Introduction to Nursing Research and Statistics

Fundamentals and Purpose of Nursing Research

  • Research is a purposeful, scientific, and systematic investigation to validate current knowledge and create new insights.

  • Nursing research specifically aims to improve clinical knowledge, nursing education, and nursing management to enhance professional practice.

  • Key objectives include improving professional accountability, defining parameters of nursing, evaluating practice effectiveness, and identifying methods for cost containment.

Types of Research Methodologies

  • Descriptive Research: Investigates existing aspects of a practice or phenomenon to provide basic knowledge and establish a basis for further study.

  • Experimental Research: A highly controlled, systematic investigation using an experiential group and a control group to predict and control nursing practice outcomes.

  • Evidence-Based Practice (EBPEBP): The integration of the best research evidence with clinical expertise and patient values to ensure efficient care. It focuses on "doing the right things right."

Quantitative vs. Qualitative Research

  • Quantitative Research: Features a concise, narrow focus; data is collected through formal questionnaires and analyzed via statistics and numbers; relies on validity and reliability.

  • Qualitative Research: Adopts a holistic, broad, and complex focus; data collection occurs through interviews and interactions; literature control is performed after data collection; relies on trustworthiness.

The Research Process: Steps and Phases

  • Phase 1: Conceptual Phase (Thinking or planning).

  • Phase 2: Empirical Phase (Doing phase).

  • Phase 3: Interpretive Phase (Giving meaning to the study).

  • Phase 4: Communication Phase (Writing the article/findings).

  • The 1111 sequential steps:

    1. Identify the problem and research question.

    2. Determine the purpose of the study.

    3. Review the literature (theoretical and conceptual framework).

    4. Define objectives or formulate a hypothesis.

    5. Select the research method and study design.

    6. Specify elements or data to be studied.

    7. Conduct a pilot study.

    8. Collect the data.

    9. Analyze the data.

    10. Interpret the data.

    11. Communicate research findings.

Data Collection and Statistical Analysis

  • Data Collection Processes: Includes interviews, focus groups, questionnaires, surveys, observations, oral histories, and documents/records.

  • Numerical Data: Expressed as statistics or numbers.

  • Categorical Data: Expressed as names or labels.

  • Measures of Central Tendency and Variation (Example scores: 6,10,8,10,15,146, 10, 8, 10, 15, 14):

    • Mean: The arithmetical average; 6+10+8+10+15+146=10,5\frac{6+10+8+10+15+14}{6} = 10,5.

    • Median: The midpoint value in a ranked group (6,8,10,10,14,156, 8, 10, 10, 14, 15); calculation is 10+102=10\frac{10+10}{2} = 10.

    • Mode: The most frequently occurring value; for the given set, the mode is 1010.

    • Range: The difference between the smallest and largest values (15−6=915 - 6 = 9).

    • Variance: The sum of squared deviations about the mean divided by the total number of values.

    • Standard Deviation: The square root of the variance; a higher value indicates a wider spread of scores relative to the mean.