Nursing Research Terms

Evidence-Based Practice

Integrates research with clinical expertise, patient values, and the need to deliver high quality, cost-effective care.

Research Utilization

Using research-generated knowledge to change and impact the existing practices.

Inductive Reasoning

Reason from specific to general. Particular instances observed, then combined into larger groups.

Deductive Reasoning

Reason from general to specific.

***Positivism

Basis of #quantitative# research. Based on positive facts and science rather than speculation.

Assumption

Basic statement taken for granted, assumed to be true without the need for scientific proof. Often unrecognized in thinking and behavior, and uncovering these requires a strong knowledge base. Sourced from universally accepted truths. (Ex: Health is a priority for most people).

Positivist Paradigm

Basis of #quantitative# research, only interested in what drug controls cancer, not interested in why or what drug is better.

Naturalistic Paradigm

Basis of qualitative research, there are multiple realities, the meaning of cancer and treatments are different with age, gender, etc.

Quantitative Research

Formal, objective, systematic process in which numerical data is used to obtain information about the world. Assign items to categories that represent characteristics. Operates on (positivism) strict rules of logic, truth, laws and predictions. Truth is absolute and a single reality can be defined by careful measurement. Objective and without values, feelings, or perceptions.

Qualitative Research

Describes life experiences and situations to give them meaning. Questions lived experiences and the essence of natural settings. Understanding the unique, dynamic, holistic nature of human beings. Believe that truth is complex and can only be found by studying people as they interact in social settings. (Ex: hope, pain). (Phenomenology - descriptive & interpretive, Grounded Theory, Historical, Ethnography)

Scientific Method

Approach to research using all past and present scientific procedures to purse knowledge. (Ex: quantitative research, qualitative research, outcomes research, and triangulation).

Empirical Evidence

Knowledge based on the data from research.

Generalizability

Findings from a study of a larger population, beyond the study sample. Indicate weather the findings fit in other context. (Ex: Results only relevant for people with leukemia).

Systematic Review

A structured synthesis of #quantitative# studies to determine the best research evidence. Purpose to conduct research from numerous high quality studies. Find all studies about the topic, two members independently access them and present a balanced summary for the "state of the science."

Meta-analysis

Statistical evidence of #quantitative# data. Pools together all results from previous studies into single #quantitative# analysis that provides the highest level of evidence. Synthesizes results, summarizes data for estimate of impact to bring together all studies that are similar.

Meta-synthesis

Integrates qualitative research findings on a topic based on comparative analysis and interpretive analysis. (Not statistics). Provides a novel description of an event versus a summary review.

Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ)

Federal agency involved in funding healthcare research to enhance quality, appropriateness, and effectiveness of healthcare services. Develops evidence reports and sponsors for guidelines.

Concept

Image of abstract idea, object or phenomenon. A representation that provides separate identity or meaning. (Ex: Pain is a concept, the basic element of a theory).

Construct

A concept with a general meaning. (Ex: Pain is a psychological response).

Phenomena

An occurrence that is observed, impresses the observer as extraordinary, or appears to be constructed by the mind. Description of experience as it is lived through, before conceptualized.

Theory

Set of defined concepts and statements that view the phenomena and can be used to describe, explain, predict and control the phenomena.

Variable

More specific than a concept. Defines a term so that it is measurable and suggests that numerical values of a term may vary. Characteristics of things that are then manipulated and measured in research.

Independent Variable

Activity that is manipulated by researcher to cause an affect on the dependent variable. Also called "treatment" or "experimental" variable. (Ex: Educate on post-op pain before or after procedure).

Dependent Variable

Outcome or response that the researcher predicted. If changed, said to be because of the independent variable. (Ex: Pain score on scale of 0-10 for post-op pain).

Confounding/Extraneous Variable

Interfere with obtaining a clear understanding of the dynamics. Exists in all studies, effects the measures of study and relationships. Most are not recognized until the study is in process or are recognized before, but cannot be controlled.

Conceptual Definition

Definition that provides concepts with meaning. (Ex: Fireplace may have a sense of comfort and hospitatlity). Rather than the dictionary definition. Allows more direction to identify variables to examine the concepts in a study.

Operational Definition

Describe how variables will be measured/manipulated in the study.

Data

Information collected during the study.

Inference

A conclusion based on evidence. Decision theory rules increase the probability that it is accurate. Generalization from specific case to general truth, from part to whole, from general to abstract, or from known to unknown.

Reliability

Extent to which an instrument "consistently" measures a concept.

Validity

Extent to which an instrument "accurately" reflects the concept.

Bias

Influence in study that distorts the findings from the truth.

Triangulation

Use of more than two theories/methods/data/sources in the study.

Hypothesis

Formal statement of expected relationship between variables. Translates the research problem and purpose into a clear explanation or prediction of the expected results.

Null Hypothesis

Hypothesis used for statistical testing and interpreting outcomes. Tests the validity of the hypothesis scientifically. It is the converse of the research hypothesis and even if not stated, it is implied.

Research Problem

Area of concern in which there is a gap of knowledge needed for practice. Conduct research to address the concern.

Research Purpose

Clear statement of specific "goal" of the study generated from the problem.

Research Question

Statement developed to direct a study, describe variables, and examine relationships. Guides the implementation of #quantitative# studies.

Primary Source

Author originated. Responsible for generating ideas.

Secondary Source

Author summarizes and quotes from the primary source.

Theoretical Framework

Portion of a theory that guides development of the study and allows to link findings to nurses knowledge and supports it's purpose.

Research Design

Blueprint for conducting a study. Maximizes control over factors that could interfere with validity and guides planning towards the study to achieve the goal.

Experimental Group

Group of subjects receiving experimental treatment.

Control Group

Group of subjects not exposed to experimental treatment in a randomly selected sample study.

Pretest-Posttest Design

Tightly controlled and most common study. Pre-test - divide into equal, random experimental or control groups - posttest.

After-Only Design

When pretest is not possible. Threat to validity. Randomizing subjects to different groups and measuring the dependent variable.

Time-Series Design

Studying one group over a long period of time. Introducing treatment and collecting data to determine trends.

Experimental Design

Design provides greatest amount of control possible in order to examine causality more closely.

Quasi-Experimental Design

Facilitates the search for knowledge in situations which complete control is not possible. Developed to control as many threats to validity as possible. Use "comparison" groups instead of control groups, so it's not necessarily randomly selected. Determines effectiveness of interventions in #quantitative# studies, check back months later for changes. (Ex: What is the best time to educate patients on post-op pain?). #2 most rigorous qualitative experiment.

Retrospective Design

Dependent variable already affected by independent variable. Design to link present events that have occurred in the past.

Cross-Sectional Design

Examine groups in various stages of development and infer trends. Collection of data at one point in time or multiple times in a short period of time. (Ex: 4 hours vs. 6 hours post-op).

Longitudinal Design

Examine changes in same subjects over extended period of time.

Internal Validity

Study the findings that affect reality rather than external effects. The extent to which it is possible to make an inference that the independent variable is truly influencing the dependent variable.

External Validity

Study the findings that can be generalized beyond the sample in the study. Concerns for inferences of relationships hold true to different people, conditions and settings.

Randomized Clinical Trial (RCT)

Compare treatment group with non-treatment group. #1 most rigorous experiment with the highest level of control.

Random Assignment

Randomly assign subjects to treatments or control groups so they are given equal opportunities.

Descriptive Design

Designed to gain more information about characteristics within a field of study. Provides a picture of a situation as it naturally happens. Develops theories, identifies problems with current practice, and makes judgements.

***Determinism

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Evidence Hierarchy

Rating system for hierarchy of evidence.

***Clinical Practice Guidelines

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Model

System or thing used as an example to follow or imitate.

Constant

Fixed value, continually occurring, persistent.

Outcomes Variable

The response, behavior, or outcome that is predicted or explained in research. Changes in the dependent variable are presumed to be caused by the independent variable.

Data Saturation

Phenomenon occurs when additional sampling provides no new info or there is redundancy of previously collected data. Sample size in qualitative study is determined from data saturation.

Research Control

Produced desired outcomes in practice. Imposing rules by the researcher to decrease the possibility of error and increased probability the study's findings are an accurate reflection or reality.

Single-Blind Study

Groups are randomly chosen and don't know if they are getting the treatment or not.

Double-Blind Study

Neither researcher or groups are allowed to know what groups are getting treatment or not.

Introduction, Methods, Results and Discussion (IMRAD)

Defines the order and structure of a scientific journal. Introduction, Methods, Results and Discussion.

Factorial Design

Subjects assigned randomly to a combination of treatments. Researcher manipulates multiple independent variables simultaneously.

Crossover Design

Exposes participants to more than one treatment.

Prospective Design

Start with presumed cause and go forward with presumed effect.

Correlation

The relationship between two or more variables to explain the nature of relationships in the world, does not examine cause and effect.

Observational Design

Correlational or nonexperimental research in which a researcher observes ongoing behavior.

Nonequivalent Control-Group Before-After Design

Subjects not randomly assigned to groups. Observed before and after intervention.