Question 1

Which of the following would not be empirical research?
A) Editorial in a prestigious research journal
B) Examination of ways to reduce test anxiety
C) Master's thesis-because it is conducted by a student
D) Small study with a sample size of 10

Accepted Answer

Empirical is defined as knowledge derived from research. Editorials are generally someone's opinion on a subject.
The reason for the selection of the topic is usually discussed in the significance of the research section of a research report.
A master's thesis is a report of a research study.
Statistical tests are typically discussed in the methodology section of a research report.

Question 2

In writing the introduction to a literature review, which of the following should be included?
A) A description of the focus of the review
B) A summary of the best research on the topic
C) The main statistical tests used in research on the subject
D) The reason the selected topic is of interest to the researcher

Accepted Answer

A review of literature is introduced with a description of the topic of interest and how the review is focused.
The summary is the body of the review of literature. A review of literature is introduced with a description of the topic of interest and how the review is focused.
Statistical tests are not generally reported in the introduction.
The reason for the selection of the topic is not included in the literature review.

Question 3

In looking through the literature review of a published study, how would "relevant literature" be operationalized best?
A) The literature would all be in English so that the American reader can understand it.
B) All the studies would have been conducted within the last 5 years.
C) The references should give a meaningful picture of the research problem.
D) The review will be broad to encompass all that is known about the research topic.

Accepted Answer

The language of an article does not relate to the relevance it has to the study. It may not be useful to a particular researcher, but it still may be appropriate for the literature review. Literature that is not current (within the last 5 years) may still be relevant to some studies.
Relevant sources means that the literature being reviewed has a direct bearing on the problem studied. The scope of the review should be narrow enough so that all the literature is pertinent and broad enough to give a clear picture of the problem.
Relevant sources means that the literature being reviewed has a direct bearing on the problem studied. The scope of the review should be narrow enough so that all the literature is pertinent and broad enough to give a clear picture of the problem.
Relevant sources means that the literature being reviewed has a direct bearing on the problem studied. The scope of the review should be narrow enough so that all the literature is pertinent and broad enough to give a clear picture of the problem.

Question 4

In conducting a complex search, the researcher's main goal is to:
A) create as long a list of possible sources as possible.
B) establish a baseline of how many studies are available on the topic.
C) find out whether the topic is too difficult for study.
D) focus the literature review.

Accepted Answer

Combining the concepts used in the study into one search will reveal sources that also used a similar combination of concepts, instead of all studies that used as few as one of them.
The goal of the researcher would not be to obtain a lengthy list, but a useful one.
The researcher would not be establishing a baseline, but creating a relevant literature review.
A literature review may ultimately lead the researcher to this conclusion, but that is not the goal of the search. The correct answer is "focus the literature review." A review of literature is introduced with a description of the topic of interest and how the review is focused.

Question 5

Which of the following statements in the critique of a study would indicate to the reader that the study contains information that could assist in implementing new findings into practice?
A) "All the references are current and relevant to the topic of interest. The author is to be commended."
B) "Further study is clearly needed from the lack of agreement among the experts represented in the review of literature."
C) "The literature presented in this review seems to agree that the suggested intervention leads to better patient compliance."
D) "This study does an excellent job of reviewing all the literature on use of compression stockings."

Accepted Answer

Stating that literature presented in this review seems to agree that the suggested intervention leads to better patient compliance gives the reader reason to believe that the article contains actual interventions and how they were used in other settings.
Although needed and expected, the currency and relevancy of the references do not indicate the applicability of the review in practice.
The statement "Further study is clearly needed from the lack of agreement among the experts represented in the review of literature," does not make the review sound like any useful consensus over possible practice implications has been reached.
An excellent job of the literature review does not give any information about the possible use in practice.

Question 6

Which of the following statements is true regarding the purpose of a literature review in a quantitative study?
A) Different sections of the research report in a quantitative study make use of literature for support of what is being presented.
B) For quantitative studies, relevant literature is only presented in the "literature review" section of the report, leaving other sections for the numerical analyses.
C) The purpose of the literature review varies according to what type of quantitative study is being conducted.
D) The researcher locates all relevant research on the topic before beginning the study and then uses it in the report.

Accepted Answer

A review of literature is important to all sections of the report of a quantitative study.
The literature reviewed is used throughout the research report.
The purpose of the review is always the same for any study, although it may be conducted differently depending on the type.
Statistical tests are not generally reported in the introduction.

Question 7

A written plan for a computerized search may prove helpful. Which of the following is not typically included in a search plan?
A) A way to store references
B) Databases that include lay literature
C) Keywords
D) Previously found literature

Accepted Answer

Typically only databases that are included in literature reviews are those that contain research and theoretical-based information, not lay literature.
A written plan of the search strategy can save considerable time. The plan should include selecting databases to search, selecting keywords, locating relevant literature, and storing the references using reference management software.
A written plan of the search strategy can save considerable time. The plan should include selecting databases to search, selecting keywords, locating relevant literature, and storing the references using reference management software.
A written plan of the search strategy can save considerable time. The plan should include selecting databases to search, selecting keywords, locating relevant literature, and storing the references using reference management software.

Question 8

In historical research, how does the literature review fit into the study?
A) Literature more than 5 years old has to be examined closely for its place in the study.
B) Literature searches provide information on what data are needed.
C) The literature review is the most important portion of the study.
D) The researcher uses the literature review to select and define the research topic.

Accepted Answer

Historical researchers conduct an initial literature search to select a research topic and develop research questions.
In historical research the "currency" of the literature has a much different meaning than a 5-year time period.
The literature becomes the data for historical studies.
The study is composed of much more than an initial literature review.

Question 9

In conducting a thorough critique of a literature review in a published study, which of the following are expected of the critique writer?
A) A count must be made to make sure that the correct number of sources has been included.
B) The reviewer must examine the quality and content of the sources presented.
C) The reviewer must study the reference list to check for validity of the literature.
D) To determine that all relevant literature has been included, the reviewer must search the literature for relevant sources.

Accepted Answer

Critiquing the literature review of a published study involves examining the quality of the content and sources presented. Sources should be comprehensive and current.
There is no "correct" number of sources.
The reviewer is not expected to study the reference list for validity of the research or literature cited, but only to review the currency of the literature.
The reviewer is not expected to conduct a search of the literature.

Question 10

How can a nurse who practices in the clinical area find out what the best practices are for that specialty?
A) Create a critique of available literature.
B) Critique expert opinion papers on the subject.
C) Develop a summary of all research on the topic.
D) Read published meta-analyses.

Accepted Answer

Meta-analysis goes beyond the review by performing statistical analyses with combined data. Reading and evaluating meta-analyses assist the practicing nurse in learning the latest evidence-based practices for a given clinical problem.
Writing a critique of the available literature is conducting a literature review. Not all literature will be helpful in learning best practices for clinical problems.
Expert opinion papers do not necessarily discuss or provide evidence for best practices.
Writing a summary of the literature review may be very helpful, but it would be the review itself, not the actual writing of the review, that would be helpful.

Question 11

Which of the following would help you clearly determine whether a source is primary or secondary?
A) Abstract of the article
B) Author's name and affiliation
C) List of references
D) Title of the article

Accepted Answer

A primary source is desirable, and abstracts provide additional information that can help determine whether a source is primary or secondary.
The author's name and affiliation do not let you know what kind of source it is.
The list of references does not provide the reviewer with any evidence to determine if the source is secondary or primary.
The title of an article may or may not tell you whether it is a secondary source.

Question 12

In searching the literature to find sources to build the foundation for a study, which of the following are usually not included in quantitative studies?
A) Case studies
B) Descriptive research studies
C) Lay literature
D) Qualitative research

Accepted Answer

A variety of professional, research, and theoretical-based literature are typically used when building a foundation of understanding of the research topic under study. However, lay literature is often not used in quantitative studies.
Case studies are considered an acceptable form of research-based knowledge and are typically included in literature reviews.
Descriptive studies are considered an acceptable form of research-based knowledge and are typically included in literature reviews.
Qualitative research studies are considered an acceptable form of research-based knowledge and are typically included in literature reviews.

Question 13

One advantage of an integrative review of research is that:
A) emphasis is placed on what is not known.
B) multidisciplinary literature has been filtered out.
C) previous research findings have been synthesized.
D) statistical analyses of the summarized research are conducted.

Accepted Answer

The type of reasoning used during the integration of findings is synthesis. Synthesis involves compiling the findings from all of the selected studies and analyzing and interpreting clustered findings.
Emphasis is on what is known.
Often literature from other disciplines would be included in an integrative review.
If statistical analyses of the summarized research are conducted, that would be a meta-analysis and not necessarily part of an integrative review.

Question 14

In conducting an electronic search, which of the following bits of information typically is not found in search fields?
A) Abstract
B) Bibliography
C) Journal subset
D) Language

Accepted Answer

Cited references, not bibliography, are often found in electronic search fields.
An abstract is typically found in the electronic search information.
The journal subset is typically found in the electronic search information.
Language is a common piece of information included in electronic search fields.

Quiz 6: Understanding the Literature Review in Published Studies

Which of the following would not be empirical research?

In writing the introduction to a literature review, which of the following should be included?

In looking through the literature review of a published study, how would "relevant literature" be operationalized best?

In conducting a complex search, the researcher's main goal is to:

Which of the following statements in the critique of a study would indicate to the reader that the study contains information that could assist in implementing new findings into practice?

Which of the following statements is true regarding the purpose of a literature review in a quantitative study?

A written plan for a computerized search may prove helpful. Which of the following is not typically included in a search plan?

In historical research, how does the literature review fit into the study?

In conducting a thorough critique of a literature review in a published study, which of the following are expected of the critique writer?

How can a nurse who practices in the clinical area find out what the best practices are for that specialty?

Which of the following would help you clearly determine whether a source is primary or secondary?

In searching the literature to find sources to build the foundation for a study, which of the following are usually not included in quantitative studies?

One advantage of an integrative review of research is that:

In conducting an electronic search, which of the following bits of information typically is not found in search fields?