AKT AKT Research and Evidence-Based Practice 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which study design provides the highest level of evidence in the hierarchy of evidence?
- Expert opinion
- Case study
- Randomized controlled trial (Correct answer)
- Cohort study
Correct answer: Randomized controlled trial
Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) are considered the gold standard for establishing causality because random assignment minimizes confounding variables.
Question 2: What is the primary purpose of a literature review in research?
- To collect original data from participants
- To summarize and synthesize existing knowledge on a topic (Correct answer)
- To test a specific hypothesis with new subjects
- To validate a new measurement tool
Correct answer: To summarize and synthesize existing knowledge on a topic
A literature review systematically identifies, evaluates, and summarizes existing research to provide context and identify gaps in knowledge.
Question 3: In evidence-based practice, what does 'external evidence' primarily refer to?
- A practitioner's personal clinical experience
- Patient preferences and values
- Research findings from published studies (Correct answer)
- Institutional policy guidelines
Correct answer: Research findings from published studies
External evidence in evidence-based practice refers to current, valid research from published studies that informs clinical or professional decisions.
Question 4: A study that follows participants over time to observe outcomes is called a:
- Cross-sectional study
- Longitudinal study (Correct answer)
- Case-control study
- Retrospective study
Correct answer: Longitudinal study
A longitudinal study observes the same subjects at multiple time points over an extended period to track changes and outcomes.
Question 5: Which of the following is an example of a qualitative research method?
- Randomized controlled trial
- Survey with Likert scale responses
- In-depth interview (Correct answer)
- Meta-analysis
Correct answer: In-depth interview
In-depth interviews are a qualitative method that explores participants' experiences, perspectives, and meanings in their own words.
Question 6: What is a 'control group' in an experimental study?
- The group receiving the experimental treatment
- The group that receives no treatment or a standard treatment for comparison (Correct answer)
- The group with the best outcome
- The group selected from a hospital setting
Correct answer: The group that receives no treatment or a standard treatment for comparison
A control group does not receive the experimental intervention and serves as a comparison baseline to measure the treatment's effect.
AKT AKT Research and Evidence-Based Practice 1
Which study design provides the highest level of evidence in the hierarchy of evidence?