The Research Process Assistant Professor Dr. Ali K. Al-Mesrawi

 Evidence Based Practice (EBP) is closely linked to the Research Process  The Research Process is closely linked to the Nursing Process

Phase 1 - Conceptual Phase Formulating the problem Reviewing the related research Literature Defining the framework and developing conceptual definitions Formulating hypothesis/research questions

Phase 2: Design & Planning Selecting Research Design Develop protocol (if Intervention) Identify population to be studied Design Sampling Plan Specify methods to measure variable Develop methods to protect human subjects

Phase 3: Empirical Phase Collecting Data Preparing for data analysis

Phase 4: Analytic Phase Analyzing the data Interpreting the data

Phase 5: Dissemination Phase Communicating the findings Utilizing research as Evidence

 Phase 1 of the Research Process  You have decided on a research problem that needs solving.  A research problem is:  An area of concern where there is a gap in knowledge base needed for nursing practice (Burns & Gove, 2009)  Remember not all problems are researchable - Research deals with facts – that is, phenomena that can be observed in the real world. The answers from the research should explain, describe, identify, substantiate اثبات, predict or qualify the research question

 You have decided on a research problem that needs solving  Through the development of an argument, a problem statement will be developed that will articulate توضيح the problem  A statement of purpose (summary of overall goal) is sometimes presented  Research questions are posed (queries to be answered)  Hypotheses are stated for testing

 Presented early in the report  It is the push/impetus for the research study

 Expresses the bafflingالحيرة & unsolved situation that needs to be studied  It incorporates تتضمن a rationale for the study  It is a well structured formulation of the unsolved problem

Problem Statement 6 components 1.Problem identification (What is wrong with the current situation) 2.Background (what is the nature of the problem that readers need to understand) 3.Scope of the problem (How big is the problem; # of persons affected) 4.Consequences of the problem (what is the cost of not fixing it) 5.Knowledge gaps (what information is lacking) 6.Proposed solution (how will this new study contribute to solving the problem)

 Effective problem statement answer the question “Why does the research need to be conducted”.  Examples

Statements of objective  The research goal is often written as a statement of objectiveIt is usually easy to identify because the word “objective” is clearly stated- “the objective of this study was ….”  gives the general direction of the study which is stated in 1-2 sentences

Statement of Purpose – cont Quantitative studies – it will  identify the key study variables  their possible relations;  the population

Statement of Purpose – cont..  Example Handwashing helps to prevent the spread of nosocomial infections.  Is the use of soap and water or alcohol-based rubs more effective in preventing these infections?  Identify the independent, dependent variables and the population  State the purpose of the study

Statement of Purposee  Hip fracture is common in elderly patients after falling.  I have an elderly patient who exhibits an unsteady gait.  Would a hip protector be a useful preventative measure for this patient?  Identify the independent, dependent variables and the population

Statement of Purpose – cont Qualitative studies –  indicates the nature of the inquiry الاستفسار  the key concept or phenomenon,  the group, community or setting under study  Example: The purpose of this study was to describe satisfactory and unsatisfactory experiences of postpartum nursing care from the perspective of adolescent mothers.

Statement of Purpose – cont..  Can often tell the type of study used to solve the problem  Explore, Describe, Test  Evaluate, Examine relationship  Understand etc.

Research Question  Sometimes direct wording of the statement of purpose  Eg The purpose of this study was to describe the relationship between sexual risk taking behaviors and substance use among pregnant adolescents at the Primary Health Care Centers in Kerbala City

Research questions Cont.. Quantitative studies – it will identify  the key study variables  their possible relations;  the population  the variables are measureable concepts  questions suggest quantification

Hypotheses  Is a statement predicting the relationship of two or more variables  Used in quantitative studies  Predict answers to a question, eg  The research question “What is the relationship between sexual risk-taking and substance abuse among teenage mothers in Jamaica  Teenage mothers who are substances abusers are more likely to high levels of sexual risk-taking behavior

 Knowledge and diabetes management  Does Knowledge of persons with diabetes  Does the level of knowledge of DM influence self care management among persons with diabetes

Hypotheses cont…  Testable hypotheses  State the expected relationship between the independent variable and the dependent variable in a population  Adolescents and young mothers who do not take sexual risks and are substances abusers are more likely to be knowledgeable about AIDS, compared to those who take risks…  It is tested thru statistical procedures

Hypotheses - Types Wording - Should be worded in the present tense Types  Simple or complex hypotheses  Directional or non-directional hypotheses  Research or Null hypotheses

Hypotheses – Types Cont…  Simple or complex hypotheses  SIMPLE HYPOTHESIS – predicts the relationship between a single IV and a single DV  COMPLEX HYPOTHSIS – predicts the relationship between 2 or more IV or 2 or more DV

Hypotheses – Types Cont…  DIRECTIONAL HYPOTHESIS – specifies not only the existence but the expected direction of the relationship between the variables  NON DIRECTIONAL HYPOTHESIS -  Does not say the direction of the relationship  Example in next slide

Hypotheses – Types Cont…  DIRECTIONAL HYPOTHESIS – eg: incontinent patients who receive Two-hourly change in position are less likely to develop decubitus ulcers compared to those receiving daily position change  NON DIRECTIONAL HYPOTHESIS eg: Frequency of change in position of incontinent patients is related to the development of decubitus ulcers

 RESEARCH HYPOTHESIS (scientific hypothesis)– states the actual prediction of relationship between variables  NULL HYPOTHESIS (statistical hypothesis) - expresses the absence of a relationship eg. Next slide

 NULL HYPOTHESIS (statistical hypothesis) - EG Null: - incontinent patients who receive two-hourly change in position are just as likely to develop decubitus ulcers as those receiving 4-hourly position change  RESEARCH HYPOTHESIS (scientific hypotheses) eg  incontinent patients who receive two-hourly change in position are less likely to develop decubitus ulcers compared to those receiving daily position change  Frequency of change in position of incontinent patients is related to the development of decubitus ulcers

Hypothesis testing  Hypotheses are tested through statistical analysis  Hypotheses are never proved, they are not like theory, they are accepted or refused  They are increasingly supported with more evidence

Questions??

References 1.Polit, D., & Beck, C.T. (2010). Essentials of nursing research –Appraising evidence for Nursing practice. Philadelphia: Lippincott, Williams and Wilkins. 2.Gerrish, K., & Lacey, A. (2010). The research process in nursing. United Kingdom: Wiley-Blackwell. 3.Polit, D., & Beck, C.T. (2012). Nursing research: Generating and assessing evidence for Nursing practice. Philadelphia: Lippincott, Williams and Wilkins.