1. What is the primary purpose of conducting a systematic review in evidence-based practice? - A) To gather patient preferences - B) To conduct primary research - C) To summarize the existing body of evidence on a topic - D) To develop new research methodologies Answer: C) To summarize the existing body of evidence on a topic Rationale: Systematic reviews aim to condense the available research on a particular topic to inform practice. 2. In a research study, which of the following best defines the term 'confounding variable'? - A) A variable that is held constant throughout the study - B) A variable that the researcher manipulates - C) An extraneous variable that correlates with both the dependent and independent variables - D) The outcome that the researcher is interested in measuring Answer: C) An extraneous variable that correlates with both the dependent and independent variables Rationale: A confounding variable is an outside influence that changes the effect of a dependent and an independent variable. 3. Which research design provides the highest level of evidence? - A) Case-control study - B) Randomized controll