Nursing Research — Key Concepts and Processes (Video Notes)

A set of practice flashcards covering the key concepts, definitions, and processes from the Nursing Research lecture notes.

What is Nursing Research?

Systematic and rigorous investigation aimed at generating new knowledge, improving existing practices, and enhancing the quality of patient care in nursing.

What are the goals of Nursing Research?

1) prevent disease and disability; 2) eliminate pain and symptoms; 3) enhance palliative and end-of-life care.

Why is Nursing Research important?

It influences current and future professional nursing practice and education; nurses work in diverse settings and must use evidence-based practices.

What is the primary goal of a professional nurse?

To be the client's advocate and provide optimal care based on evidence obtained through research.

List the settings where nurses work as noted in the lecture.

Hospital, classroom, community health department, business sector, home health care, and the laboratory.

What is the significance of Nursing Research in education?

Nursing education should center on up-to-date, evidence-based practices identified by nurse researchers.

Name one characteristic of Research (data sources)

Involves gathering new and existing data from new sources or first-hand information.

Name another characteristic of Research (purpose)

Directed toward a solution of a problem.

Name another characteristic of Research (analysis)

It is analytical.

Name another characteristic (generalizations/Theories)

Emphasizes development of generalizations, principles and theories that may predict future events.

Name another characteristic (expertise)

Requires expertise.

Name another characteristic (empirical)

It is empirical.

Name another characteristic (logical)

Strives to be logical.

Name another characteristic (honest)

It is honest.

Name another characteristic (replication)

It can be replicated.

Name another characteristic (innovation)

Requires innovative approaches.

Name another characteristic (recording)

It is carefully recorded and reported.

What are the major steps in the Research Process?

1) Formulation of the Problem; 2) Formulation of the Hypothesis; 3) Determining the Research Design; 4) Selection and development of tools/techniques; 5) Development of data analysis plan; 6) Data collection; 7) Organization and processing of data; 8) Analysis and interpretation of data; 9) Formulation of conclusions and recommendations; 10) Writing the research report.

What should guide the selection of a research topic?

A topic should be chosen from sources like prevailing theories, observations, interest areas, community needs, and existing problems.

What are some sources of Nursing Research topics?

Prevailing theories/philosophy; observations/intuitions; problems in classroom/campus; fields of interest; community needs; related literature; funding authorities' advice; conversations.

What criteria should guide selecting a Nursing Research topic?

New or original; significant to field; arouses curiosity; researcher's interest; modest scope; clear and specific; data availability; usable instruments; financial and time feasibility.

What elements should a Nursing Research title contain?

Subject matter; setting/locale; respondents/participants; time period; if needed, omit timeframe; and it should be concise and broad enough to cover the study.

How should a multi-line title be formatted?

Inverted pyramid format.

How should words in a title be formatted when typed in the title page?

All words in the title should be in capital letters.

What are features of a good title?

Gives information about contents; is brief and uses a phrase rather than a full sentence; straightforward; no end punctuation; italics for formatting.

What is the background of the study?

The section that situates the research in its academic field, introduces important facets, context, and history related to the topic.

What is a research gap?

An issue not yet fully addressed by previous studies, showing the current state of the field and justifying the present study.

What are the components of a research gap?

Current state of the field; current/conventional practices; the gap; how the present study contributes to filling the gap.

What is the contribution of the present study in addressing the research gap?

How the study fills the gap, possibly via new methodology, new perspectives, or theory.

What are General Research Questions?

Derived from the main problem and should include elements related to effects or relationships; avoid starting with who/when/where.

What are Specific Research Questions?

Anchored on the general question; include significant variables and subject; help in data collection and analysis.

What are the three types of Quantitative Research Questions?

Descriptive (about kind and categories), Relational (about relationships), Causal (about cause/effect).

What is the Deductive approach in quantitative research?

Starts from larger ideas/theories and moves to smaller ideas; uses hypotheses/predictions; defines variables by operational definitions.

What is the Inductive approach in qualitative studies?

Starts from smaller, simple ideas to bigger ones; focuses on description to prove a concept; builds from specific details.

What is the Background of the Study example mentioned?

An example: a study on the effects of traffic in Bacolod City, discussing changes over time and factors influencing traffic.

What is the purpose of identifying data gaps in research?

To justify the study by showing what is not yet addressed and how the current study will contribute.

What is the difference between general and specific research questions?

General questions derive from the main problem; specific questions are supported by the general question and focus on variables.