RESEARCH AKINWALE - PDF

Here is the transcription of the document in a structured Markdown format: # SYNOPSIS OF RESEARCH PROCESS **COMPILED BY** AKINWALE, OLADAYO DAMILOLA UNIOSUN TEACHING HOSPITAL # RESEARCH PROCESS * Research process consists of specific steps that the researcher takes in conducting his/her rese...

Here is the transcription of the document in a structured Markdown format: # SYNOPSIS OF RESEARCH PROCESS **COMPILED BY** AKINWALE, OLADAYO DAMILOLA UNIOSUN TEACHING HOSPITAL # RESEARCH PROCESS * Research process consists of specific steps that the researcher takes in conducting his/her research. There are five main steps in the process with each step subdivided into several sections. * Background to the study * Review of relevant literature * Methodology * Results or findings * Discussion of findings # Research process * Background to the study * Statement of the problem * Need for the study * Definition of terms * Limitation of the study * Delimitation of the study * Conceptual framework * Hypothesis * Review of literature * General review * Critical review * Methodology * Setting for the study * Sampling and population * Data collection procedure * Procedure for data analysis * Results or findings * Data Tabulation * Data presentation * Discussion of findings * Interpretation of findings * Implication * Recommendation * Summary and conclusion # RESEARCH TOPIC # Criteria for Researchable Topics in Nursing * The following criteria enable the researcher to determine whether a problem is ripe for research. These include: * **Frequency of occurrence of the problem** - If the nature of the problem is such that it rarely occurs, then research is not advisable for that problem. * **The degree of discomfort caused by the problem**- The problem may be causing harm to people, or even may have led to harm or risk to lift, in which case it is expedient to believe that research could lead to a solution. * **Amount of resources affected by the problem** – a consideration is given to the nature of the problem, and whether a lot of financial or material resources are lost or jeopardized because of the problem. * For example, is the non availability of equipment in hospital affecting retention of trained nurses and patient flow? * **Researchability of the problem** - What to consider is to establish that the problem actually merits research and that it is not one that could yield useful results, and which would attract response. * **Genuine interest of the researcher** - We should recognize that interest spurs people on for research; * The researcher must be fully interested for any meaningful engagement in the research. * Without interest the commitment in the research would be poor, and of no effect. # DEFINITION AND TYPES OF VARIABLES ## DEFINITION * A variable is any entity that can take on different values. * Variables are of interest in research because they are the main reasons for the research. * Examples of variables include age, sex, weight, height, educational attainment/qualification, experience, weather, socioeconomic status, temperature, state of health etc. ## TYPES OF VARIABLES (cont'd) * The variables that are of importance in research can further be grouped into independent and dependent variables. * Variables are not restricted to preexisting attributes of humans, organisms, events or environment. * The researcher could in many situations create or design a variable that is applicable to the purpose of the research. * **Independent variable** -The independent variable is that variable in the research which the researcher manipulates, and could be equated to a cause or a stimulus or treatment in research that has to establish cause effect relationship. * The **dependent variable** is that variable that is not manipulated by the researcher, but which the researcher expects will change once the independent variable is introduced. It can be equated to the effect, response or the result. ## TYPES OF VARIABLES (cont'd) * Examples of independent and dependent variables * Perception and attitude of midwives towards the management of premature babies * Knowledge and attitude of midwives toward management of pain in labor * Extraneous variable * In research certain variables are also recognized that though they are not of much importance to the researcher could have negative effects on the results of the research if they are not controlled. * These variables are called extraneous variables, and must be controlled in any research. * Other terms used by different authors to describe the extraneous variable include confounding variable, interfering variable, intervening variable, contaminating, variable. * These must be controlled especially in experimental studies, for them not to influence the results (tepid sponging, opening of windows, fan on). # BACKGROUND TO THE STUDY ## INTRODUCTION * The findings from the research study forms the foreground of research, thus, it is important to establish the background of the study. * A well-written background will provide the study with context and prompt the readers to read the rest of research paper. * However, most researchers struggle with writing background to the study because they find it difficult to distinguish between the background and the literature review which are critical aspect of research paper * Although the two terms are often used interchangeably, however, they have clearly defined roles ## INTRODUCTION (cont'd) * The background; * Is the beginning of the research process and the first chapter in any research report. This is also where the study is first introduced to the reader * Forms the first section of a research article/thesis and justifies the need for conducting the study and summarizes what the study aims to achieve'; * Establishes the context of the research * Should give an overview of the study * The first part of the background or introduction to the study is centered on the research problem # STRUCTURING BACKGROUND TO THE STUDY * The author usually outlines the historical developments in the literature that to the current topic of research concisely. * If the study is interdisciplinary, it should describe how different disciplines are connected and what aspects of each discipline will be studied. * Additionally, authors should briefly highlight the main developments of their research topic and identify the main gaps that need to be addressed ## STRUCTURING BACKGROUND TO THE STUDY (cont'd) * Background of the study should be organized as: * What is known about the broad topic? * What are the gaps or missing links that need to be addressed? * What is the significance of addressing those gaps? * What are the rationale and hypothesis of your study? ## STRUCTURING BACKGROUND TO THE STUDY (cont'd) * The background section, therefore, should * Provide general information about the topic of the research and * Emphasize the main aims of the study. **NOTE** * Ensure that you only discuss the main and relevant aspects of the studies that have led to your aims. * Do not elaborate or them as this should be done in the literature review section. * The background section should discuss the findings in a chronological manner to accentuate the progress in the field and the messing points that need to be addressed. * The background should be written as a summary of the interpretation of previous research and what the study proposes to accomplish. # MAKING THE BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY ENGAGING * As the background includes a lot of information, it can become a long drag, causing the readers to lose interest. * To ensure that the background is engaging, * Try to build a story around the central theme of the research. * Ensure that the story adheres to the core idea and does not digress into a broad literature review. * Each idea should lead to the next so that readers are able to grasp the story and themselves identify the gaps that the study is going to address. # AVOIDING COMMON MISTAKES IN WRITING BACKGROUND TO THE STUDY * To write an effective background, there is need to steer clear of some mistakes which include * Too along or too short background: Writing a background that is too long or too short. focus on including all the important details but write concisely. * Ambiguity: Writing in a way that does not convey the message to the readers defeats the purpose of the background, so express yourself keeping in mind that the reader does not know the research intimately * Discussing unrelated themes: discussion should be centered around the pivotal aspects of the research topic i.e. highlight the gaps in the literature, state the novelty of the study, and the need to conduct the study. * Disorganization of themes: Not discussing the themes in a chronological manner can confuse the reader about the progress in the field, so try and organize your writing carefully # STATEMENT OF PROBLEM # FORMULATING STATEMENT OF (RESEARCH) PROBLEMS * Researcher could encounter problems for research in any setting or environment depending on our interests. * Problems are usually accompanied by a background that justifies the study and which facilitates understanding of the problem. * Once a problem has been identified through any of the sources mentioned it needs to be formulated and stated in such a way that the clear rationale for research would be revealed. The problem formulation and statement is the first step in the research process because without identifying and making known the problem, it will be futile to attempt research. * This step entails the researcher reflecting on a personally-experienced problem that has often presented questions. * For example, a nurse may have noticed in her practice that many diabetic patients on specific diets have not been compliant to the dietary regimen. * That could raise questions of “Why?” * What are the causes of non compliance? * What can the nurse do to alleviate the problem? * The nurse may be interested, and now becomes the researcher. * As a researcher, she/he may decide to check the literature, especially reported studies in the area of interest in order to be familiar with previous research methods and results obtained. ## Formulating statement of (Research) Problems * This step requires the researcher to view the problem in its widest form so that everything, persons, situations, settings etc that have anything to do with the problem are brought into focus. * Literature is also consulted to read what information is available concerning the problem. * The criteria earlier listed could be applied to the problem in order to confirm the need for research in that area. * From the readings and the wide view of the problem, the researcher is able to narrow the scope of the problem to the actual aspect for emphasis in the study. * Once the focus is established, the researcher would' state the problem formally. ## Purpose of Formulating research Problems * The problem statement should serve as a basis upon which the total research plan is based. * The problem statement should identify the key variables in the study, * Specify the nature of the population being studied, and * Suggest the possibility of empirical testing. * The problem statement is followed by a clear definition of the concepts involved, the operational definitions. The statement of the problem paves the way for the statement of the purpose, objectives, the scope and significance of the study. # Purpose, Objectives, Scope and Significance of Study * The purpose of the study explains the “why”/ reason for the research. * It is the focus of the study, and we may then state our purpose as “to determine the factors that influence compliance to dietary regimen by diabetic patients in X hospital”; ort the purpose of the study is to; * Identify the factors responsible for non compliance to dietary regimen by diabetic patients in X hospital. * The objectives of the study represent the intent or “what?” of the study, and details what the expectations of the researcher is at the completion of study. * The objectives must be focused, achievable and in line with the statement of the problem and purpose. * There may be up to four (4) or five (5) objectives in a study. # HYPOTHESES AND RESEARCH QUESTION * The research process is enhanced through the use of hypotheses, research questions and variables. * Both hypotheses and research questions have to be stated with variables, and have to be tested and answered only at the end of the data collection and analysis, * Hypotheses and research questions are vital parts of there search. * Every study us expected to have either of them or both because they give direction to the type of data required in the study. * Hypotheses and research questions also enable the researcher to actualize the purpose and objectives of the research. * Hypotheses and research questions are vital parts of the research. * Every study is expected to have either of them. or both because they give direction to the data required in the study. * Hypotheses and research questions also enable the researcher to actualize the purpose and objectives of the research. ## Definition * A hypothesis is a scientific guess or predictive statement made by the researcher and which will be tested after data collection. * It predicts or explains relationships between two or more variables ## Importance of Hypotheses * Hypotheses can advance knowledge by confirming or refuting theoretical positions from which they were derived. * They suggest new obeservation and uncover facts. * They link formal systems of ligical reasoning to science. Hypotheses enable the researcher to focus the research to one of two variables. * Hypotheses provide a statement of relationship between variables in a manner that allows for empirical testing. * Hypotheses provide data that are specific and facilitato their acceptance or rejection at the end of the study. ## Characteristics of Hypotheses * A good hypothesis should be clear concise. * It should contain a few variables under investigation, usually two or more. * The hypothesis should clearly predict or infer a causal relationship between the variables. * Hypotheses are more applicable to explanatory and experimental studies. ## Classification or Types of Hypotheses * Hypotheses are classified into three major types * Directional * Non directional and * Null or statistical hypotheses. * The directional hypothesis: specifies the expected direction of the relationship between the variables under study. * For example of a direction hypothesis using the earlier introduced problem is, "Tuberculosis patients receive counseling will comply better with therapy than those who did not receive the counseling”. * The non directional hypothesis does not specify the direction of the relationship, but predicts that a relationship exists between the variables, and does not indicate the nature of the relationship. * An exmple id, "treatment counseling of TB patient is related to their compliance with drug regimen". * The null or statistical hypothesis is the hypothesis of no difference and no relationship. * The researcher states that there is no difference in compliance to treatment regimen in those TB patients who received treatment counseling and those who did not receive the counseling. * If your prediction was correct, then you would (usually) reject the null hypothesis and accept the alternative. * If your original prediction was not supported in the data, then you will accept the null hypothesis and the alternative. The alternative hypothesis is also called the research hypothesis. ## Research Questions * Question that concerns the variables under study and the existence of relationships among them. * Research questions like hypotheses are crucial to data data collection and analysis. * Research questions should be clear and specific * They are itterogative, and usually stated present. * Research questions muset contsin one or more variables. * Research question are more applicable to exploratory and descriptive studies. * They should be realistic and meet the stated objectuves of the study. * Examples of Research Questions If the problem the researcher the diabetic may be interested in Finding out why patients are not complying with their with dietary regimea. * The question. may be descriptive, relational causal, or research questions may enable the researcher to research questions may the researcher to collect that a will real the reasons for the don compliance. * What qualities Qualities do these patients have common? * Is the compliance compliance behavior related to the time of taking the drug? * Is the compliance due to a due to absence of treatment counseling. ## Scope and significance of study * The scope of the study a boundary for which the search intendsto cover. * The segnificance of The details contributions study /practice. * It expected whatever research that it conducted impact on practice of or more Profession positive change positive changes The original problems * LITERATURE REVIEW AND THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK ## Introduction * Literature it review essential research step that a research you To develop Skill The materials to research prove nursing. research * The literature can review give contact planned literature * Literature the knowledge available direction study