Project: Ghana Emergency Medicine Collaborative

Document Title: Introduction to Nursing Research

Author(s): Sue Anne Bell (University of Michigan), RN 2012

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What would you do?

 A Philanthropist puts a notice on the

bulletin board in the A&E. She wrote
that she is willing to fund a
GHC200,000 nursing study in honor of
her mother who was an A&E nurse.
 She is asking for suggestions. What

study would you suggest?

3
Importance of Nursing Research

 Nursing research empowers every nurse’s clinical

practice.
 Nurses can ask questions aimed at gaining new
knowledge to improve patient care, the nursing
profession and health care overall.
 Research-based (evidence based) practice =
integrating research findings into clinical decision
making

4
Importance of Nursing Research

 Accountability for care-related decisions

 Research expands nursing practice
 Reinforce the identity of nursing as a
profession – knowing/ understanding our
patients and the health care experience

5
How Does this Affect Our Work in the
A&E?
 How can nurses improve their credibility in the health
sciences?
 By showing credible findings that demonstrate their impact on
health.

 Do you know certain aspects of patient care in the A&E

that aren’t working? Or certain ways that work better than
others?
 Research on these topics can help to change problems or
reinforce positive solutions.

6
 History of Nursing Research

 Began with Nightingale and the Crimean War- mid

1800s
 Early 1900s – problems in nursing: education,
staffing issues
 1960s Practice oriented research; first nursing
research journals
 1983 - ANA Center for Research for
Nursing Biswajyotim, OCAL
7
 Research- fun and exciting?
 “The essence of all  How can…?
research originates in
curiosity - a desire to  Why is…?
find out how and why  What is the best way
things happen” to…?

 What causes…?

 What are the effects

of…?
I wonder... 8
Scientific Inquiry

 Observable, verifiable data is collected in

order to:
Describe

Explain

Predict events

9
Scientific Method

Select/define a problem
Formulate a research
question/hypothesis
Collect data
Analyze data
Report results
10
Scientific Method

Objectivity– distance research from

personal beliefs, values, attitudes
Why???

Empirical Data – documenting

objective data through direct
observation = reality
11
Research Questions

 Cannot be answered by Yes or No.

 Should ask:
What happens when…..?
What is going on here?
How does this happen?
Why does on thing work better than another?

12
Nursing Research

 Application of scientific method to areas of

interest to nursing

 Primarily involves studying people – People

do not behave consistently as do
objects/chemicals in a laboratory!

This poses special challenges!

13
 Evidence-Based Nursing Practice
 EBNP is the process by which nurses make clinical
decisions based on the best available research
evidence, their clinical practice and patient preferences,
in the context of available resources.

 Practice based on evidence from nursing research is an

approach that enables clinicians to provide the highest
quality of care in meeting the multifaceted needs
Budin, 2008
of
patients and families.
14
The Research Idea:
Where does it come from?
 Professional experience
 Burning questions

Yours
Others
 Literature

 Professional meetings

 Discussions

15
Research Topics

 Observations
 Behaviors

 Concepts

 Theories

 Testing of assessment and intervention

strategies

16
A Research Question Must Identify

1. The variables under study

2. The population being studied
3. The testability of the question

17
Criteria for developing a good research
question: FINER
 Feasibility
 Interesting

 Novel

 Ethical

 Relevant

 Cummings et al. 2001

18
FINER

Feasible
 Subjects
 Resources
 Manageable
 Data Available
Interesting
Novel
 New idea, untested idea
Ethical
 Social or Scientific Value
 Safe
Relevant
 Advance scientific knowledge
 Influence clinical practice 19
 Research Design: the basics

 Qualitative
 Quantitative
 Descriptive
 Correlational
 Quasi-Experimental
 True Experimental – Randomized Controlled Trial (RCT)
 Meta-Analyses and Systematic Reviews

20
 Quantitative Research

 Formal, objective, systematic process using

 measurement
 hypothesis testing
 data analysis

 Traditional approaches such as experiments,

questionnaires, surveys

jean_victor_balin, OCAL
21
Quantitative Process

1. Identify the research problem.

2. Review related literature.
3. Frame the problem conceptually.
4. Formulate hypotheses.
5. Select a design.
6. Identify population, sampling plan.
7. Select and test methods to measure variables.

22
Quantitative Process (Continued)

9. Protect human rights.

10. Review and finalize the research
plan.
10. Collect the data.
11. Analyze the data.
12. Interpret the findings.
13. Communicate the findings.
14. Participate in the process of disseminating
the findings.
23
 Qualitative Research

 Evaluate subjective life experiences and give

meaning to them

 Focuses on understanding phenomena from an

individual’s perspective

 Approaches: observation, in-depth interviews, case

studies, narrative analyses
24
Qualitative Process

1. Identify a research problem.

2. Do a literature review.
3. Select and gain entrée into research
sites.
4. Utilize a design that emerges as data is
collected. May be ethnographic,
phenomenological, grounded theory,
historical.

25
Qualitative Process (Continued)

5. Address ethical issues.

6. Collect the data.
7. Analyze the data.
8. Interpret the findings.
9. Communicate the findings.
10. Participate in the process of
disseminating the findings.

26
 The Research Language - Some Terminology

 Variable
 Data

 Rigor

 Control

 Sampling

 Setting

juliobahar, OCAL
27
Concept of a Variable

 Measurable characteristic that varies among

subjects
 Research is conducted because this variance
occurs!
 Types:
Independent – presumed cause
Example: Salt intake

Dependent – presumed effect

Example: Blood pressure reading

28
Variables

 Have 2 or more properties or qualities

 Age, sex, weight, height

 Is one variable related to another?

“ Is X related to Y? What is the effect of X on Y?” etc.

29
 Data

 Pieces of information obtained in a study

 Are the actual “values” of the study variables

Quantitative - numeric values

Qualitative - narrative descriptions

30
 Concept of RIGOR

 Striving for excellence in research. Involves:

Discipline

Adherence to detail
Strict accuracy!
Uses precise measurement tools

sarxos, OCAL
31
Concept of CONTROL

 Using “rules” to decrease error and increase probability

that study findings are an accurate reflection of reality

 Ensure results that reflect true relationship among

variables

 Reduction of the influence of unwanted “extraneous”

variables

 Example: A control group of test subjects left untreated or

unexposed to some procedure in order to provide a
standard of comparison to the experimental group.
32
 Concept of SAMPLING

 Who/what do you want to study?

 Choosing subjects who are “representative”

of the study population

 Random & Non-Random Sampling- when to

use?

josephluis, OCAL
33
 Concept of SETTING

 Location of the study - can affect results

 Natural Setting: Uncontrolled, real life situation

 Partially Controlled: Manipulated or modified in

some way
 Highly Controlled: Artificial environment for sole
purpose of doing research. Decreases effects of
outside influences.

34
 Some Myths About Research

 The purpose of research is to “prove” or “confirm”

a theory.

 Research findings are presented as complete and

conclusive answers.

 There is a hierarchy of research methodology that

places true “experimental” research at the top.

35
 Intro to the Research Process

 Involves decision making

What methods will help to answer a research
question/test a hypothesis?

 Is flexible - multiple possibilities, each with its own

strengths/weaknesses

 Is a circular process
JoBrad, OCAL
36
 The Research Process
 What do I want to know?
 Does anyone else know anything about this?
 I’ll make an educated guess about what I think the
answer to my question will be.
 Here’s what I’m going to do to try to answer my
question.

37
The Research Process

 I’ll try to make sense out of all this info I’ve

collected.
 What did I find? Was my hunch supported?
 What do I want to know now???

38
Major Phases in the Research Process
 1. Selecting and defining the problem in need of
investigation

 2. Selecting a research design

 3. Collecting data

 4. Analyzing data

 5. Utilizing the Findings

39
 Background

 Selecting and defining the problem (area of research)

 Identify a question or area where knowledge can be

advanced

 Review related literature for rationale to do study

 Identify a theoretical framework to guide the study.

 Propose a research question and/or hypothesis

40
Design, Variables and Sample

 Choose study or research design

 Identify a Study Population

 Design Sampling Plan

 Define how will variables be measured

Setting
How data will be collected - tools
 Pilot Study - Revisions

41
 Gathering the Data

 Data Collection - according to pre-established plan (implements

the plans designed in Phase I & II)
 recruiting
 obtaining consent
 training staff
 collecting data

 Organization of the data

 How do you analyze the data?
 (must be appropriate form)

 May be the longest phase of the research process

Anonymous, OCAL 42
 Analyze and Interpret

 Data Analysis

 Interpret findings

 Draw conclusions

 Hypothesis is supported or rejected (chap 10)

 How best to utilize findings?

 New question formulated? (can lead to new questions that

can stimulate further study)
43
 Dissemination

 Disseminate findings - Share findings with colleagues

May report findings in journal articles, oral

presentations, poster presentations

 Utilize findings - use in nursing practice

44
 Types of Research:
Basic Vs. Applied
 Basic or “Pure” Research:
Pursuit of knowledge or finding truth
Generates, refines or tests theory
Often uses laboratory setting
Findings may not be directly useful in practice
May be used later in development of
treatment/drug/theory

johnny_automatic, OCAL
45
 Basic Vs. Applied

 Applied or “Practical” Research

Knowledge intended to directly influence clinical
practice
Conducted in actual practice conditions
Solve problems, make decisions, predict/control
outcomes
Evaluate interventions
Test/validate theories
Evaluate “Basic” research knowledge for usefulness

46
 Experimental vs. non-experimental

 Experimental: Researcher  Non-experimental: Describes

manipulates or controls or looks at relationships(s) or
variable(s) and observes correlation between variables.
effect in other variable(s)
 Variables are not manipulated
 Evaluates cause and effect by the researcher
relationship
 Ex: Correlation between HRT
 Ex: Does a pre-op intervention use and breast CA
program to  self efficacy
affect self care measures
post-op?
47
Descriptive Research

 Uses questionnaires, surveys, interviews or observations to

collect data

48
Correlation Research

 Relationships between and among variables

 Collection of data on at least 2 variables for the same
group of individuals
 Calculator-the correlation between the measurer
 Highest number of research studies in nursing are
classified as description correlation design

49
 Time dimension:
Retrospective vs. Prospective
 Retrospective: Examines  Prospective: examines
data already collected in data being collected in the
the past present

 Ex: Review of medical  Ex: Study describing social

records to examine support and coping
previous history in of mechanisms of women with
cholesterol levels in s/p MI ovarian CA
patients

nicubunu, OCAL
50
 Time Dimension:
Cross-Sectional vs. Longitudinal
 Cross-sectional: Collects  Longitudinal: Studies
data at one point in examines variables of
time interest over a period of
time
 What exists today?  Advantages –ability to
collect data on the
same individual over
time

51