1. What is the difference between quantitative and qualitative research methods? Give an example of each. - Quantitative research methods use numerical data to test hypotheses, measure outcomes, and establish generalizability. Qualitative research methods use non-numerical data to explore meanings, experiences, and contexts. An example of a quantitative research method is a randomized controlled trial, while an example of a qualitative research method is a focus group interview. 2. What are the steps of the evidence-based practice (EBP) process? Explain each step briefly. - The steps of the EBP process are: ask, acquire, appraise, apply, and audit. Ask means to formulate a clear and focused clinical question based on a patient or population problem. Acquire means to search for the best available evidence from relevant and reliable sources. Appraise means to critically evaluate the quality, validity, and applicability of the evidence. Apply means to integrate the evidence with clinical expertise, patient preferences, and values. Audit means to monitor and evaluate the outcomes of the EBP implementation and make adjustments as needed. 3. What are the types of research questions that can be answered by systematic reviews, meta-analyses, and metasyntheses? How are they different from each other? - Systematic reviews can answer questions that synthesize the results of multiple primary studies on a specific topic or intervention using a predefined protocol and explicit criteria. Meta-analyses can answer questions that combine the statistical data from multiple primary studies using a quantitative method to produce a pooled estimate of effect. Metasyntheses can answer questions that integrate the findings from multiple qualitative studies using a qualitative method to generate new insights or theories. 4. What are the advantages and disadvantages of using secondary data analysis as a research method? Give an example of a secondary data source that can be used for nursing research. - Secondary data analysis is a research method that uses existing data that were collected for another purpose to answer a new research question. The advantages of using secondary data analysis are: it is cost-effective, time-saving, and allows access to large and diverse samples. The disadvantages of using secondary data analysis are: it may have limitations in data quality, availability, and suitability for the research question. An example of a secondary data source that can be used for nursing research is the National Database of Nursing Quality Indicators (NDNQI). 5. What are the ethical principles that guide nursing research? How can they be applied in practice? - The ethical principles that guide nursing research are: respect for persons, beneficence, justice, and fidelity. Respect for persons means to protect the autonomy, dignity, and privacy of research participants and obtain their informed consent. Beneficence means to maximize the benefits and minimize the harms of research for participants and society. Justice means to ensure fair distribution of risks and benefits of research and avoid exploitation or discrimination. Fidelity means to uphold honesty, integrity, and accountability in conducting and reporting research.