Free Nursing Research MCQs with Answers
50 Nursing Research MCQs from Nursing Management and Ethics, each with the correct answer and a written explanation of why it is correct. Free and unlimited, with no account needed.
Nursing research covers problem identification, literature review, research questions, hypotheses, variables, quantitative and qualitative approaches, study designs, sampling and data collection. It also addresses validity, reliability, research ethics, data interpretation and evidence-based practice, including how research findings can guide nursing decisions and care.
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50 questions · page 2 of 3
- A. Patient education is important in every hospital.
- B. Many patients forget discharge instructions, but the effect of teach-back in this ward is unclear.
- C. Nurses should always provide better health education.
- D. Health education has been discussed in many nursing textbooks.
Explanation: A research problem identifies a specific issue and a gap that can be investigated.
Correct answer: Many patients forget discharge instructions, but the effect of teach-back in this ward is unclear.- A. Experimental quantitative approach
- B. Descriptive qualitative approach
- C. Retrospective cohort approach
- D. Cross-sectional survey approach
Explanation: The study seeks mothers' descriptions and meanings, so a descriptive qualitative approach is appropriate.
Correct answer: Descriptive qualitative approach- A. The new method prevents more infections than the usual method.
- B. The usual method is less effective than the new method.
- C. There is no difference in infection rates between the two methods.
- D. Patients using the new method will have fewer infections.
Explanation: A null hypothesis states that no difference or relationship exists between the groups or variables.
Correct answer: There is no difference in infection rates between the two methods.- A. Conceptual definition
- B. Operational definition
- C. Theoretical framework
- D. Research assumption
Explanation: An operational definition explains exactly how a variable is measured in a study.
Correct answer: Operational definition- A. Convenience sampling
- B. Stratified random sampling
- C. Systematic random sampling
- D. Snowball sampling
Explanation: Stratified random sampling separates the population into important subgroups and randomly selects participants from each subgroup.
Correct answer: Stratified random sampling- A. Selection bias
- B. Testing effect
- C. Instrumentation error
- D. Attrition bias
Explanation: Allowing staff to choose recipients can create systematic differences between the intervention and comparison groups.
Correct answer: Selection bias- A. Reviewing staff attendance records
- B. Giving nurses a knowledge questionnaire
- C. Observing hand hygiene using a structured checklist
- D. Asking patients whether nurses clean their hands
Explanation: Direct structured observation records the behaviour as it occurs and is therefore most suitable for measuring actual practice.
Correct answer: Observing hand hygiene using a structured checklist- A. The hospital finance department
- B. The institutional ethics review committee
- C. The ward medication committee
- D. The nursing staff development unit
Explanation: An institutional ethics review committee evaluates risks, benefits, consent, privacy, and participant protection before research begins.
Correct answer: The institutional ethics review committee- A. The median is less affected by extreme values.
- B. The median proves that the sample is representative.
- C. The interquartile range removes missing data.
- D. The interquartile range establishes causation.
Explanation: The median and interquartile range are useful for skewed data because they are less influenced by unusually high or low observations.
Correct answer: The median is less affected by extreme values.- A. Follow the study findings without discussing them with the patient.
- B. Use the evidence together with clinical expertise and the patient's preferences.
- C. Choose the intervention used by the largest hospital in the region.
- D. Reject the evidence because every patient responds in exactly the same way.
Explanation: Evidence-based practice combines the best available research, professional clinical expertise, and the patient's values and preferences.
Correct answer: Use the evidence together with clinical expertise and the patient's preferences.- A. Prospective cohort study
- B. Retrospective case-control study
- C. Descriptive case report
- D. Randomised controlled trial
Explanation: A prospective cohort study follows groups with different exposures forward in time and compares their outcomes.
Correct answer: Prospective cohort study- A. What proportion of nurses report burnout this year?
- B. Does exercise reduce fasting blood glucose?
- C. How do mothers describe coping with a premature infant?
- D. What is the average waiting time in an emergency unit?
Explanation: Qualitative research explores experiences, meanings, and perceptions in participants' own words.
Correct answer: How do mothers describe coping with a premature infant?- A. The sample may have selection bias
- B. The sample must be purposive
- C. The data will lack reliability
- D. The study has low face validity
Explanation: A repeating pattern in the list can make systematic sampling unrepresentative and introduce selection bias.
Correct answer: The sample may have selection bias- A. Increasing the font size of each item
- B. Using translation and back-translation by experts
- C. Giving the questionnaire only to senior nurses
- D. Calculating the response rate after collection
Explanation: Translation followed by back-translation and expert review helps preserve the original meaning and supports content and cultural validity.
Correct answer: Using translation and back-translation by experts- A. Inter-rater reliability
- B. External validity
- C. Statistical power
- D. Construct validity
Explanation: Inter-rater reliability is the consistency between observers or coders who assess the same material.
Correct answer: Inter-rater reliability- A. The programme definitely causes harm
- B. The result may not show a statistically significant improvement
- C. The sample has perfect external validity
- D. The measurement tool is automatically unreliable
Explanation: When a confidence interval for a difference includes zero, no difference remains a plausible value, so statistical significance is not…
Correct answer: The result may not show a statistically significant improvement- A. Confidentiality protection
- B. Deception of participants
- C. Therapeutic privilege
- D. Random allocation
Explanation: Separating identifying information from coded research data helps protect confidentiality.
Correct answer: Confidentiality protection- A. Nominal
- B. Ordinal
- C. Interval
- D. Ratio
Explanation: The categories have a meaningful order, but the distance between categories cannot be assumed to be equal, so the scale is ordinal.
Correct answer: Ordinal- A. It is reliable but lacks accuracy
- B. It is valid but lacks consistency
- C. It is both accurate and precise
- D. It is neither systematic nor consistent
Explanation: A consistent 10 mmHg error means the device produces repeatable results but does not measure the true blood pressure, so it is reliable…
Correct answer: It is reliable but lacks accuracy- A. Check the data for completeness and coding errors
- B. Delete all unusual values from the data set
- C. Change missing responses to the expected answer
- D. Begin writing conclusions from the research question
Explanation: Data cleaning includes checking completeness, coding, ranges, and possible entry errors before analysis.
Correct answer: Check the data for completeness and coding errors