Basic steps in planning nursing research : from question to proposal / Pamela J. Brink, Marilynn J. Wood.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Brink, Pamela J.

Contributor:

Wood, Marilynn J.

Series:

Jones and Bartlett series in nursing

[The Jones and Bartlett series in nursing]

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Nursing--Research--Planning.

Nursing.

Nursing Research--methods.

Research Design.

Nursing--Research.

Medical Subjects:

Nursing Research--methods.

Research Design.

Physical Description:

xiv, 408 pages : illustrations ; 25 cm.

Edition:

Fifth edition.

Place of Publication:

Boston : Jones and Bartlett Publishers, [2001]

Contents:

1 How to Write a Researchable Question 1

Research Topics 2

What Is a Researchable Question? 5

Asking Research Questions 6

Examining Components of a Research Question 9

Levels of Questions 10

Rewriting Your Question 18

Be Interested in Your Idea 20

2 From Question to Problem 21

Finding the Level of Knowledge about a Topic 22

How to Search the Literature on Your Topic 28

Level of Theory and Level of Question 29

Developing the Research Problem from the Literature Review 32

Find Out What You Know 32

Ask Questions about the Theory 33

Look Up Interrelated Ideas 34

Convert Your Topic Outline to a Sentence Outline 35

Relate the Theory to the Question 36

Beginning with an Observation 36

Where do You Start Your Literature Search? 38

3 The Full and Final Research Problem 43

Elements of a Research Problem 44

Review of the Literature 44

The Rationale for Developing the Question 45

The Theoretical or Conceptual Framework 45

The Psychology of Argument 49

Strongest Argument Last 50

Substantiate What You Say 52

4 Critical Review of the Literature 55

Content of a Critique 57

What to Critique 57

How to Do a Critique 58

Guidelines for Critique of Published Research 65

Where Does the Critique Belong? 66

5 Stating the Purpose of the Study 69

Level I The Purpose Written as a Declarative Statement 70

Level II The Purpose Written as a Question 72

Level III The Purpose Written as a Hypothesis 75

Examining the Components of a Hypothesis 79

The Significance of the Statement of Purpose 80

Stating the Purpose of the Study: A Summary 80

6 Defining Your Terms 83

Types of Variables 87

Defining the Independent Variable 88

How Variables Are Measured 90

Nominal Scale 91

Ordinal Scale 91

Interval (and Ratio) Scale 92

Terms that Need Definition 96

Writing Operational Definitions: A Review 96

7 The Research Design: Blueprint for Action 99

Designing Your Study from the Question 100

Characteristics of Research Designs 101

The Setting for the Study 101

Timing of Data Collection 102

Sample Selection 103

Type of Data to Be Collected 104

Issues of Control 104

Descriptive Designs 105

Exploratory Descriptive Designs 105

Descriptive Survey Designs 110

Experimental Designs 114

Controlling Unwanted Influences 119

Extraneous Variables 119

Bias 124

The Hawthorne Effect 125

Time 126

Level of Study and Degree of Control 127

8 Selecting the Sample 131

Types of Samples 134

Probability Samples 136

Nonprobability Samples 140

Sample Size 143

Level of Study and Sample Selection 145

9 Selecting a Method to Answer the Question 149

Observation 150

Degree of Investigator Involvement 154

Degree of Structure 155

Timing of Observations 157

Type of Observation and Level of Study 157

Questionnaires and Interviews 158

Advantages and Disadvantages of Interviews and Questionnaires 159

Types of Questions 160

Degree of Structure in Questionnaires and Interviews 161

Setting Up Your Data Collection Instrument 163

Projective Tests 164

Level of Question and Degree of Structure 166

Designing the Questionnaire or Interview Guide 167

Available Data 168

Physiological Measures 169

10 Reliability and Validity of Measurement 173

Errors in Data Collection Procedures 174

Validity 178

Self-evident Measures 178

Pragmatic Measures 181

Construct Validity 182

Reliability 184

Tests of Stability 184

Tests of Equivalence 186

Tests of Internal Consistency 188

Reliability and Validity Issues in Field Research Using Participant Observation 189

Reliability and Validity in the Research Plan 193

11 Ethics in Nursing Research 199

Problems Involving Ethics 201

Coercion of Subjects to Participate 203

Withholding Benefits from Control Subjects 204

Invasion of Privacy 205

Informed Consent 206

Information 206

Understanding 207

Free Choice 207

Proxy Consents for Research 208

Balancing Potential Benefit against Actual Cost 208

Maintaining Anonymity and Confidentiality 210

Federal Guidelines on the Submission of Proposals for Review 211

Ethical Principles Underlying Protection of Human Subjects 212

12 Planning for Analysis of Data 217

Descriptive Analysis 218

Structured versus Unstructured Data 219

Content Analysis: Structuring Unstructured Data 220

Reliability and Validity in Content Analysis 222

Structured Data: Statistical Analysis 222

Inferential Analysis 229

Testing Hypotheses 230

Choosing a Statistical Test: What Does Your Hypothesis Ask? 232

Difference between Two Groups 233

Difference among Multiple Groups 234

Correlation between Variables 234

Estimation of Population Parameters from Sample Data 236

Be Sure You Can Answer Your Question 236

The Answer Is in the Question 237

13 Writing the Research Proposal 241

The Introductory Matter 243

Form of the Final Research Problem 243

The Introduction 244

The Body 244

The Rationale for your Research 246

The Conclusion 249

Statement of the Purpose of the Study 250

Definition of Terms 251

The Research Design 251

The Sample 252

Target Population 253

Sample Selection 253

Methods and Instruments 255

Reliability and Validity 255

Data Analysis 256

Protection of Human Subjects 256

Variations in the Proposal Format 258

Thesis or Dissertation 258

Grant Proposals 259

The Finished Proposal 261

Check Your References 262

Polishing the Draft 262

Appendix Sample Research Proposals 265

What Do Edmonton Seniors Say Are the Reasons for Including Herbal Supplements in Their Diet for the Maintenance of Their Health? / Brett Hodson 266

Value Orientations of the Copper Inuit / Nancy A. Edgecombe 282

Living in a Nursing Home with Multiple Sclerosis / Connie Winther 326

The Relationship Between Physical and/or Psychological Abuse and Health Status / Pamela Ratner 343

Umbilical Cord Care / Jennifer Medves 372

Maintaining Catheter Patency Using Recombinant Tissue Plasminogen Activator / Colleen M. Astle 382.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN:

0763715719

OCLC:

45461670