Searching for Research Evidence
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What is the primary purpose of the study significance section in a research report?

  • To provide a detailed literature review
  • To list the methods of data collection
  • To explain the research design
  • To demonstrate the necessity of the study (correct)

    • Which sampling plan is described as having both drawbacks and benefits?

  • Stratified sampling
  • Convenient sampling (correct)
  • Systematic sampling
  • Random sampling

    • What aspect of the method section is primarily concerned with ethical considerations in research?

  • Research design
  • Sampling plan
  • Methods of measuring variables
  • Study procedures (correct)

    • In qualitative research, what is emphasized when discussing the research setting?

    <p>The context of the study (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following describes analytic methods in research?

    <p>They vary based on the research style (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does validity primarily assess in quantitative research?

    <p>The soundness of the evidence. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following best describes reliability in research?

    <p>The consistency of measurement over time. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What criterion is crucial for determining the credibility of qualitative research?

    <p>Achieved to the extent that researchers can engender confidence in the truth of the data and interpretation (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    In the context of validity, a paper-and-pencil measure assessing depression may actually assess which of the following instead?

    <p>Social isolation or anxiety. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following factors enhances the confirmability of qualitative research?

    <p>Clear documentation of data sources. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a key question to ask when assessing the validity of a psychological measure?

    <p>Is the measure actually assessing the intended concept? (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What aspect of qualitative research is concerned with the neutrality of data and interpretations?

    <p>Confirmability. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following would NOT be considered a criterion for evaluating qualitative research trustworthiness?

    <p>Generality. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a key difference between primary and secondary sources?

    <p>Secondary sources do not provide sufficient detail and may lack objectivity. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which search method involves using citation indexes to find later studies that reference an earlier pivotal study?

    <p>Descendancy approach (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    In an electronic search, which keyword approach is used to identify both the independent and dependent variables?

    <p>Quantitative search (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the purpose of using wildcard characters in a search?

    <p>To broaden the search to include all forms of a root word. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    When conducting a subject search in a database, which of the following is NOT true?

    <p>It requires the use of an asterisk as a truncation symbol. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which search approach would a researcher likely use to explore past references that led to a specific study?

    <p>Ancestry approach (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    An electronic database's subject heading may differ from the keywords used by the researcher. What allows for this flexibility?

    <p>Keyword mapping capabilities (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following is a method used specifically for locating studies by prominent researchers?

    <p>Author search (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does the ancestry approach primarily involve?

    <p>Finding earlier related studies through a bibliography. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which Boolean operator would you use to retrieve studies that include either 'obesity' or 'diabetes'?

    <p>OR (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following statements about quotation marks in searches is true?

    <p>They yield results only for the exact phrase provided. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the main purpose of the NOT operator in Boolean searches?

    <p>To eliminate one term from the search results. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the first step in handling potentially relevant citations?

    <p>Screening and gathering (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following aspects is NOT typically documented during the research process?

    <p>Personal opinions of the researcher (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    When synthesizing information across studies, what common focus is shared with qualitative analysis?

    <p>Identifying important themes (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which type of theme focuses on the methods used to address research questions?

    <p>Methodologic themes (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a key question to explore when evaluating substantive themes?

    <p>How much evidence exists? (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does the 'C' in the PICO question framework stand for? (Select all that apply)

    <p>Control (A), Contrast (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following best describes a generalizability theme?

    <p>Application of evidence to varying populations (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary aim when abstracting key information from articles?

    <p>To note significant evidence patterns (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is one key feature of Google Scholar?

    <p>It encompasses articles from all disciplines and is free to use. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does MeSH stand for in the context of MEDLINE?

    <p>Medical Subject Headings (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The descendancy approach helps researchers to find earlier related studies by using a bibliography.

    <p>False (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Using quotation marks in a search query will yield results containing the exact phrase enclosed within them.

    <p>True (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Wildcard characters are used in searches to represent specific characters in a truncated word.

    <p>True (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Dependability refers to the stability of data over time and conditions.

    <p>True (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Transferability is the extent to which qualitative findings can be ignored in other settings.

    <p>False (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Triangulation involves using a single source to ensure credibility in research.

    <p>False (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Authenticity in qualitative research ensures a fair representation of different realities.

    <p>True (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Bias is a distortion that has no effect on research inferences.

    <p>False (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Credibility is a key criterion for trustworthiness in qualitative research.

    <p>True (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Researcher's preconceptions can contribute to bias in study results.

    <p>True (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Faulty data collection methods can enhance the validity of research findings.

    <p>False (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Generalizability refers to the applicability of quantitative study findings to other groups and settings.

    <p>True (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Qualitative research relies mainly on secondary sources.

    <p>False (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Transferability is the concept equivalent to generalizability in qualitative research.

    <p>True (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Providing detailed descriptive information can promote transferability in qualitative research.

    <p>True (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    A literature review's purpose includes helping researchers interpret their findings.

    <p>True (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Clinical anecdotes are considered primary sources of information in research.

    <p>False (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The state of evidence can be communicated to others through a literature review.

    <p>True (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Relying on secondary sources provides a more accurate view of research findings than primary sources.

    <p>False (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Validity concerns whether methods truly measure what they claim to measure.

    <p>True (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The criterion of confirmability in qualitative research refers to the credibility of the data.

    <p>False (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Peer review ensures that all research articles are accurate and free from errors.

    <p>False (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The IMRAD format includes sections for Introduction, Method, Results, and Discussion.

    <p>True (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Researchers strive for solid definitions of research variables and valid ways to measure them.

    <p>True (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Dependability is not considered a key factor in qualitative research evaluations.

    <p>False (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    In qualitative studies, the title usually reflects the key variables and population being studied.

    <p>False (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Transferability in qualitative research refers to the extent to which findings can be applied to other contexts.

    <p>True (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The abstract provides a detailed, comprehensive review of the literature and methodology used in a study.

    <p>False (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The purpose of a literature review is to explain why the research matters and provide context.

    <p>True (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The theoretical framework is not a necessary component of the introduction in research articles.

    <p>False (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    In quantitative research, the title often includes central themes investigated through a qualitative lens.

    <p>False (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Study Notes

    • NUSC 2P70 Week Two, taught by Stephen Shears, MN RN
    • Paired assignment due March 28th
    • Guess lecture not tested

    Types of Research Reports

    • Presentations at professional conferences (oral, poster)
    • Journal articles (most common)
    • Peer reviewed; often 'blind' reviews

    Content of Research Journal Articles

    • Follows IMRAD format (Title & abstract, introduction, method, results, discussion, references)
    • Standardized layout

    Title and Abstract

    • Qualitative studies: titles generally include central phenomenon and group under investigation
    • Quantitative studies: titles define key variables and populations (PICO components)
    • Abstract: brief summary of major aspects of a study at beginning of article

    Components of the Introduction

    • Description of central phenomena, concepts, or variables
    • Study purpose, research questions, or hypotheses
    • Literature review (important for context)
    • Theoretical/conceptual framework (e.g., nursing theories)
    • Study significance or need for study

    Method Section: Quantitative Studies

    • Research design
    • Sampling plan (e.g., convenience sampling)
    • Methods of measuring variables and collecting data (details and justification)
    • Study procedures (protecting participants ethically, addressing reduction in psychological and physical stress)
    • Analytic methods and procedures

    Method Section: Qualitative Studies

    • Discusses many similar aspects to quantitative research, but with different emphases (related to lived experiences)
    • Provides details about the research setting and study context
    • Describes researchers' efforts to ensure study integrity

    Results Section (Quantitative)

    • Findings (statistical tests used, calculated statistic values, statistical significance)

    Results Section (Qualitative)

    • Findings organized by major themes, processes, or categories
    • Almost always includes raw data (quotes directly from study participants)

    Discussion Section

    • Interpretation of results (not simply the data, but explanations of the results' meaning)
    • Clinical and research implications
    • Limitations (e.g., financial restrictions, sample size, conflicts of interest)

    Review of Literature Section of a Study.

    • Typically found in the introduction section of a research report; NOT the method section.

    Why Research Articles Are Hard to Read

    • Compactness (page constraints)
    • Jargon (concise scientific language)
    • Objectivity and impersonality (no personal flare)
    • Statistical information (especially prominent in quantitative studies)

    Tips on Reading Research Articles

    • Read regularly and get used to the style
    • Copy articles and underline/highlight/take notes
    • Read slowly
    • Read actively (underline, highlight, note-taking)
    • Look-up technical terms in glossaries
    • Don't be intimidated by statistics, grasp the gist of the story
    • Translate articles or abstracts

    Research Critique

    • Objective assessment of a study's strengths and limitations
    • Focus on whether evidence is accurate, believable, and clinically relevant
    • Evaluate researcher's decisions
    • Various purposes (student assignment, publishing decision, EBP)

    Key Research Challenges

    • Designing studies to yield reliable and valid (quantitative) or trustworthy (qualitative) inferences
    • Inferences are conclusions drawn from evidence using logical reasoning and acknowledging the methods used to generate that evidence.

    Criteria for Evaluating Quantitative Research (Scientific Merit)

    • Reliability: Accuracy and consistency of information obtained. Often associated with the methods used. (e.g., a measuring device that consistently measures the same value).
    • Validity: Addresses the soundness of the evidence; whether the findings are convincing and support the desired inferences. Concerns whether the methods really measure the intended concepts. (e.g., a survey instrument to measure satisfaction should not be measuring happiness).

    Evaluative Criteria in Qualitative Studies

    • Trustworthiness: The degree of confidence in qualitative data and analyses. Assessed by credibility, transferability, dependability, confirmability, and authenticity.
    • Credibility: Measuring the confidence that researchers can engender in the truth of the data and their interpretations.
    • Confirmability: Objectivity and neutrality of data and interpretations.
    • Dependability: Data stability over time and contexts; similar to reliability in quantitative studies.
    • Transferability: The extent to which findings can be transferred to other groups or settings. Similar to generalizability, focusing on how useful the findings might be in a different context
    • Authenticity: Extent to which researchers portray a wide range of realities during data collection, analysis, and interpretation.

    Triangulation

    • Using multiple sources to draw conclusions that accurately reflect the truth.
    • Aids credibility and is helpful in both quantitative and qualitative research

    Bias (Major Challenge)

    • Distortion or influence leading to errors in inferences.
    • Examples:
      • Lack of participant candor (suppressing info on purpose)
      • Faulty data collection methods
      • Researcher preconceptions (unconscious bias)
      • Participants' awareness of being in a study (placebo effect)
      • Faulty study design

    Research Control

    • Holding constant extraneous variables in quantitative studies to better understand independent-dependent variable relationships.
    • Method used to reduce bias

    Bias Reduction: Randomness and Blinding

    • Randomness: Allowing for chance rather than researcher or participant choice to reduce bias in study elements.
    • Blinding (Masking): Concealing information from participants, data collectors, or care providers to enhance objectivity. Used in quantitative studies.

    Reflexivity

    • Critical self-reflection to understand and manage how personal values and interpretations impact data collection and interpretation.
    • Utilized in qualitative studies, self-awareness and introspection are helpful for any study type,

    Generalizability and Transferability

    • Generalizability: Measuring how applicable quantitative findings are to other groups and settings. Relevant to health research topics. Important issue in studies involving humans.
    • Transferability: The equivalent of generalizability for qualitative research. How well qualitative findings apply to other settings. Depends heavily on rich descriptive data that researchers provide about the study context

    Purposes of a Literature Review

    • Summarizing known and unknown research evidence
    • Communicating the current state of evidence
    • Providing a foundation for future research
    • Helping researchers interpret their findings

    Types of Information for Review

    • Primarily relying on primary sources (original research reports)
    • Minimizing reliance on secondary sources (summaries)
    • Utilizing clinical anecdotes, opinion articles, case reports to highlight issues and needs for research.

    Flow of Tasks in a Literature Review

    • Formulate questions
    • Develop search strategies (databases, keywords, methods, etc.)
    • Identify references
    • Document process details
    • Read, and critique sources
    • Analyze and summarize information
    • Prepare a critical summary

    Key Databases for Nurse Researchers

    • CINAHL: Comprehensive database of nursing and allied health literature (1982-Present).
    • MEDLINE: Contains biomedical and health-related information (access via PubMed)

    Example CINAHL Reference

    • Information about journal name, year, month, volume, issue, and pages, for a given research study.

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    Week Two Lecture PDF

    Description

    Test your knowledge on research methodology with this quiz. It covers essential concepts such as validity, reliability, sampling plans, and ethical considerations in research. Perfect for students and professionals looking to enhance their understanding of qualitative and quantitative research methods.

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