Q.1 Which ethical principle emphasizes doing good and promoting the well-being of research participants?
Autonomy
Beneficence
Justice
Nonmaleficence
Explanation - Beneficence in nursing research ensures that the study promotes benefits and contributes positively to participants' health and welfare.
Correct answer is: Beneficence
Q.2 What is the primary purpose of informed consent in nursing research?
To increase recruitment
To ensure legal protection for researchers
To respect participant autonomy
To prevent bias in data collection
Explanation - Informed consent allows participants to make voluntary decisions about their involvement, respecting their autonomy and rights.
Correct answer is: To respect participant autonomy
Q.3 Which ethical principle requires researchers to minimize harm to participants?
Justice
Nonmaleficence
Fidelity
Veracity
Explanation - Nonmaleficence is the duty to avoid harm, ensuring participants are not exposed to unnecessary risks.
Correct answer is: Nonmaleficence
Q.4 What does the principle of justice in research primarily address?
Equal distribution of risks and benefits
Obtaining informed consent
Maintaining confidentiality
Ensuring beneficence
Explanation - Justice ensures fairness in the selection of research participants and equitable sharing of risks and benefits.
Correct answer is: Equal distribution of risks and benefits
Q.5 Which document first established international ethical guidelines for human research?
Nuremberg Code
Helsinki Declaration
Belmont Report
ICN Code of Ethics
Explanation - The Nuremberg Code (1947) laid down the foundation for ethical research following World War II atrocities.
Correct answer is: Nuremberg Code
Q.6 Confidentiality in nursing research ensures that:
All data is shared with funding agencies
Participant identities are protected
Researchers can publish participant names
Consent is not required
Explanation - Confidentiality protects participants’ identities and personal data from unauthorized access or disclosure.
Correct answer is: Participant identities are protected
Q.7 Which ethical principle was highlighted in the Belmont Report as a cornerstone of human research?
Respect for persons
Nonmaleficence
Fidelity
Competence
Explanation - The Belmont Report emphasized respect for persons, beneficence, and justice as essential ethical principles.
Correct answer is: Respect for persons
Q.8 Deception in nursing research can be ethically justified only if:
It is essential to the study and participants are debriefed
Participants are not aware of it
It reduces costs
It increases sample size
Explanation - Deception is permissible only when no alternative exists and participants are informed afterward through debriefing.
Correct answer is: It is essential to the study and participants are debriefed
Q.9 The Institutional Review Board (IRB) is responsible for:
Recruiting participants
Providing funding
Ensuring ethical standards in research
Publishing research findings
Explanation - The IRB evaluates research protocols to ensure participant safety and adherence to ethical principles.
Correct answer is: Ensuring ethical standards in research
Q.10 What ethical issue arises when participants are pressured into research?
Justice violation
Coercion
Beneficence
Confidentiality
Explanation - Coercion undermines voluntary participation, violating the principle of autonomy.
Correct answer is: Coercion
Q.11 Which principle requires that participants receive accurate information about the study?
Veracity
Justice
Fidelity
Nonmaleficence
Explanation - Veracity means truth-telling, ensuring participants are informed with accurate and complete study information.
Correct answer is: Veracity
Q.12 Why is voluntary participation crucial in nursing research?
It reduces cost
It increases accuracy
It ensures autonomy
It supports beneficence
Explanation - Voluntary participation respects the principle of autonomy by allowing free choice without coercion.
Correct answer is: It ensures autonomy
Q.13 Which principle addresses protecting vulnerable populations in research?
Fidelity
Justice
Respect for persons
Beneficence
Explanation - Respect for persons includes providing extra protection for vulnerable populations such as children or cognitively impaired individuals.
Correct answer is: Respect for persons
Q.14 What does 'anonymity' mean in nursing research?
Participant identity is unknown even to researchers
Data is coded but reversible
Names are hidden from publication
Researchers share only partial data
Explanation - Anonymity means no identifying information is linked to the participant, even for the researcher.
Correct answer is: Participant identity is unknown even to researchers
Q.15 Why are ethical principles important in nursing research?
To speed up publication
To protect participants’ rights
To reduce costs
To avoid statistical errors
Explanation - Ethical principles ensure the dignity, safety, and rights of participants are safeguarded during research.
Correct answer is: To protect participants’ rights
Q.16 When a participant withdraws from a study, the researcher must:
Encourage them to stay
Respect their decision
Offer incentives to continue
Ignore the withdrawal
Explanation - Withdrawal is a right of participants and must always be respected without penalty or coercion.
Correct answer is: Respect their decision
Q.17 What ethical concern is most relevant when storing participant data electronically?
Justice
Confidentiality
Beneficence
Autonomy
Explanation - Electronic data must be securely stored to protect confidentiality and prevent breaches.
Correct answer is: Confidentiality
Q.18 Which ethical principle is violated if a participant is denied access to withdraw from a study?
Autonomy
Justice
Beneficence
Fidelity
Explanation - Autonomy requires respect for a participant’s right to decide freely, including withdrawing at any stage.
Correct answer is: Autonomy
Q.19 What role does debriefing serve in research?
Provides participants with study results
Explains hidden aspects and clarifies doubts
Ensures data accuracy
Collects additional information
Explanation - Debriefing ensures participants understand the study fully, especially if deception was used.
Correct answer is: Explains hidden aspects and clarifies doubts
Q.20 The principle of fidelity in nursing research refers to:
Truth-telling
Loyalty and keeping commitments
Doing good
Avoiding harm
Explanation - Fidelity involves maintaining trust and being faithful to promises made to research participants.
Correct answer is: Loyalty and keeping commitments
Q.21 Which ethical issue arises when participants are not fully informed about risks?
Violation of beneficence
Violation of autonomy
Violation of justice
Violation of fidelity
Explanation - Not informing participants about risks prevents them from making an autonomous decision.
Correct answer is: Violation of autonomy
Q.22 Which ethical code guides nurses in research internationally?
ICN Code of Ethics
Belmont Report
Nuremberg Code
FDA Guidelines
Explanation - The International Council of Nurses (ICN) Code of Ethics provides global ethical guidance for nurses, including research contexts.
Correct answer is: ICN Code of Ethics
Q.23 Which of the following must always be obtained before collecting data from human participants?
Funding approval
Informed consent
IRB publication
Peer review
Explanation - Informed consent is essential before involving participants to ensure ethical standards are upheld.
Correct answer is: Informed consent
Q.24 Why is protecting vulnerable groups (e.g., children, elderly) a key ethical concern?
They are easier to recruit
They may have limited autonomy
They produce better results
They require less consent
Explanation - Vulnerable groups may lack full decision-making capacity, requiring additional protections.
Correct answer is: They may have limited autonomy
Q.25 What is the main ethical issue in the Tuskegee Syphilis Study?
Excessive beneficence
Lack of informed consent and deception
Overprotection of participants
Equal distribution of benefits
Explanation - The Tuskegee Study is infamous for withholding treatment and misleading participants, violating autonomy and justice.
Correct answer is: Lack of informed consent and deception