INTRODUCTION TO RESEARCH

Melita Alva,

Senior Trainer, ONI

RN, MSN, MPhi l (N).

15-Sep-15

OVERVIEW

By the end of this class session the students will be able to:

1. Define research.

2. Describe nursing research and its methodologies.

3. Describe the significance of nursing research.

4. State the steps of the research process.

15-Sep-15

NURSING RESEARCH

Research – “to search again” or “examine carefully”

15-Sep-15

NURSING RESEARCH

Research is diligent or systematic assessment, validation and refinement of the existingknowledge to generate new knowledge (Burns & Grove, 2005).

Planned, organized and persistent.

15-Sep-15

Research Process

A series of action and functions implemented to carry out a research. 2

3

1

15-Sep-15

NURSING – the protection, promotion and optimization of health and abilities, prevention of illness and injury, alleviation of suffering through the diagnosis and treatment of human response, and advocacy in the care of the individuals, families, communities and populations.(ANA 2003)

Re-Cap….Definition of Health

15-Sep-15

Nursing Research

Focused on understanding human needs, prevent illness, promote health and manage diseases.

Focus on nursing education, nursing administration, nursing roles and clinical situations.

To improve nursing practice.

15-Sep-15

Nursing Research

Definition:

A scientific process that validates and refines existing knowledge and generates new knowledge that directly and indirectly influences nursing practice‖ (Burns & Grove, 2005)

15-Sep-15

NURSING RESEARCH METHODOLOGIES

Quantitative

Qualitative

Outcome research

Intervention research

15-Sep-15

NURSING RESEARCH METHODOLOGIES

Quantitative Research Qualitative Research

Definition A formal, objective, systematic process for obtaining information about the world.

A systematic subjective approach used to describe life experiences and give them meaning.

Data “numbers” “words”

15-Sep-15

Cont…Outcome research – evaluates the care given and measures the change in patient’s health.

Intervention research – evaluates effectiveness of a nursing intervention in achieving the desired outcome.

15-Sep-15

SIGNIFICANCE OF NURSING RESEARCHGoal – promote health, prevent illness & improve nursing practice.

– important for nurses to provide ◦ high quality, ◦ advanced & ◦ cost effective care

Individuals, families & communities.

15-Sep-15

Significance of Nursing Research

1. Description

2.Explanation

3.Prediction

4. Control

15-Sep-15

1. Description. This includes understanding a phenomenon or the relationship between phenomena.

Describe situations/ events

Enhance understanding of situations and

Classify the information for making them useable in practice.

Used as basis for explanation, prediction and control research.

Significance of Nursing Research

15-Sep-15

Significance of Nursing Research

2.) Explanation – explains the relationships among phenomena and the etiology of why an event occurred.

Useful as a basis for control and prediction research.

15-Sep-15

Cont…3.) Prediction – one can estimate the likely hood of an outcome in a specific situation.

Example: effects of position and mattress type on skin pressure of persons lying in bed.

15-Sep-15

4.) Control – achieved by manipulating the situation or controlling it in order to produce an outcome.

Example : use of nursing intervention to increase the use of hearing protection devices by factory workers

15-Sep-15

STEPS IN RESEARCH PROCESS

15-Sep-15

STEPS IN RESEARCH PROCESS

Process –

Follow from the beginning to the end in a fairly logical progression.

Meeting the specified purpose.

Each steps builds on the one preceding it.

15-Sep-15

STEPS IN RESEARCH PROCESSStep

1 Formulate a Research Problem

2 Develop Research Purpose

3 Review Relevant Literature

4 Develop a Frame Of Reference

5 Select a Research Design

6 Define the Population and Sampling

7 Define Research Variables

8 Obtain Informed Consent

9 Conduct Pilot Study

10 Collect Data

11 Analyze Data

12 Interpret Findings

13 Communication of Research Findings

15-Sep-15

1) FORMULATE A RESEARCH PROBLEM

A question or statement that describes the focus of a study.

general area of personal interest the researcher wishes to study.

15-Sep-15

-Developed from the problem

-Clarifies and focuses the research

-Population, setting and major variables to be studied are identified

2)DEVELOP RESEARCH PURPOSE

15-Sep-15

3) REVIEW OF RELEVANT LITERATURE

- To determine the knowledge that currently exists concerning a selected problem.

- Relevant theories and studies.

15-Sep-15

4) DEVELOP A FRAME OF REFERENCE

- A theory or set of concepts that are used to give meaning to the study.

- The structure within which a study is developed and links all components of a study together.

- Theoretical or conceptual

15-Sep-15

5) SELECT RESEARCH DESIGN

It provides guidelines for investigating specific research objectives, question or hypothesis.

It directs the selection of population, a sampling procedure and a plan for data collection and analysis.

15-Sep-15

6) DEFINE POPULATION & SAMPLING

Population – all elements (individuals, objects or substances) meeting certain criteria for inclusion in the study.

Eg; All patients with abdominal surgery(individuals),

all types of thermometers (objects),

all types of creams used in burns(substances)

15-Sep-15

6) DEFINE POPULATION & SAMPLING

Sample – a subset (small group) of the population that is selected for a particular investigation;

Representative of the population.

15-Sep-15

7) DEFINE RESEARCH VARIABLES

Concepts to be investigated in a study are research variables.

Research variables: Characteristics, Properties or attributes of persons events or objects that are examined in a study.

15-Sep-15

8) OBTAIN INFORMED CONSENT

Agreement of the human subjects to participate in the research and the approval of the institution where the study will be carried out.

Subjects are asked to sign a consent form,

Promises the subjects confidentiality

Indicates that the subject can withdraw at any time.

15-Sep-15

9) CONDUCT PILOT STUDY

Smaller version of a proposed study.

It should be as similar to the proposed study as possible(subjects, setting and data collection and analysis techniques).

Purpose:

To determine what problems might occur in the proposed study.

15-Sep-15

10) COLLECT DATA

Precise, systematic gathering of information relevant to the research problem.

Methods of data collection:

Self-report: Interviews, Questionnaires

Observation

Measurement: Research tools or instruments.

15-Sep-15

11) ANALYZE DATA

To reduce and organize the data to produce findings

Interpreted by the researcher.

May involve simple descriptive procedures or sophisticated mathematical computations.

Maybe performed by computer: Requires extensive knowledge and skills.

15-Sep-15

12) INTERPRET FINDINGS

Interpreted in terms of the research problems, research design and the study framework.

Drawing conclusions from the findings and making recommendations for changes in practice or for further research.

15-Sep-15

13) COMMUNICATION OF RESEARCH FINDINGS

Dissemination of study findings to appropriate populations through Conferences and Journals.

15-Sep-15

15-Sep-15