Transcript nursing research complet

Introduction to research
methodology
By
Etienne Nsereko
Septemebre,2008
Unit one:
some definitions of research
• There is no one totally accurate definition of
research
• It may sometimes be defined as a process, a
means, or an end to a means itself.
• There is however some agreement that research
uses systematic data collection and
interpretation of such data to solve problems,
answer questions , develop products or improve
existing products:
Unit one:
some definitions of research
• Considering the following definitions of research
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• The systematic investigation into and study of
materials, sources, etc in order to establish facts
and reach new conclusions. An endeavor to
discover new or to collate old facts by the study
of a subject or by course of critical investigation
(Readers Digest oxford complete Worrdfinder
1993:1306)
Unit one:
some definitions of research
• An attempt to increase the sum of what is known
, usually referred to as a body of knowledge, by
the discovery of new facts or relationship
through a process of systematic scientific
inquiry, the research process (Macleod-clark&
Clark &Hockey 1989:4)
• Diligent systematic inquiry to validate and refine
old knowledge and generate new knowledge
(Burns&Grove 1993:16
Note the following in the definition
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Research increases knowledge
There is a method of research
Research is systematic
Research is a process
Research is a scientific process
Why nursing research and what is
nursing research
?
• Research conducted by nurses, and or
studies that have relevance to clients and
patients care will qualify to be nursing
research.
True nursing research researches are
those that are conducted for the
following reasons
• As clinicians: to ensure that our patients and
clients are receiving the best possible care
• As managers: to demonstrate that our services
are cost effective and efficient , or to find ways of
making such services to be cost effective and
efficient
• As educators: to ensure that we are educating
the next generation of health professionals
properly
Phases and steps of research
process
• Conceptualization
• Implementation
• dissemination
Conceptualization
• Identify the problem
• Determine the purpose of your study
• Search and review the literature relating to your
question
• Develop a framework
• Define and refine the research question
• Formulate a research hypothesis (es)
• Select a research methods and determine the
design of your study
• Consider possible ways to analyze the data
implementation
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Conduct a pilot study
Collect data
Analyze the data
Interpret the results
dissemination
• Communicate the research findings
(research report, publishing research
findings
Unit 2:Research problem
• A research problem is a problem of some sort
that will like to research . It can be stated as a
question or questions
• A research problem can also be defined as a
question that need an ensure through a
rigorous process of inquiry and observation;
• Or a situation in a need of a solution ,
improvement , or an alteration requiring a
process of systematic observation and judgment
Examples of started research
problems
• Does variation in the angle of holding the
syringe during the administration of IM
injection result in different amount of
injection site bleeding?
• What factors are associated with nonadherence to treatment among diabetic
patients?
Appropriateness of research
problem
• Significance of the study
• Researchability of the problem
• Feasibility of the study
Unit 3: research purpose
• Research purpose
• If you are going to conduct a study , it might be
pertinent to ask yourself about the purpose
• Are you conducting this study :
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To identify………?
To describe……..?
To explain………?
To predict…........?
To evaluate…….?
To develop……..?
To compare…….?
To investigate….?
To demonstrate..?
Evaluation of research question
• Feasibility:
(Possible to collect data to be able to answer the question. This includes
consideration of time, money , space , resources )
• Clarity:
(Most people will agree as to what the key terms sin the question mean)
• Significance :
Why is it important to answer this question? Will the answer contribute
important knowledge about human condition , improve practice , or of any
help to human beings? Can be used in decision making or programme
planning ?
• Ethicality :
Will not involve physical or psycological harm or damage to human beings or to
the natural or social environment which they are part
Unit 4: Relationship , variables &
hypotheses
• Independent variable:
Variables that the investigator chooses to study in order to
assess their possible effect on one more other variables.
A variable that influences other variable
• Dependant variable:
Variable that the independent variable affects
Students in the nursing department more stressed than the
students in social work department
hypotheses
• This is a statement of prediction regarding
the possible outcome of a study .
(or an anticipated response to a research question)
• Example:
student in the nursing department are more stressed
than the students in the social work department
independent and dependant variable have to be clearly
stated .
Unit 5: Literature review
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Familiar terms :
Concept
Construct
Proposition
Theory
Model
Framework
Paradigm
metaparadigm
theory
• The word theory derives from the Greek
“theoria”, which means vision .
• Theories are conceptual inventions of
reality that are used to describe , explain ,
predict, or understand phenomenon of
concern.
• A “good” theory then , provides a useful
vision or perspective of reality .
theory
• A good theory expand our vision and
guide our thinking, our practice, and our
research. (Virginia' nursing theory)
How is theory related to the
research process
• A theory , conceptual model (paradigm),
theoretical framework, or model serves to
provide parameters for the study , guides
data collection, and provides a perspective
for interpreting the data, enabling the
scientist to structure the facts into an
orderly system.
The language of a theory
• Concept
• Concepts are linguistic labels that we assign to
objects or events. Concepts are the building
blocks of theories and vary in the level of
abstraction.
Example of highly abstract concept: stress, pain,
wellness)
Less abstract or more concrete concepts are like,
blood loss, temperature elevation , weight and
height
concepts
• Concepts may have a theoretical or operational
definition
• In a theoretical definition , the concept is defined
in relation to other concepts
• the operational definition links the concepts to
the real world and identifies empirical referents
indicators) of the concept that permit observation
and measurement .
concepts
• Regardless of the level of abstraction , the
researcher needs to provide both
theoretical and operational definitions of
the concepts to link the theoretical
perspective with the research aims
Construct& proposition
• Constructs are group of concepts that are
directly or indirectly observable
• Propositions describe the relationship of two or
more concepts
• As you can see from the definitions, theory
development begins with the identification and
description of concepts and constructs and
proceeds to formulate propositions that describe
the nature of the relationships between these
concepts
Conceptual model and
paradigm
• A conceptual model refers to concepts that
provide a structure or pattern for organizing
phenomena of interest in practice or research.
kuhn(1970), a philosopher of science ,
popularized the term paradigm and used it to
mean a model or world view about the major
phenomenon of a concern to a discipline.
• Conceptual models or paradigms serve as
heuristic devices or springboards for developing
theories
theory
• What is a theory?
• It is a viewpoints or ways of perceiving reality.
Kerlinger(1973) provides a formal definition of
theory:" it is a set of interrelated constructs
(concepts), definitions and propositions that
present a systematic view of phenomena by
specifying relations among variables, with the
purpose of explaining and predicting the
phenomena” .
The Holarchy of Contemporary Nursing
Knowledge:
Metaparadigm of Nursing
• Human beings
• Environment
• Health
• Nursing
Purpose of literature search
• To determine what is already known about
the topic to be studied
• To obtain clues to the methodology and
instruments to be used
• To refine certain parts of the study
• to identify information that may compare
with new findings
• to inform or support the study
What to look for when searching
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Facts, statistics and research findings
Theory or interpretations
Methods and procedures
Opinions, believes or point of view
Research steps and literature
search
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Problem identification
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Plan the research
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What pitfall?
How do I go about doing this study?
Design, Data collection and analysis
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Is it a problem?
Is it already researched?
What were the methods used?
What were the findings?
Support for using a type of design
Correct data analysis method
Conclusions and recommendations
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Compare with previous findings
Identify audience for dissemination
Where to publish
Unit 6: locating a
conceptual/theoretical framework
• A theory or a theoretical framework could be
described as a well developed coherent
explanation for an event or a phenomenon
(ex: Orem self care theory, Kolb's learning cycle,
health belief model)
Reasons for specifying a conceptual or theoretical
framework:
To locate their research , ei., to signal where the
research is coming from
To test a theory , ie.,to assess the validity
Example of the use of a conceptual
framework
• Research purpose:
• To investigate the learning experience of
nursing students in the new curriculum at
the KHI nursing school
Theory (Kolb's theory)
Unit 7: methodology
• The methods used by the researcher to obtain
subjects, collects the data , analyze the data and
interpret the results.
• These include:
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The research design
Sampling strategy
Instrumentation
Procedure for data collection
Data analysis techniques
Interpretation of the results
2 broad approaches to conducting
researches.
• Quantitative
• Qualitative research
Quantitative /qualitative
research
• Reality is objective
and singular
• Researcher is
independent from that
being researched
• Deductive process
• Reality is subjective
and multiple
• Researcher interacts
with that being
researched
• Inductive process
Research design
• This can be defined as overall plan for
gathering data in a research study . It
allows for logical steps to be taken in order
to enable the researcher answer the
research question .
Research design
• Before choosing a research design , it may be
helpful to ask yourself the following questions:
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What is the purpose of this study?
What data do I want? Qualitative or quantitative ?
What instrument will I use to collect this data?
Who will supply this data , or where can I get this data
from?
– How will this data (be used to ) answer the research
question ? Are you comparing , or just making a
simple description?
Quantitative research
Experiments and quasi-experiments
and non-experiments research
• Experiments and quasi-experiments
• Non-experiments research
• Other types of research
Experiments and quasiexperiments
• Characteristics of true experiments
research:
• Manipulation
• Control
• Randomization
Characteristics of quasiexperiment research
• Look very much with experiment research
design however the missing ingredient is
always either the randomization or control
group component (or both)
Non experimental research
• Descriptive
To obtain complete and accurate information about a
phenomenon through observation, description and
classification
Type of the question:
How prevalent is the phenomenon?
What are the characteristics?
What is the process by which the phenomenon is
experienced?
Non experimental research
• Exploratory
Purpose: to explore the dimensions of a phenomenon,
the manner in which it is manifested and the other
factors with which it is related( it provides more insight
about the nature of a phenomenon)
Type of the question:
What is the nature of the phenomenon?
What factors are related to the phenomenon?
Non experimental research
• Explanatory
• Purpose: to explain a phenomenon and to
answer the question ‘why’ it occurs.
• Question: what is the underlying cause?
What does the occurrence of the phenomenon mean?
Unit 8:population and sample
• Population:
Is the entire aggregation of cases that
meets a designated set of criteria.
Target population:
Is the entire specified aggregate of cases
about which the researcher would like to
make generalizations
Samples and sampling
• Sampling refers to the process of selecting
a portion of the population to represent the
entire population.
• In sampling terminology , the units that
make up the samples and population are
usually referred to as elements. the
element is the most basic unit about which
information is collected.
Samples and sampling
• The overriding consideration in assessing
a sample is its representativeness.
• A representative sample is one whose key
characteristics closely approximate those
of the population.
Sampling plan