TRENDS AND ISSUES IN NURSING TRENDS AND ISSUES IN NURSINGNUR487 Overview of research process I. Basic Research Terminology Dr. Nazik Zakari Dr. Hanan A. Ezzat Dr. Olfat Salem Nursing Administration & Education Dept.

HOW TO DEFINE ??? Concept:Concept: "A general idea referring to a behavior or characteristic of an individual, group, or nation". For example, pain, patient care, coping, happiness, cleanliness, dignity…etc.

HOW TO DEFINE ??? Construct: "A concept specified in such a way that it is observable in the real world, in order to facilitate testing of the idea". For example, position, in real world has many different meanings in gynecology, in surgery and in management.

Example of the relationship between "concept" and "construct": Weight a concept. Weight By electronic scale. In the morning. Before breakfast. Without clothes. a construct

HOW TO DEFINE ??? Variable: "A concept that is observable, measurable, and has a dimension that can vary". For example, temperature is a variable that is observable, measurable, and varies from high to low.

HOW TO DEFINE ??? Conceptual definition: "The definition or description of the study variables that is drawn from the theoretical or conceptual framework".

HOW TO DEFINE ??? Operational definition: "The definition or description of a study variable that specifies how it will be observed and measured in the study."

HOW TO DEFINE ??? Assumption: "A statement of principles whose correctness has not been proven, but is taken for granted on the basis of logical reasoning". "health is a priority for all people"

HOW TO DEFINE ??? Hypothesis: "A statement of predicted or expected relationships between the variables of the research (dep. & indep. variables)". empirical studies Hypothesis lead to empirical studies that are seeking to confirm or disconfirm these predictions.

HOW TO DEFINE ??? Data: "Pieces of information that are collected as they pertain to the study".

HOW TO DEFINE ??? Limitations: "Weaknesses in a research“ Uncontrolled extraneous variables Uncontrolled extraneous variables, that limit the generalizability of the findings.

HOW TO DEFINE ??? Pilot study: "A small scale trial done in preparation of a major research".

HOW TO DEFINE ??? Validity: “Degree or extent to which the tool or instrument measures what it is supposed to measure". For example, a ruler measures the height not the weight, while the scale measures the weight not the height.

HOW TO DEFINE ??? Reliability: “Degree or extent of consistency or dependability with which a study tool measures the variable over time, by different persons".

HOW TO DEFINE ??? Population: “Group of people who are going to be studied, and to whom should the study result apply". For example, bed-side nurses are the population in a research studying the factors affecting the nurse's workload.

HOW TO DEFINE ??? Sample: "Are those persons – in the population- from whom data will be actually collected, and from whom generalizations about the population will be made".

Any Questions ???

Types of Variables 1. Dichotomous variables.Dichotomous variables. 2.Attribute variable.Attribute variable. 3.Active variables.Active variables. 4.Dependent and independent variables.Dependent and independent variables 5.Extraneous variableExtraneous variable

Types of Variables 1. Dichotomous variables. Variables that vary in only two values. For example: Male Vs female. Alive Vs dead. Day Vs night.

Types of Variables 2. Attribute variable: observesmeasures A pre-existing characteristic or attribute such as age, sex …etc. which the researcher simply observes and measures.

Types of Variables 3. Active variables do not pre-exist create Variables that do not pre-exist, so, the researcher has to create them. For example: variable varies among individuals If the researcher is testing the effectiveness of 4 drugs on blood pressure, here, all the four drugs are considered a variable that varies among individuals. Where different ones are taking different drugs: a, b, c or d.

Types of Variables 4. Dependent and independent variables Independent variable: cause or influenceIndependent variable: “Variable that is believed to cause or influence the dependent variable". influenced byDependent variable: “Variable that is influenced by the independent variable".

Example of Dependent/Independent Variables DoesSmokingCause Lung cancer ? Does Nursing care Cause Rapid recovery ? Does Drug (a) Cause Improvement ? CauseEffect Independent variable Dependent variable

Types of Variables 5. Extraneous variable confound needs to be controlled. Variable that confound the relationship between the dependent and independent variables, thus it needs to be controlled. E.g., "air pollution" is an extraneous variable interferes with studying the relationship between smoking "independent variable" and lung cancer "dependent variable". E.g., "air pollution" is an extraneous variable interferes with studying the relationship between smoking "independent variable" and lung cancer "dependent variable".