1-Introduction to nursing research

Course Overview

• Course Title: Methods and Ethics of Advanced Scientific Research

• Course Code: 02702

• Program: Master degree, 1st Semester

• Institution: Faculty of Nursing, Cairo University

• Academic Year: 2022-2023

Teaching Staff

• Dr. Bassamat Omar Ahmed

  • Title: Professor

  • Specialty: Medical-Surgical Nursing

• Dr. Hanan Al Sebaee

  • Title: Professor

  • Specialty: Medical-Surgical Nursing

• Dr. Mervat Mamdouh

  • Title: Lecturer

  • Specialty: Medical-Surgical Nursing

• Institution: Faculty of Nursing, Cairo University

• Academic Year: 2022-2023

Preparation

• Prepared by:

  • Dr. Bassamat Omar Ahmed

  • Dr. Hanan Al Sebaee

  • Dr. Mervat Mamdouh

• Date: 09/10/2022

Intended Learning Objectives

By the end of this lecture, learners should be able to:

• Define nursing research.

• Identify sources of nursing knowledge.

• Compare two broad purposes for conducting research.

• Discuss four goals for conducting nursing research and its importance.

• Contrast the various roles of nurses in research.

• Describe the scientific research process.

Course Outline

1. Introduction

2. Definitions of research

3. Aim of the research

4. Sources of knowledge

5. Classification of research

6. Methods or approaches in conducting research

7. Role of nurses in nursing research

8. Problem solving and scientific research

9. Qualities of a good researcher

10. Research process

Importance of Research in Nursing

• Research is critical for new discoveries.

• It improves health and wellbeing for patients and families.

• It starts with questions based on personal experiences.

• The primary goal for professional nurses is to be client advocates and provide evidence-based optimal care.

Meaning & Definition of Research

• Etymology: Derived from the old French word "re- cerchier" meaning to "seek or search".

• Significance of "re": suggests replication of search; "search" means examining closely.

• Definition: A careful examination of facts to discover new knowledge.

Definitions of Research

• Research as a studious inquiry aimed at discovering and interpreting facts (Webster, 1971).

• An attempt to gain solutions through controlled data collection (Treece and Treece, 1973).

• As defined by the International Council of Nurses (1986): identifying new knowledge and improving professional education.

• NINR (1998): Testing knowledge that guides nursing practice through examining questions and verifying interventions.

• Polit & Beck (2008): Systematic inquiry generating trustworthy evidence related to nursing practice, education, and administration.

• Burns & Grove (2009): Scientific process validating and refining existing knowledge and generating new knowledge.

What is Scientific Research?

• Systematic investigation that includes data collection to solve problems or answer questions.

• Emphasizes methods that produce objective and reliable results.

Definition of Nursing Research

• A systematic and objective process analyzing phenomena relevant to nursing, encompassing practice, education, and administration.

The Research Process

• Provides a scientific basis for nursing practice.

• Validates the effectiveness of nursing interventions.

Goals for Conducting Nursing Research

• Promote evidence-based nursing practice.

• Ensure credibility of the nursing profession.

• Provide accountability for nursing practice.

• Document the cost-effectiveness of nursing care.

Sources of Knowledge

• Tradition

• Authority/Expert Advice

• Clinical Experience

• Logical Reasoning & Critical Thinking

• Trial and Error

Classification of Research

• By General Purpose:

  1. Basic Research: Generates new knowledge.

  2. Applied Research: Uses knowledge to solve immediate problems.

  3. Evaluation Research: Measures effectiveness of programs or concepts.

• By Approach:

  • Qualitative Research: Gains insights into attitudes and behaviors.

  • Quantitative Research: Measures attitudes and perceptions, uses various interviewing methods.

  • Mixed Research: Combines quantitative and qualitative data.

Methods or Approaches

• Deduction: General to specific approach.

• Induction: Specific to general approach.

Examples

Deduction

• Steps: Theory → Hypothesis → Observation → Confirmation.

Induction

• Steps: Theory → Tentative Hypothesis → Pattern → Observation.

Roles of Nurses in Research

• Principal investigator.

• Member of a research team.

• Identifier of researchable problems.

• Evaluator of research findings.

• User of research findings.

• Patient/client advocate during studies.

• Subject/participant in research.

Characteristics of Scientific Research

• Uses systematic and orderly methods.

• Employs empirical data in an unbiased manner.

• Researcher minimizes bias and control over the situation.

• Findings must remain objective, independent of researcher bias.

Problem Solving & Scientific Research

• Both involve identifying a problem, planning, collecting, and evaluating data.

• Problem-solving is specific to individuals; scientific research has broader generalizability.

Qualities of a Researcher

• Key Traits:

  • Research-oriented, resourceful, economical, scientific, active.

  • Creative, honest, legally compliant, and trustworthy.

  • Objective, curious, committed, and skilled in communication.

  • Determination, persistence, self-reliance, publication skills.

Research Process Steps

1. Identify the research problem.

2. Determine the purpose of the study.

3. Review the literature.

4. Develop a theoretical/conceptual framework.

5. Identify study assumptions.

6. Acknowledge study limitations.

7. Formulate hypothesis/research question.

8. Define study variables/terms.

9. Select research design (Polit, & Beck, 2014).

Continued Steps

10. Identify the population.

11. Select the sample.

12. Conduct a pilot study.

13. Collect the data.

14. Organize the data for analysis.

15. Analyze the data.

16. Interpret the findings.

17. Communicate the findings.

18. Utilize the findings (Polit, & Beck, 2014).

Phases of Research Process

Quantitative Research Process Phases

1. Phase I: Conceptual Phase

2. Phase II: Design & Planning Phase

3. Phase III: Empirical Phase

4. Phase IV: Analytic Phase

5. Phase V: Dissemination Phase

Conceptual Phase

• Formulating and defining the research problem.

• Reviewing related literature.

• Defining the theoretical framework.

• Formulating research hypothesis/research question.

Design & Planning Phase

• Selecting research design.

• Developing the protocol for intervention.

• Identifying population to be studied.

• Designing the sampling plan.

• Specifying measurement methods for research variables.

• Developing methods to protect human rights.

Empirical Phase

• Collecting data.

• Conducting study and making necessary revisions.

• Preparing data for analysis.

Analytic Phase

• Analyzing the data.

• Interpreting results.

Dissemination Phase

• Communicating the findings.

• Utilizing the findings.

• Making conclusions.

Conclusion

• The research process is a series of closely related activities conducted by researchers.

• No universal measure exists to determine the quality of research; it is considered an art rather than a strict science.

References

• Curtis, E.A., & Drennan, J. (2013). Quantitative health research: Issues and methods (2nd Ed.). London: McGraw Hill Education.

• Dey, M. (2016). A guide to nursing research and biostatistics. New Delhi: Jaypee Brothers Medical Publishers.

• Gray, J.R., Grove, S.K., Sutherland, S. (2017). Practice of nursing research: Appraisal, synthesis, and generation of evidence (8th Ed.). St. Louis: Elsevier.

• Polit, D.F., & Beck, C.T. (2014). Essentials of nursing research: Appraising evidence for nursing practice (8th Ed.). Philadelphia: Wolters Kluwer Health / Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.