BULANADI, PRINCESS JIANE M.

BSN 3-YC-1B

Introduction to Research

 Research is referred to as empirical and systematic, involving

structured methods to solve problems or develop new knowledge. It
expands human understanding through propositional, procedural,
and personal knowledge.

Types of Knowledge:

1. Propositional Knowledge: Theoretical knowledge, such as facts,

theories, and laws.

2. Procedural Knowledge: Knowing how to do something, often learned

through practical experience.

3. Personal Knowledge: Gained through personal experience and often

crucial in healthcare settings.

Nursing Research (Polit & Beck, 2008)

 Nursing research is a systematic inquiry designed to generate

reliable evidence addressing nursing-related issues like patient care,
nursing education, and administration.

 Purpose: To solve problems relevant to nursing and provide evidence

to improve practice.

Characteristics of Nursing Research (COGIE):

 Controlled: Research has defined variables and constraints to ensure

precision.

 Orderly and Systematic: It follows specific, sequential steps.

 Generalizable: Findings should apply to a wider population.

 Intensive: Comprehensive, in-depth approaches ensure all aspects are

covered.

 Empirical: Based on objective, observable reality.

Purposes of Nursing Research (IDEEP):

 1. Identification: Assessing situations that require clarification.

2. Description: Determining relationships among variables.

3. Exploration: Answering “what” questions.

4. Explanation: Answering “why” questions to clarify phenomena.

5. Prediction and Control: Forecasting events and minimizing adverse

outcomes.

Theories and Definitions from Key Authors:

 Bosswell & Cannon (2007): Research as a systematic method using

disciplined techniques.

 Schmidt & Brown (2009): Emphasize the importance of the

systematic approach and replicability in research.

 Polit & Beck (2008): Research aims to develop, refine, and

expand the nursing knowledge base.

 Burns and Grove (2007): Describe research as a scientific process

that validates and generates new knowledge affecting clinical nursing
practice.

 Waltz & Bausell (2001): Defined nursing research as a rigorous

process used to find solutions to nursing problems.

 Houser (2008): Highlighted the importance of rigorous guidelines

to produce unbiased and trustworthy answers.

 Treece & Treece (1973): Considered research as an attempt to gain

solutions through rigorous data collection.

Phases of the Research Process (Cronin, Coughlan & Smith, 2015)

The research process is broken down into five phases, each containing
several steps:

1. Conceptual Phase:

o Formulating the Problem: Define the research question.

o Review of Related Literature: Understand existing research.

o Framework Development: Develop a conceptual framework.

 o Formulating Hypotheses: Establish clear research questions or
hypotheses.

2. Design and Planning Phase:

o Selecting Research Design: Develop a detailed plan for

conducting research.

o Sampling: Identify the population and select appropriate

samples.

o Developing Research Tools: Decide how to measure variables.

o Protecting Human/Animal Rights: Ensure ethical treatment of

research subjects.

3. Empirical Phase:

o Data Collection: Implement data collection based on the

research design.

o Preparing Data for Analysis: Organize data for interpretation,

often through computer systems.

4. Analytic Phase:

o Data Analysis: Apply statistical or qualitative methods to

interpret data.

o Interpreting Results: Examine findings and their implications

for nursing practice.

5. Dissemination Phase:

o Communicating Findings: Share results through publications

and conferences.

o Utilizing Findings in Practice: Apply results to clinical practice

to improve patient care.

Classification of Nursing Research:

 By Approach:

o Experimental: Researchers control variables to determine

cause-and-effect relationships.

o Non-Experimental: Observational studies where variables are

not manipulated.
 o Quasi-Experimental: Limited control over variables, without full
randomization.

o Combined: A mix of experimental and non-experimental

methods.

 By Time Frame:

o Longitudinal: Studies conducted over time to track changes.

o Cross-Sectional: Data collected at one point in time.

o Retrospective: Studies that look back at past data.

 By Measurement:

o Quantitative Research: Focused on numerical data.

o Qualitative Research: Focused on understanding experiences

and behaviors.

o Combined Approach: Uses both qualitative and quantitative

methods.

Historical Evolution of Nursing Research

 Florence Nightingale (1859): The first major nursing research

contributor, studying mortality and morbidity during the Crimean War.

 Early 1900s: Research focused on nursing education and training,

leading to studies like the Goldmark Report on educational
inadequacies.

 1940s: Increased demand for nursing research during World War II.

 1950s-1960s: Significant growth in clinical research, establishment of

nursing research centers, and the introduction of nursing research
journals.

 1970s-1990s: Greater recognition of evidence-based practice and the

growth of nursing journals such as Advances in Nursing Science and
Research in Nursing & Health.

Evidence-Based Practice (EBP)

 Level I: Evidence from well-designed randomized controlled trials

(RCTs).
  Level II: Evidence from controlled trials without randomization or case-
control studies.

 Level III: Opinions from respected authorities and reports from

experts.

Barriers to Clinical Nursing Research:

1. Time Constraints: Nurses feel they are too busy with patient care to
conduct research.

2. Lack of Research Training: Many nurses do not have formal training

in theoretical research methods.

3. Ethical Considerations: Ethical challenges like informed consent and

the risk of harm can deter research.

4. Administrative Barriers: Institutional approvals can be difficult to

secure.

5. Financial Constraints: Research requires funding, and limited

financial resources can prevent nurses from pursuing research.

Review of Related Literature

The literature review is an essential part of the research process. It

involves a comprehensive analysis of past studies and literature related to
the current research focus. This step allows researchers to:

1. Gain a better understanding of the research focus.

2. Identify gaps in knowledge that the current study aims to fill.

3. Gain insights from previous studies, including methodologies,

findings, and potential limitations.

Purpose of a Literature Review:

 Expose gaps in existing knowledge: Helps identify areas where

current research is lacking or unclear.

 Establish a foundation for the study: Reviews the findings of

previous studies to support the new research direction.

 Identify patterns and discrepancies: Allows the researcher to

explore conflicting findings and explain inconsistencies.
  Define terminology and research methods: Helps in selecting
appropriate research methods and validated instruments.

Characteristics of a Good Literature Review:

1. Relevant: The literature reviewed must be highly connected to the

research question.

2. Recent: Focus on studies published within the last five years to ensure
currency.

3. Sufficient: There should be a balanced number of sources, neither too

few nor too many.

Steps in Conducting a Literature Review:

1. Choose a Topic: Define the research question clearly.

2. Decide the Scope: Determine how comprehensive the review should

be (number of years covered, types of studies).

3. Select Databases: Identify where to search for relevant literature

(e.g., academic journals, books, online databases).

4. Conduct Searches: Use keywords to find relevant studies and

articles.

5. Review the Literature:

o Analyze research questions, methods, and findings of each study.

o Evaluate the quality and credibility of the research.

o Identify areas of consensus and conflict.

6. Document Findings: Keep track of the sources, write notes, and

organize the information for later reference.

Presenting the Literature Review:

 Chronologically: Present studies in order of publication to show the

evolution of knowledge on the topic.

 Thematically: Group studies by themes, such as emotional, mental,

and physiological impacts.

 Methodologically: Focus on the different research methods used in

the studies.
Sources of Literature:

1. Subjective Sources: Books, manuals, or opinions based on individual

experiences.

2. Research Literature: Peer-reviewed journals and scientific studies.

3. Gray Literature: Magazines, newspapers, unpublished research, and

reports.

Importance of the Literature Review in Nursing Research

The literature review is critical in nursing research because it:

 Identifies existing knowledge gaps that need to be filled by the

current research.

 Informs the development of research questions by analyzing

past studies.

 Provides a basis for selecting research methods by reviewing

methodologies used in previous studies.

 Ensures that new research builds on existing evidence,

preventing duplication of efforts.