Foundations empirical knowing

Positivist paradigm

There is a reality that can be studied and known

• Uses scientific method, quantitative data

Constructivist paradigm

Naturalistic — Reality is a construction and there are multiple realities

• Qualitative

Relativism

Multiple interpretations of reality exist and there is no ultimate truth

Conceptual definition

Theoretical meaning of how a concept is defined

Ex: Concept of pain

Operational definiton

How the variable or concept will be measured during the study

Ex: Rating pain on a scale of 1-10

Beneficence

 do good, right to protection from exploitation

Respect for Human Dignity

Right to self determination, autonomy, full disclosure

Justice

Right to fair treatment and privacy

Descriptive theory

Describes a phenomenon, inductive, observation based

• Qualitative

Grand theory

Claims to explain large segments of human experience, broad scope

Middle-range theories

Attempt to explain phenomena, less abstract

Conceptual model

Abstractions/concepts that are assembled due to a common theme

Research problem

A perplexing condition that can be investigated through disciplined inquiry

Problem statement

The articulation of a dilemma or perplexing condition that needs investigation

Purpose statement

Summarizes the overall goals of the study and identifies key concepts or variables and population of interest.

Experimental research

Research actively introduces an intervention or treatment

Nonexperimental research

Collecting data without an intervention or treatment

• No control of the independent variable

Quasi-Experimental

Resting of an intervention with no randomization

Probably sampling

Sampling that involves a random selection

Nonprobability sampling

Sampling that does not involve random selection

Reliability

The extent to which a measurement is free from measurement error (consistency)

Validity

The degree to which inferences made in a study are accurate and well-founded (accuracy)

Statistically significant

The results from a sample of data are unlikely to have resulted from chance

Grounded theory research

(sociology)

Seeks to understand key social psychological processes that are grounded in reality

Phenomenological research

(psychological)

Focuses on the lived experiences of humans

Ethnographic research

(anthropology)

Focuses on the patterns and lifeways of a defined cultural group in a holistic way

Triangulation

Using multiple data sources/methods/theories to study a single phenomenon

Credibility

(most important)

Confidence in the truth value of the data and findings

Dependability

(reliability)

The stability of data over time

Confirmability

(objectivity)

The congruence between two or more independent people about data accuracy/relevance/meaning

Transferability

(generalizability)

Extent to which qualitative findings have applicability in other settings/groups

Authenticity

Extent to which researchers fairly and faithfully show a range of different realities and convery the feelings of participants

Iowa Model

Used for organizationns, puts together a team

John Hopkins model

Used for both organizations and individuals

Stetler model

Used for individual nurses

Problems focused triggers

Clinical practice problems that need a solution

Knowledge focused trigger

Come from reading in literature, more likely to be used in research utilization