Practice Question
Of the following, which is an example of a secondary source of data?
Answer Choices:
Correct Answer:
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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This question is from Examplify NR449 Quiz2 Mod2 BSNOL Nov25 which contains 9 questions.
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Question Details
- Category: RN Nursing Exam(s)
- Subcategory: Examplify Exam(s)
- Domain: Leadership
- Answer Choices: 4