Question

A nurse researcher is testing a new pain management protocol. Patients are randomly assigned to either receive the new protocol or standard care. Pain scores are measured and compared between groups. Which type of research design is being used?

Answer 1

Correct Answers:

Experimental

Rationale :

🔶 An experimental design includes random assignment, manipulation of an intervention, and comparison between intervention and control groups, all of which appear in this scenario.

🔶 The nurse randomly assigns patients to either the new pain protocol (treatment) or standard care (control), which is the hallmark of true experimental research.

🔶 This design allows the researcher to evaluate cause-and-effect relationships because variables are controlled and manipulated.

🔶 Measuring pain scores after implementing the intervention aligns with the structure of experimental studies, which test whether the intervention produces measurable outcomes.

🔶 Because randomization, manipulation, and control are all present, the scenario clearly reflects an experimental research design.

Quasi-experimental

🔶 A quasi-experimental study lacks random assignment, which is a defining difference from true experimental designs.

🔶 In this scenario, participants are randomly assigned, so it does not fit quasi-experimental criteria.

🔶 Quasi-experimental designs still examine interventions but without full control over variables, making them less rigorous.

🔶 The presence of randomization here disqualifies the quasi-experimental label.

🔶 Therefore, this choice does not match the study features described.

Predictive

🔶 Predictive research uses correlational methods to identify relationships and predict future outcomes, not to test interventions.

🔶 These studies do not manipulate variables or assign participants into groups.

🔶 Because the scenario includes a controlled intervention, predictive research is not applicable.

🔶 Predictive designs aim to forecast behaviors or outcomes based on certain variables, which is not occurring here.

🔶 Therefore, this option is incorrect for a study involving an intervention and group comparison.

Descriptive

🔶 Descriptive research focuses on observing, describing, or documenting phenomena, not manipulating interventions.

🔶 It does not include random assignment or control groups, both of which are present here.

🔶 Descriptive studies cannot determine cause-and-effect relationships, but experimental studies can.

🔶 The scenario does more than describe—it actively tests a treatment, which contradicts descriptive methods.

🔶 Thus, this option does not match the intervention-focused study described.

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Answer 2

Correct Answers:

Apply research findings to improve practice
Participate in knowledge development
Disseminate findings to the professional community

Rationale :

Apply research findings to improve practice

🟣 Provision 7 states that nurses must contribute to advancing the profession through research and scholarly inquiry, which includes using research to guide practice.

🟣 Applying evidence improves outcomes, patient safety, and quality of care, aligning with professional responsibility.

🟣 This option reflects the ethical obligation to translate research into evidence-based practice (EBP).

🟣 Nurses must integrate research evidence into interventions, assessment, and clinical standards.

🟣 Because it supports evidence-based improvement, this choice fully aligns with Provision 7.

Participate in knowledge development

🟣 Provision 7 states that nurses should engage in knowledge generation, whether through research activities, practice-based inquiry, or contributing to scholarly work.

🟣 Nurses play a role in studying issues, identifying gaps, and participating in the creation of new evidence.

🟣 Contributing to research elevates the profession's scientific foundation.

🟣 This includes involvement in research teams, data collection, or inquiry-based practice.

🟣 This option directly reflects professional ethical responsibility in advancing nursing science.

Disseminate findings to the professional community

🟣 Provision 7 emphasizes sharing knowledge gained from research to promote growth of the nursing profession.

🟣 Dissemination includes presentations, publications, conferences, or sharing within clinical settings.

🟣 Sharing findings supports collective learning and improves clinical practice standards.

🟣 Research that is not disseminated cannot contribute to evidence-based improvement.

🟣 Therefore, dissemination is a core ethical obligation under Provision 7.

Avoid critiquing research to maintain neutrality

🟣 Critiquing research is essential to ensure quality, safety, and validity, and it is part of professional scholarly activity.

🟣 Provision 7 encourages critical appraisal, not avoidance; neutrality is not an ethical requirement.

🟣 Without critique, flawed research may be improperly integrated into practice.

🟣 Nurses must actively evaluate research to determine credibility and relevance.

🟣 Therefore, avoiding critique contradicts the ANA Code of Ethics.

Rely solely on expert opinion for clinical decisions

🟣 Provision 7 promotes evidence-based practice, which requires combining research evidence, clinical expertise, and patient values—not expert opinion alone.

🟣 Expert opinion is considered the lowest level of evidence, and relying solely on it undermines patient safety.

🟣 Nurses are ethically required to use current, valid research, not anecdotal or opinion-based guidance.

🟣 Using only expert opinion prevents advancement of scientifically grounded practice.

🟣 This option directly opposes the ANA Code of Ethics requirement for evidence-based care.

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Answer 3

Correct Answers

"Few studies exist to guide wound care in clients with pressure injuries." [ purpose statement ]
"This study will prove manuka honey is superior to saline." [ neither ]
"The goal of this study is to explore effectiveness of non-pharmacologic pain management." [ purpose statement ]
"This study aims to compare manuka honey with saline dressings." [ purpose statement ]

Rationale :

"Few studies exist to guide wound care in clients with pressure injuries."— Problem statement

🔵 A problem statement identifies a gap in knowledge, practice, or evidence, which this sentence clearly does.

🔵 It points out a lack of research, indicating the need for study on wound care in pressure injuries.

🔵 Problem statements describe why the study is necessary, not what the study will specifically do.

🔵 This statement sets up justification for further research by highlighting a clinical deficiency.

🔵 Therefore, it functions as a classic problem statement, not purpose or hypothesis.

"This study will prove manuka honey is superior to saline." — Neither

🔵 This is not a proper problem or purpose statement because it expresses bias and assumes the outcome before the research is conducted.

🔵 Research statements must be neutral and must not imply predetermined results.

🔵 A purpose statement should state what the study aims to explore or compare, not what it will “prove.”

🔵 A hypothesis may predict outcomes, but hypotheses do not use biased language such as “prove.”

🔵 Therefore, this does not fit any acceptable research-statement category.

"The goal of this study is to explore effectiveness of non-pharmacologic pain management." — Purpose statement

🔵 A purpose statement clearly identifies the intent of the study, which is exactly what this sentence does.

🔵 It states the researcher’s focus: evaluating effectiveness of non-pharmacologic pain interventions.

🔵 Purpose statements often start with phrases like “The goal is…”, “The purpose is…”, or “This study aims to…”.

🔵 This statement is neutral and appropriately structured for research intentions.

🔵 Therefore, this is correctly classified as a purpose statement.

"This study aims to compare manuka honey with saline dressings." — Purpose statement

🔵 This sentence outlines what the study intends to do, which is the essence of a purpose statement.

🔵 It is objective and neutral, avoiding biased or outcome-assuming phrasing.

🔵 The wording reflects the researcher’s plan to compare two interventions, which is typical for experimental or quasi-experimental studies.

🔵 The phrase “aims to” aligns with standard purpose-statement construction.

🔵 Therefore, this is properly identified as a purpose statement.

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Answer 4

Correct Answers:

Personal experiences.

Rationale :

🔷 Nurses frequently identify researchable problems from firsthand clinical experiences, because they directly observe issues affecting patient care, safety, and outcomes.

🔷 Personal experiences reveal practice gaps, inefficiencies, or patterns that require investigation, making them excellent sources of research questions.

🔷 Many evidence-based projects originate from nurses noticing repeated patient challenges or inconsistencies in current practice.

🔷 Since nurses interact with patients continuously, their experiences offer rich, real-world insight into problems worth studying.

🔷 Because of this strong connection between practice and inquiry, personal experiences are a valid and common source of researchable nursing problems.

Ethical practices

🔷 Ethical practices guide behavior and professional conduct, but they are not typically used to identify research problems.

🔷 While ethics influences how research is conducted, it does not generate specific clinical questions on its own.

🔷 Ethical topics may inspire philosophical discussion but are not direct sources of empirical nursing research questions.

🔷 Research problems require observable, measurable phenomena, which ethical guidelines do not provide.

🔷 Therefore, ethical practices do not represent a primary source of researchable nursing issues.

Complex medical problems

🔷 Complex medical problems may require research but are usually addressed by multidisciplinary teams, not solely through nursing inquiry.

🔷 They often involve biological or physiological mechanisms, which fall outside exclusive nursing scope.

🔷 Nursing research specifically focuses on care delivery, patient experience, and practice improvement, not medical complexity.

🔷 While nurses interact with medically complex patients, the problems themselves are too broad for nursing-specific research formulation.

🔷 Thus, they are not the primary or most appropriate source of nursing research problems.

Internet searches

🔷 Internet searches may provide background information, but they rarely yield researchable nursing problems directly.

🔷 Online content often includes unverified or non-peer-reviewed information, which cannot form a reliable research foundation.

🔷 Research problems require clinical relevance, evidence gaps, and direct observation, none of which originate solely from web browsing.

🔷 Using online information without clinical linkage may result in poorly focused or irrelevant research topics.

🔷 Therefore, internet searches are not considered a legitimate primary source of researchable nursing problems.

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Answer 5

Correct Answers:

Meditation vs. exercise

Rationale :

🟣 PICOT defines the research structure: Population, Intervention, Comparison, Outcome, Time.

🟣 In this question, the intervention is meditation, and the comparison is exercise, because the study examines which one is more effective.

🟣 The wording “is meditation as effective as exercise” directly identifies the intervention and comparison elements of PICOT.

🟣 Interventions must be actionable, measurable, and modifiable, which both meditation and exercise meet.

🟣 Therefore, the correct PICOT elements for I (Intervention) and C (Comparison) are meditation vs. exercise.

Effectiveness of meditation

🟣 This describes the outcome, not the intervention or comparison.

🟣 “Effectiveness” refers to the result of practicing meditation, not the element being compared.

🟣 In PICOT, outcomes answer “what is being measured?”, not “what is being done?”

🟣 Because this is an outcome measure, not an intervention, it cannot represent the I or C components.

🟣 Therefore, this option is incorrect.

Reduce individual's perceived level of stress

🟣 This describes the desired outcome of the PICOT question.

🟣 An outcome answers “What do we hope to change?”, which in this case is reducing stress.

🟣 This is not an intervention or comparison but rather the result being evaluated.

🟣 Outcomes focus on impact, not procedures or treatments.

🟣 Thus, it cannot be identified as the I/C element.

Adults with anxiety disorder

🟣 This describes the population, not the intervention or comparison.

🟣 PICOT begins with P = Who is being studied?, and this option identifies the target group.

🟣 Population does not describe a treatment or alternative treatment.

🟣 Therefore, it is not the correct answer for this question.

🟣 This option clearly belongs in the P category, not I or C.

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Answer 6

Correct Answers:

Electronic health record

Rationale :

🔹 Electronic health records (EHRs) are considered secondary sources because the information was originally collected for clinical care, not for research.

🔹 Researchers using EHR data are not collecting the data directly, but instead using information previously recorded by healthcare providers.

🔹 Secondary sources contain pre-existing information, making them efficient for large-scale analysis without new data collection.

🔹 EHRs include demographics, diagnoses, labs, and treatment details, which are valuable for retrospective studies.

🔹 Because the nurse-researcher uses previously documented information, EHRs represent a classic example of secondary data.

Paper and pencil surveys

🔹 Paper surveys are a primary data source, because participants complete them directly for the research study.

🔹 Primary data involves firsthand information gathered by the researcher, not data obtained from existing records.

🔹 Surveys provide data that is specific and tailored to the research question.

🔹 The researcher controls the collection process, making this a direct data source.

🔹 Therefore, paper surveys are not secondary data.

Physiologic measurements

🔹 Physiologic measures such as blood pressure, temperature, HR, weight, labs are collected directly by the researcher, making them primary data.

🔹 Primary data is original and newly generated, not pre-recorded.

🔹 These measurements are often standardized to ensure accuracy and reliability for the study.

🔹 They reflect direct assessment, not information pulled from existing documents.

🔹 Therefore, physiologic data is not a secondary source.

Electronic surveys

🔹 Electronic surveys are also primary data, because participants enter responses directly for the specific research project.

🔹 The data is newly generated and defined by the researcher’s own survey instrument.

🔹 This means the researcher is in full control of data collection and structure, which is characteristic of primary data.

🔹 Electronic format does not change the fact that the information is firsthand.

🔹 Therefore, electronic surveys are not secondary data sources.

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Answer 7

Correct Answers:

Chamberlain Library

Rationale :

🟪 The Chamberlain Library is not a research database; it is an institutional library providing access to databases.

🟪 Databases are collections of indexed research literature, whereas a library is a portal for accessing them.

🟪 The Chamberlain Library includes tools like CINAHL or PubMed, but it is not a primary indexing database itself.

🟪 Because it does not independently index or curate scientific research, it does not qualify as a research database.

🟪 Therefore, this is the correct answer to what is NOT a research database.

ProQuest

🟪 ProQuest is a major research database containing scholarly articles, dissertations, and journals.

🟪 It is widely used by universities for academic and evidence-based research.

🟪 The platform provides access to peer-reviewed articles, which makes it a legitimate research source.

🟪 ProQuest indexes a vast collection of healthcare and nursing literature.

🟪 Therefore, it is incorrect to list it as NOT a research database.

Cochrane Library

🟪 Cochrane is one of the most respected databases for systematic reviews and clinical evidence.

🟪 It provides high-level, rigorously reviewed evidence used for evidence-based practice.

🟪 Cochrane is considered a gold standard in research synthesis and guideline development.

🟪 Its content is considered among the highest levels of evidence in healthcare research.

🟪 Therefore, Cochrane is definitely a database.

CINAHL

🟪 CINAHL (Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature) is the primary nursing research database globally.

🟪 It indexes thousands of nursing, allied health, and biomedical journals.

🟪 Nursing schools and hospitals use CINAHL as the main source of updated clinical literature.

🟪 Its focus on nursing scholarship makes it a critical tool for research.

🟪 Thus, CINAHL is a valid research database.

PubMed

🟪 PubMed is a major biomedical research database maintained by the U.S. National Library of Medicine.

🟪 It indexes millions of peer-reviewed scientific articles and clinical studies.

🟪 PubMed is one of the most commonly used resources for research literature searches.

🟪 It serves as a primary tool for accessing MEDLINE, making it a true database.

🟪 Therefore, it is incorrect to identify PubMed as NOT a database.

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Answer 8

Correct Answers:

Ask the library to complete an interlibrary loan.

Rationale :

🔵 Interlibrary loan (ILL) is the standard, professional solution when an article is not available in full text.

🔵 Libraries can request the needed article from partner institutions, often within 24–72 hours.

🔵 This ensures that the researcher obtains the entire peer-reviewed article, which is essential for high-quality literature review.

🔵 Using ILL maintains academic integrity and avoids incomplete or inaccurate interpretation of studies.

🔵 This is considered best practice and the most efficient method endorsed by research institutions.

Look for the research article online instead

🔵 Searching the open internet does not guarantee access, because many journals are behind paywalls.

🔵 Online versions may be incomplete, outdated, or unofficial uploads, risking academic integrity issues.

🔵 Researchers are encouraged to use validated library systems, not general internet searches.

🔵 Internet searching may lead to predatory journals or unreliable sources.

🔵 Therefore, this is not the best option.

Pay for personal access to the research article

🔵 Personal payment is unnecessary, because academic libraries already have systems like ILL to obtain articles for free.

🔵 Paying for access can be expensive and is not considered responsible academic practice.

🔵 Institutions expect researchers to use internal resources first.

🔵 Many journals discourage individual purchases when institutional access is available.

🔵 Therefore, paying personally is not recommended.

Use the abstract as it is always available

🔵 Abstracts provide only summaries, not full details of methodology, sample, results, or limitations.

🔵 Using only an abstract risks misinterpretation of the study.

🔵 Evidence-based practice requires full-text review, not superficial content.

🔵 Important data such as statistical analysis and findings are absent from abstracts.

🔵 Therefore, relying on abstracts violates research quality standards.

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Answer 9

Correct Answers:

P – Adults after abdominal surgery I – Early ambulation C – No ambulation O – Reduced risk of pneumonia T – Within 72 hours

Rationale :

✨P – Adults after abdominal surgery accurately identifies the population most appropriate when studying early ambulation after surgery.

✨ I – Early ambulation correctly represents the intervention being evaluated, aligning directly with the research purpose.

✨C – No ambulation provides a clear comparison group, which is essential for determining effectiveness.

✨O – Reduced risk of pneumonia is a valid outcome, because early ambulation is known to lower postoperative pulmonary complications.

✨T – Within 72 hours gives a measurable time frame, completing the PICOT structure correctly and making this option fully aligned with the topic.

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Research Statement	purpose statement	neither
"Few studies exist to guide wound care in clients with pressure injuries."
"This study will prove manuka honey is superior to saline."
"The goal of this study is to explore effectiveness of non-pharmacologic pain management."
"This study aims to compare manuka honey with saline dressings."

Examplify NR449 Quiz2 Mod2 BSNOL Nov25

No.

1 :
A nurse researcher is testing a new pain management protocol. Patients are randomly assigned to either receive the new protocol or standard care. Pain scores are measured and compared between groups. Which type of research design is being used?

2 :
According to the ANA Code of Ethics Provision 7, how should nurses engage with research to advance the profession? (Select all that apply.)

3 :
A nurse is reviewing statements from a research study.

Correct Answers

4 :
Identify one source for researchable nursing problems.

5 :
In the following PICOT question, what is the intervention and comparison? PICOT: In adults with anxiety disorder, is meditation as effective as exercise to reduce the individual's perceived level of stress?

6 :
Of the following, which is an example of a secondary source of data?

7 :
Of the following choices, which one is NOT a database for current research literature?

8 :
When conducting a literature review, the researcher should use full-text versions of articles. If a relevant article is found when searching the library but is not available as full-text, what is the researcher's best course of action?

9 :
A nurse is developing a research question to evaluate the effectiveness of early ambulation after surgery. Which of the following correctly represents the PICOT components?

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Examplify NR449 Quiz2 Mod2 BSNOL Nov25

No.

1 : A nurse researcher is testing a new pain management protocol. Patients are randomly assigned to either receive the new protocol or standard care. Pain scores are measured and compared between groups. Which type of research design is being used?

2 : According to the ANA Code of Ethics Provision 7, how should nurses engage with research to advance the profession? (Select all that apply.)

3 : A nurse is reviewing statements from a research study.

Correct Answers

4 : Identify one source for researchable nursing problems.

5 : In the following PICOT question, what is the intervention and comparison? PICOT: In adults with anxiety disorder, is meditation as effective as exercise to reduce the individual's perceived level of stress?

6 : Of the following, which is an example of a secondary source of data?

7 : Of the following choices, which one is NOT a database for current research literature?

8 : When conducting a literature review, the researcher should use full-text versions of articles. If a relevant article is found when searching the library but is not available as full-text, what is the researcher's best course of action?

9 : A nurse is developing a research question to evaluate the effectiveness of early ambulation after surgery. Which of the following correctly represents the PICOT components?

1 :
A nurse researcher is testing a new pain management protocol. Patients are randomly assigned to either receive the new protocol or standard care. Pain scores are measured and compared between groups. Which type of research design is being used?

2 :
According to the ANA Code of Ethics Provision 7, how should nurses engage with research to advance the profession? (Select all that apply.)

3 :
A nurse is reviewing statements from a research study.

4 :
Identify one source for researchable nursing problems.

5 :
In the following PICOT question, what is the intervention and comparison? PICOT: In adults with anxiety disorder, is meditation as effective as exercise to reduce the individual's perceived level of stress?

6 :
Of the following, which is an example of a secondary source of data?

7 :
Of the following choices, which one is NOT a database for current research literature?

8 :
When conducting a literature review, the researcher should use full-text versions of articles. If a relevant article is found when searching the library but is not available as full-text, what is the researcher's best course of action?

9 :
A nurse is developing a research question to evaluate the effectiveness of early ambulation after surgery. Which of the following correctly represents the PICOT components?