RESEARCH MODULE 2- 3

subject matter of the study, the locale of the study, the population involved, the period when the data gathered or will be gathered

The research title must contain:

 literature review

it provides a foundation on which to base new evidence and usually is conducted before data are collected.

1. CONCEPTUAL LITERATURE/ RELATED LITERATURE

2. RESEARCH LITERATURE/ RELATED STUDIES

TYPES OF LITERATURE

CONCEPTUAL LITERATURE/ RELATED LITERATURE

Composed of discussions of facts and principles to which the present study is related

CONCEPTUAL LITERATURE/ RELATED LITERATURE

These materials are usually printed and found in books, encyclopedias, professional journals, magazines, newspapers and other publications

CONCEPTUAL LITERATURE/ RELATED LITERATURE

Also referred as non-empirical references

RESEARCH LITERATURE/ RELATED STUDIES

These are studies, inquiries, or investigations already conducted to which present proposed study is related or has some bearing or similarity

RESEARCH LITERATURE/ RELATED STUDIES

These are usually unpublished materials such as manuscripts, theses and dissertations

RESEARCH LITERATURE/ RELATED STUDIES

Also referred to as empirical references

research reports

Primary source example:

research reports

which are descriptions of studies written by the researchers who conducted them

research documents

Secondary source example:

research documents

are descriptions of studies prepared by someone other than the original researcher.

literature reviews

Not substitute for primary sources because they typically fail to provide much detail about studies, and are seldom completely objective

• CINAHL (Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature)

• MEDLINE (Medical Literature On-Line)

Two especially useful electronic database for nurse researchers are:

Sources for Statistical Software

Uses of software:

American Psychological Association

APA stands for

Variables

something that varies

Heterogenous group

when an attribute is extremely varied in the group under study

Homogenous group

if the amount of variability is limited

Continuous variables

have values along a continuum and, in theory, can assume an infinite number of values between two points

Discrete variable

has a finite number of values between any two points, representing discrete quantities

Categorical variables

Other variables take on a small range of values and do not represent a quantity

Dichotomous variables

When categorical variables take on only two values

Independent variable

presumed cause

Independent variable

an assumed reason for any change or variation in the independent variable

Dependent variable

presumed effect

Dependent variable

outcome variable

Dependent variable

the change that occurs in the study population when one or more factors are change or when an intervention is introduced

 Intervening Variable

A factor that works between the independent and dependent variables

 Intervening Variable

It can weaken (decrease) or strengthen (increase) the effect of the independent on the dependent variable

Antecedent Variable

A factor or characteristic which is found before the independent variable.

Antecedent Variable

It is expected to influence the independent variable/s

Research Objectives

are statements of what the researcher intends to do

Research Objectives

They communicate what the researcher plans to do.

Research objectives

are usually stated in declarative form and start with infinitives like: "To determine", "to find out", "to describe", "to compare" or "to test"

General Objectives

Relates directly to the research problem and states clearly what the researcher will do and expects to find out.

General Objectives

Preferably stated in behavioral terms, who or what will be studied, who will do it, when it will be done, where it will be done

Specific Objectives

In studies with a broader coverage in terms of subjects and variables, statements of ____ may be necessary.

Specific Objectives

it may be viewed as sub-objectives or small particles of the general objectives.

Specific Objectives

The specific variables examined in the study are identified in the ___

THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK

is the structure that can hold or support a theory of a research study.

THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK

introduces and describes the theory that explains why the research problem under study exists

relational and causal studies

Not all research studies need a theoretical framework, but ___ do

CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK

Illustrates what you expect to find through your research.

CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK

It represents how the variables you are studying might relate to each other

hypothesis

 is a statement of the researcher's expectations or predictions about relationships among study variables.

Inductive hypothesis

generalization inferred from observed relationships (specific observations and move toward generalizations)

Deductive hypothesis

have theories as a starting point (general to specific).

Simple hypothesis

a hypothesis that states an expected relationship between one independent variable and one dependent variable.

Complex hypothesis

prediction of a relationship between two or more independent variables and or two or more dependent variables.

Directional hypothesis

is one that specifies not only the existence but also the expected direction of the expected direction of the relationship between variables.

Nondirectional hypothesis

does not state the direction of the relationship. It only states presence or absence of relationship or association.

Alternative / research / substantive / scientific hypothesis

are statements of expected relationship between variables.

Null hypothesis / statistical hypothesis

states that there is no relationship between the independent or dependent variables

Null hypothesis / statistical hypothesis

this type of hypothesis is used for statistical tests.