1. Research Methods in Nursing

2. Examining History
1600’s is the age of reasoning; finding reason and experimenting what is observed.
Isaac Newton is a pioneer in the use of scientific method as a way of thinking.
Until 1960’s recognition the need for scientific derived body of knowledge
Form classical methods (problem solving) to research
From nursing process (problem solving technique) to nursing research)

3. Science vs. scientific methods
Science: studying any subject
Scientific methods: using an orderly systematic way of thinking about solving problems
Pure science: summarize the universe and may be not used immediately
Applied science: using knowledge in practice

4. Inductive vs. Deductive
Inductive : from particular to generalization
Deductive : from general to specific, the conclusion are valid not true
NO ONE ALONE IS ENOUGH, BOTH ARE A COMPLEMENTARY PARTS.

5. What is nursing research
Generally, research is a systematic inquiry that use orderly, disciplined methods to answer questions.
Nursing research is a systematic search for the validation of knowledge about issues of importance to the nursing profession

6. Systematic: a logically progression through a series of steps according to a specified plan
Control: imposing conditions.
Mainly in scientific approach and NOT nursing research, the investigator used an empirical evidence (evidence that is rooted in objective reality and gathered using humane senses)

7. Scientific approach of knowledge is a set of orderly, systematic and controlled procedures to acquire information
Scientific research is the application of the scientific approach

8. Importance of nursing research:
Solid foundation
Develop, refine, extend the base of nursing knowledge
Define the parameters of nursing
Evaluation of nursing interventions
Important to understand the nursing dimensions.

9. Limitation of nursing research
Health care settings are not comparable to laboratories
Human experiences are far form experimentations and examinations
Scientific approach is objective and does not accept subjective information e.g. human perceptions and meanings
Ethical issues make scientific method Impractical

10. Source of nursing knowledge
Traditions
Authority
Experience
Logical reasoning (inductive vs. deductive)
Disciplined research (borrowed research)

11. Purpose of Research IDENTIFICATION DESCRPITION EXPOLRATION EXPLANATION
PREDICTION & CONTROL

12. Examples Identification
What is cultural competence form nurses’ perspective?
Description
What is characteristics cigarette smokers at the school of nursing?

13. Examples
Exploration
What are the factors that affect application of nursing care plan at the Jordanian hospitals?
Explanation
What is the relationship between increasing in blood pressure and brain embolism?

14. Examples
Prediction
Is the number of upper respiratory tract infection cases among newborns on ventilators affected if we increased the number of suctioning using normal saline per shift?

15. Methods of Research QUANTITATIVE QUALITATIVE
Associated with positivism
Use a scientific approach
Mainly to understand the phenomenon of interest
QUALITATIVE
Mainly to understand the human experience
Flexible
Rich and in-depth information

16. Research Terms Study Subjects
Researcher (investigator, principal investigator)
Addressing a problem
Study participants (respondents &/or informants
A person who conduct the study

17. Research Terms Phenomenon/ concept
An abstraction based on observation and chch. of certain behavior
e.g. cope, stress, laziness, addiction, abuse, rejection, resistance, democracy, bureaucracy, death, life, sadness, happiness
Its concept in quant, and phenomenon or topic in qual. studies

18. Research Terms Construct
Abstract or mental representation inferred from situation
Invented or constructed by the researcher for the purpose of his research
e.g., self-care, goal attainment, drug abuse, self management, racial discrimination, blood pressure, child abuse.

19. Research Terms Theoretical vs. Conceptual
Theory: is a systematic abstract explanation of the relationship between the concepts
Conceptual model
(also conceptual framework, conceptual scheme)
Less formal attempt at organizing phenomenon than theory.

20. Research Terms Theoretical vs. Conceptual
both use concepts as building blocks, and used to generate hypothesis
Conceptual models lack the deductive system of propositions that asserts the relationship between the concepts
Conceptual model is not directly testable by the researcher
Conceptual models represent the perspective of the designers.

21. Research Terms Variables Anything vary (take different values)
e.g., weight, blood pressure, Ht, age
Continuous, discrete and categorical
Active vs. attribute
Dependent vs. independent (effect-cause)

22. Examples Dependent vs. Independent
What is the effect of number of cigarette smoked and the incident of lung cancer among third and 4th year nursing school students
Dependent: incident of lung cancer
Independent: number of cigarette

23. Examples
Is there a relationship between the level of education and the of hours of exercise per week
Dependent: level of education
Independent: Number of hours of exercise per week

24. Examples
Which is more affected by the number of working hours per shift in the ICU, turn over rate or number of incident reports.
Independent: number of working hours
Dependent/s: numbers of incident reports and turn over rate

25. Research Terms Heterogeneity vs. homogeneity Operational definitions
Data (quantitative, qualitative)
Relationships: a connection or bond between phenomena or concepts