Health Research Methods (NHR 4811) Flashcards

Vocabulary flashcards based on the NHR 4811 Health Research Methods exam paper, covering research design, variables, and terminology.

Research Problem Identification

The initial and one of the most significant steps in conducting the research process.

Primary Source Example

A journal article about a study that used large, previously unpublished databases generated by the statistics bureau.

Qualitative Research

Research conducted in natural settings where data collected tends to be non-numeric and explores concepts like the meaning of health for specific populations.

Quantitative Study Phrase

Commonly characterized by phrases like "A convenience sample was chosen" or results involving numeric data and statistical analysis.

Experimental Research Design Hypothesis

An example would be: "The incidence of urinary tract infections will be greater in patients whose Foley catheters are irrigated frequently than in those whose Foley catheters are irrigated less frequently."

Purpose Statement

A sentence that identifies the study variable(s) and the target population.

Feasibility in Research

Determined by examining factors such as the availability of subjects, researcher's credibility, and significance of the problem.

Research Consumer

A nurse who reads research articles and incorporates research findings into nursing practice.

Inductive Reasoning

Reasoning from a specific instance to a general conclusion, such as reasoning from a single diabetic patient to all diabetic patients.

Quasi-experimental Research

A type of research involving at least some control by the researcher to implement a study treatment, but lacking full experimental controls like random assignment.

Experimental Research

A category of research characterized by high researcher control, random sampling, and a laboratory setting.

Applied Research

Research suggested by practical questions such as, "Does telephone follow-up by nurses improve patients' compliance with their medication regimens?"

Conceptual Definitions

Meanings of terms that may differ depending on the study framework; they are important because they clarify the context of the variables.

Rigor in Quantitative Research

The amount of control and precision exerted by the methodology.

Natural/Field Setting

An example is a researcher studying stress and coping where data collection takes place in the caregiver's home.

APA Reference Volume Number

In the citation "Research in Nursing and Health, 21(3)", the number $21$ refers to the volume number.

Discrete Variable

A variable with a finite number of values between any two points, representing discrete quantities.

Categorical Variables

Variables that take on a handful of discrete non-quantitative values.

Dichotomous Variable

Categorical variables that take on only two values.

Continuous Variable

Variables that can take on values from zero to more than $100$, where values are not restricted to whole numbers.

Theory

A systematic, abstract explanation of some aspect of reality.

Operational Definition

Specifies what the researchers must do to measure a concept and collect the needed information.

Directional Hypotheses

A statement predicting the specific direction of a relationship, such as "The risk of falling increases with the age of the patient."

Non-directional Hypotheses

A statement indicating a relationship exists between variables without specifying the direction, such as "There is a relationship between the age of a patient and the risk of falling."

Grounded Theory

A research design that involves the study of processes, social structures, and social interactions.

Research Problem Statement

A situation in need of a solution, improvement, or a discrepancy between the way things are and the way they need to be, according to Brink (2018).

Stratified Random Sampling

A sampling technique where a population is divided into strata (such as different hospitals) and a random sample is selected from each stratum.

Sampling Error

The difference between the sample results and the actual population values; it is important because it affects the generalizability of the findings.

Cronbach Alpha

A measure of internal consistency reliability; a score of $0.5$ for an instrument indicates low or questionable reliability.