Untitled Quiz

Phases of the Nursing Research Process

• The presentation explores the different phases of the nursing research process.
• Each step is examined in detail.

The First Step: Identifying the Research Problem

• Focus & Scope: Identify a relevant and meaningful research problem within the nursing field, aligning with the study's goals and objectives.
• Gap Analysis: Thoroughly review existing knowledge to identify gaps and areas needing further exploration for innovative research.
• Significance: Understanding the potential impact of the research problem on patient care, nursing practice, and healthcare communities.

Next Step: Reviewing the Literature

• Comprehensive Search: Conduct a systematic review of relevant academic journals, books, and databases to gather existing information and insights on the research problem.
• Evaluating Sources: Critically analyze the credibility, validity, and reliability of the sources to ensure evidence's inclusion in the nursing research.
• Synthesizing Information: Integrate the findings of different studies to identify gaps, contradictions, and emerging trends, contributing to the knowledge base.

Designing the Study: Crafting a Methodology

• Research Framework: Define the study's theoretical framework, research questions, objectives, and hypotheses, and select the most appropriate research design.
• Data Collection: Determine the data collection methods, such as surveys, interviews, observations, or experiments, ensuring ethical considerations and participant privacy.
• Data Analysis: Analyze collected data using suitable statistical methods, accurately interpret the results, and draw meaningful conclusions.

Collecting and Analyzing Data

• Data Collection: Meticulously collect data following the predetermined methods and protocols, ensuring accuracy and reliability.
• Data Processing & Cleaning: Organize and clean the collected data, addressing missing values, outliers, and data integrity issues, preparing it for analysis.
• Data Analysis & Interpretation: Apply advanced statistical techniques to analyze the data, draw meaningful insights, and present findings using appropriate visual representations.

Interpreting the Findings

• Identifying Patterns: Look for patterns, trends, and relationships within the data to draw conclusions and understand implications for nursing practice and patient care.
• Discussion & Implications: Discuss findings in context of existing literature. Evaluate potential implications for policy changes, clinical practice, and further research.
• Limitations & Future Directions: Acknowledge study limitations and propose recommendations for future research to improve nursing care.

Communicating the Results

• Research Paper: Compile findings into a scholarly paper, following appropriate scientific communication guidelines.
• Conference Presentations: Share findings at national and international conferences to disseminate knowledge and receive feedback from peers.
• Publications & Journals: Submit the paper for publication in academic journals for wide accessibility.
• Engaging with Stakeholders: Present findings to crucial stakeholders to facilitate evidence-based decision-making.

Concluding Remarks

• The nursing research process is empowering to advance patient care, nursing education, and healthcare as a whole.

Unit VII: Data Collection and Analysis

• Define primary and secondary endpoints.

• Cite statistical tests to be used.

• State the accepted level of significance.

• Predict the expected outcome and list anticipated results.

• Explain how the outcome will be interpreted and a conclusion made.

• Identify possible alternative outcomes and interpretations.

• Pitfalls and Problems: Address potential technical difficulties and have a backup/plan B (and C).

• Opportunity for preemptive strike against potential criticisms: Plan ahead for potential criticisms.

• Statistics: Poorly presented, or inadequate plans for statistical analyses can significantly impact scores.

  • Justify sample size and provide power calculations and analysis of variables.
  • Include strategy for adjustments for other variables.
  • Consult with a statistician.

• Data Collection Process- 4 steps:

  • Form Construction
  • Coding Strategy Designation
  • Data Collection
  • Data Entry

• Data: information gathered during a study to answer the question being investigated. Data includes various measurable information on participants, i.e. age, intelligence, performance scores

  • Data are gathered using tools, measures, tests, questionnaires, observation checklists, artifacts, etc..

• Data or measures are operationalization of the problem statement.

• Selecting a measure/tool for gathering the needed data is important.

• Variables (independent and dependent) suggest what data is needed and how to gather it.

• Criterion measure/ dependent variable is the focus of the study (e.g., school achievement).

• Experimental variable / independent variable is the manipulated factor (e.g. method of teaching).

Common Tools for Data Gathering

• Survey Questionnaire
• Interview Guide
• FGD (Focus Group Discussion) Guide
• Tests
• Observation Checklists
• Laboratory Checklists/Observation

Constructing a Questionnaire

• Questionnaires include structured, focused questions (self-report, paper-and-pencil format).
• Use simple, conversational language. Avoid leading and loaded questions.
• Avoid ambiguity; be specific.
• Avoid double-barreled items.
• Avoid making assumptions.
• Avoid burdensome questions.
• Questions can be open-ended or close-ended.
• Questionnaires may contain scales (Likert-scale, verbal frequency scale, bi-polar objectives or Semantic Differential Scale, Checklist)

Information Obtainable from Questionnaires

• Demographic and socio-economic characteristics
• Consumer attitudes
• Opinions
• Buyer awareness
• Knowledge
• Motivations
• Behaviors

Questionnaire Guidelines

• Layout varies by preference, consider research goals.
• Survey title and explanatory note are important.
• Include instructions on completing the questionnaire.
• General qualifying questions are useful in the first part.
• Questionnaires should be concise and well-organized.
• Questionnaires should undergo testing to ensure accuracy against required information.

Further Data Collection Techniques and Tools

• Observation Techniques (structured / unstructured) - why you are observing, outline of specific behaviors, likelihood of occurrence to avoid time scanning.
  • Frequency Counts
  • Rate Technique
  • Duration Recording Technique
  • Interval Recording Technique
  • Time Sampling Technique
  • Anecdotal Records
• The Likert Scale
• Two-point Scale
• The Semantic Differential Scale or Bipolar Adjective Scale

How to Administer a Likert Scale

• The respondent is asked to rate items on a 1-5 response scale with weights assigned to options (e.g. strongly disagree = 1, disagree = 2, undecided/neutral = 3, agree = 4, strongly agree = 5).
• Odd-numbered scales normally have a middle neutral or undecided value.
• Forced-choice response scales with even numbers of responses can be used without a neutral option (e.g., 1 = disagree, 2 = agree).

How to Score Likert Scales

• Positive/Negative phrasing of question determines the weights.
• Scoring involves summing weights for all the chosen options in order to provide a mean attitude score.
• Reversal items (items worded differently from the overall direction of the scale) are necessary for summing up responses.

What is the Two-Point Scale?

• A variable of the Likert-Scale.
• Response options are limited to two choices (e.g., Yes/No).

Theory Building Comparison

• Quantitative Research: Deductive logic of theory development and verification occurs after theory building is complete; concepts are firmly defined beforehand; inductive generalizations
• Qualitative Research: Inductive logic of theory development and verification is concurrent with the research process; concepts begin with orienting and are developed during research; analytic/exemplar generalizations

Theoretical Frameworks

• Contains concepts derived from existing theory or related literature.
• It is a synthesis.
• It guides data analysis and interpretation.
• It may be deductive or inductive (e.g., linear, comparative, causal, correlational).
• It is supported by related literature.

Research Population and Sampling

• A research population is a large collection of individuals or objects that are the main focus of scientific research.
• Sampling is the procedure of selecting a smaller representative subset from a larger population.
• Obtaining a complete list of the population is required for probability sampling.
  • Simple random sampling - each individual has an equal chance of being selected; requires a complete list of the population.
  • Stratified random sampling - divides a population into strata (groups) based on a factor, obtains a random sample in each stratum.
  • Cluster random sampling - divides a population into clusters, selects a few clusters at random ensuring representation, collects data from all the sampling units within those selected clusters.
  • Systematic random sampling - selecting every nth item of a list, ensuring a representative sample.
• Non-probability sampling doesn't ensure every individual has an equal chance of selection.
  • Convenience sampling - selecting participants that are most readily available.
  • Quota sampling - dividing the population into strata, then selecting a specific number of people from each stratum in proportion to their prevalence.
  • Judgmental sampling - researcher selects individuals that he/she believes are representative of the target population.
  • Snowball sampling - existing participants recruit new participants to the study.

Unit of Analysis

• The unit of analysis is the entity being described or analyzed, e.g. individuals, groups, organizations, social interactions, social artifacts.

Ethical Aspects of Nursing Research

• Researchers should respect research participants' autonomy and capacity to consent.
• Protect them from harm.
• Ensure benefits and burdens of research are distributed justly—avoid exploiting individuals.
• Safeguard their privacy.
• Maintain ethical conduct throughout the research process (with use of appropriate checks and balances in conduct, dissemination, and implementation).
• Report suspected or known scientific misconduct to appropriate institutional officials.
• Maintain competency in subject matter and methodologies, and related professional or societal issues affecting nursing research.
• In animal research, prioritize benefits over potential harm to the animals.
• The Belmont Report articulates ethical principles: beneficence (minimize harm, maximize benefits), respect for human dignity (self-determination, full disclosure), and justice (fair treatment).

Procedures for Protecting Study Participants

• Risk/Benefit Assessment: balance the potential harm and benefits of participation.
• Informed Consent: participants receive adequate information, comprehend it, and consent voluntarily.
• Confidentiality Procedures: safeguarding participant data, often accomplished through anonymity or a promise of confidentiality.
• Debriefings: sessions with participants after the study to resolve or answer questions or complaints that might have arisen, especially when there is deception in data gathering.
• Referrals: connecting participants to resources appropriate for their needs.
• Treatment of Vulnerable Groups: provide special consideration and protection to individuals at higher risk due to their circumstances or conditions (e.g. children, mentally impaired adults, prisoners, terminally ill).
• Reviews & Committees: Institutions, e.g., hospitals and universities normally have review boards that oversee research proposals in order to ensure that ethical principles are followed.

Thesis Proposal Sections

• Title (Cover Page)
• Introduction
  • Background of the Study
  • Statement of the Problem
  • Hypothesis
  • Significance of the Study
  • Scope and Limitations
• Review of Related Literature and Theoretical Framework
• Methodology
  • Research Design
  • Research Environment
  • Respondent and Sampling Procedure
  • Research Instrument
• Data Gathering Procedure
• Data Analysis Procedure
• References
• Appendices
  • Transmittal Letter
  • Research Tool
  • Informed Consent Form
  • Curriculum Vitae