and sample size details
Vague references to 'studies' without specifics undermine credibility because the audience cannot evaluate the source quality.
Question 2: Which statistical measure best communicates practical importance of research findings to a non-technical audience?
- p-value
- Standard deviation
- Effect size (Correct answer)
- Confidence interval width
Correct answer: Effect size
Effect size quantifies the magnitude of a difference or relationship, making practical significance easier to understand than significance testing alone.
Question 3: When presenting a systematic review, why is it important to mention the PRISMA flow diagram?
- It adds visual appeal to the slide deck
- It shows the transparent process by which studies were selected or excluded (Correct answer)
- It replaces the need for a reference list
- It summarizes the statistical methods used
Correct answer: It shows the transparent process by which studies were selected or excluded
The PRISMA diagram demonstrates methodological transparency by documenting how the literature search was conducted and why studies were included or excluded.
Question 4: A nurse practitioner presents a new wound-care protocol. Which type of evidence ranks highest on the evidence hierarchy for clinical recommendations?
- Expert opinion from senior clinicians
- A single randomized controlled trial
- Meta-analysis of multiple RCTs (Correct answer)
- Observational cohort study
Correct answer: Meta-analysis of multiple RCTs
Meta-analyses of multiple RCTs sit at the top of most evidence hierarchies because they pool results across studies, reducing random error.
Question 5: During a research presentation, your bar chart shows overlapping 95% confidence intervals between two groups. What should you conclude?
- The difference is statistically significant
- There is no meaningful difference
- The difference may not be statistically significant (Correct answer)
- The study had too small a sample
Correct answer: The difference may not be statistically significant
Overlapping 95% CIs suggest the difference may not be statistically significant, though a formal test is needed to confirm.
Question 6: Which approach best handles contradictory evidence when presenting research to a policy audience?
- Omit studies that conflict with your main argument
- Present only the most recent study
- Acknowledge contradictory findings and explain likely reasons for discrepancies (Correct answer)
- Relegate conflicting studies to a footnote
Correct answer: Acknowledge contradictory findings and explain likely reasons for discrepancies
Acknowledging contradictory evidence and explaining discrepancies demonstrates intellectual honesty and strengthens presenter credibility with sophisticated audiences.
Question 7: A presenter shows that a new teaching method raised test scores by 3 points. The p-value is 0.001. What critical question should the audience ask?
- Was the study conducted at multiple schools?
- Is a 3-point gain educationally meaningful? (Correct answer)
- How long did the study take?
- Was the research published in a peer-reviewed journal?
Correct answer: Is a 3-point gain educationally meaningful?
A very low p-value indicates statistical significance, but it does not confirm that a 3-point increase is large enough to matter in practice.
Presentations Research & Evidence-Based Practice 2
A presenter claims 'Studies show our product works.' What is the primary weakness of this evidence statement?