Basic Steps in Planning Nursing Research : From Question to Proposal

by Brink, Pamela J.; Wood, Marilynn J.

• ISBN13: 9780763715717
• ISBN10: 0763715719
• Edition: 5th
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2001-03-01
• Publisher: Jones & Bartlett Pub

Summary

Univ. of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada. Brandon/Hill Nursing List first-purchase selection (#236). Guide to writing a nursing research proposal, exploring the theory, rationale, and literature involved in nursing research. Includes information on critiquing the recent work of others. Previous edition: c1998. Softcover. DNLM: Nursing Research--methods--Nurses' Instruction.

Table of Contents

Preface to the Fifth Edition	xi
Preface	xiii
How to Write a Researchable Question	1	(20)
Research Topics	2	(3)
What Is a Researchable Question?	5	(1)
Asking Research Question	6	(3)
Examining Components of a Research Question	9	(11)
Levels of Questions	10	(8)
Rewriting Your Question	18	(2)
Be Interested in Your Idea	20	(1)
Recommended Readings	20	(1)
From Question to Problem	21	(22)
Finding the Level of Knowledge about a Topic	22	(6)
How to Search the Literature on Your Topic	28	(1)
Level of Theory and Level of Question	29	(3)
Developing the Research Problem from the Literature Review	32	(4)
Find Out What You Know	32	(1)
Ask Questions about the Theory	33	(1)
Look Up Interrelated Ideas	34	(1)
Outline	34	(1)
Convert Your Topic Outline to a Sentence Outline	35	(1)
Relate the Theory to the Question	36	(1)
Beginning with an Observation	36	(6)
Where do You Start Your Literature Search?	38	(4)
Recommended Readings	42	(1)
The Full and Final Research Problem	43	(12)
Elements of a Research Problem	44	(5)
Review of the Literature	44	(1)
The Rationale for Developing the Question	45	(1)
The Theoretical or Conceptual Framework	45	(4)
The Psychology of Argument	49	(1)
Strongest Argument Last	50	(2)
Problem 1	50	(1)
Problem 2	51	(1)
Substantiate What You Say	52	(1)
Recommended Readings	53	(2)
Critical Review of the Literature	55	(14)
Content of a Critique	57	(1)
What to Critique	57	(1)
How to Do a Critique	58	(7)
Guidelines for Critique of Published Research	65	(1)
Where Does the Critique Belong?	66	(1)
Recommended Readings	67	(2)
Stating the Purpose of the Study	69	(14)
Level I: The Purpose Written as a Declarative Statement	70	(2)
Level II: The Purpose Written as a Question	72	(3)
Level III: The Purpose Written as a Hypothesis	75	(4)
Examining the Components of a Hypothesis	79	(1)
The Significance of the Statement of Purpose	80	(1)
Stating the Purpose of the Study: A Summary	80	(2)
Recommended Readings	82	(1)
Defining Your Terms	83	(16)
Types of Variables	87	(1)
Defining the Independent Variable	88	(2)
How Variable Are Measured	90	(6)
Nominal Scale	91	(1)
Ordinal Scale	91	(1)
Interval (and Ratio) Scale	92	(4)
Terms that Need Definition	96	(1)
Writing Operational Definitions: A Review	96	(2)
Recommended Readings	98	(1)
The Research Design: Blueprint for Action	99	(32)
Designing Your Study from the Question	100	(1)
Characteristics of Research Designs	101	(4)
The Setting for the Study	101	(1)
Timing of Data Collection	102	(1)
Sample Selection	103	(1)
Type of Data to Be Collected	104	(1)
Issues of Control	104	(1)
Descriptive Designs	105	(9)
Exploratory Descriptive Designs	105	(5)
Descriptive Survey Designs	110	(4)
Experimental Designs	114	(5)
Controlling Unwanted Influences	119	(8)
Extraneous Variables	119	(5)
Bias	124	(1)
The Hawthorne Effect	125	(1)
Time	126	(1)
Level of Study and Degree of Control	127	(1)
Recommended Readings	128	(3)
Selecting the Sample	131	(18)
Types of Samples	134	(9)
Probability Samples	136	(4)
Nonprobability Samples	140	(3)
Sample Size	143	(2)
Level of Study and Sample Selection	145	(2)
Recommended Readings	147	(2)
Selecting a Method to Answer the Question	149	(24)
Observation	150	(8)
Degree of Investigator Involvement	154	(1)
Degree of Structure	155	(2)
Timing of Observations	157	(1)
Type of Observation and Level of Study	157	(1)
Questionnaires and Interviews	158	(10)
Advantages and Disadvantages of Interviews and Questionnaires	159	(1)
Types of Questions	160	(1)
Degree of Structure in Questionnaires and Interviews	161	(2)
Setting Up Your Data Collection Instrument	163	(1)
Projective Tests	164	(2)
Level of Question and Degree of Structure	166	(1)
Designing the Questionnaire or Interview Guide	167	(1)
Available Data	168	(1)
Physiological Measures	169	(1)
Recommended Readings	170	(3)
Reliability and Validity of Measurement	173	(26)
Errors in Data Collection Procedures	174	(4)
Validity	178	(6)
Self-evident Measures	178	(3)
Pragmatic Measures	181	(1)
Construct Validity	182	(2)
Reliability	184	(5)
Tests of Stability	184	(2)
Tests of Equivalence	186	(2)
Tests of Internal Consistency	188	(1)
Reliability and Validity Issues in Field Research Using Participant Observation	189	(4)
Reliability and Validity in the Research Plan	193	(1)
Self-test	194	(1)
Test Measures	194	(1)
Answers	194	(1)
Recommended Readings	195	(4)
Ethics in Nursing Research	199	(18)
Problems Involving Ethics	201	(5)
Coercion of Subjects to Participate	203	(1)
Withholding Benefits from Control Subjects	204	(1)
Invasion of Privacy	205	(1)
Informed Consent	206	(2)
Information	206	(1)
Understanding	207	(1)
Free Choice	207	(1)
Proxy Consents for Research	208	(1)
Balancing Potential Benefit against Actual Cost	208	(2)
Maintaining Anonymity and Confidentiality	210	(1)
Federal Guidelines on the Submission of Proposals for Review	211	(1)
Ethical Principles Underlying Protection of Human Subjects	212	(3)
Recommended Readings	215	(2)
Planning for Analysis of Data	217	(24)
Descriptive Analysis	218	(11)
Structured versus Unstructured Data	219	(1)
Content Analysis: Structuring Unstructured Data	220	(2)
Reliability and Validity in Content Analysis	222	(1)
Structured Data: Statistical Analysis	222	(7)
Inferential Analysis	229	(3)
Testing Hypotheses	230	(2)
Choosing a Statistical Test: What Does Your Hypothesis Ask?	232	(5)
Difference between Two Groups	233	(1)
Difference among Multiple Groups	234	(1)
Correlation between Variables	234	(2)
Estimation of Population Parameters from Sample Data	236	(1)
Be Sure You Can Answer Your Question	236	(1)
The Answer Is in the Question	237	(3)
Level I Questions	237	(1)
Level II Questions	238	(1)
Level III Questions	238	(2)
Recommended Readings	240	(1)
Writing the Research Proposal	241	(24)
The Introductory Matter	243	(1)
Form of the Final Research Problem	243	(7)
The Introduction	244	(1)
The Body	244	(2)
The Rationale for your Research	246	(3)
The Conclusion	249	(1)
Statement of the Purpose of the Study	250	(1)
Definition of Terms	251	(1)
The Research Design	251	(1)
The Sample	252	(3)
Target Population	253	(1)
Sample Selection	253	(2)
Methods and Instruments	255	(1)
Reliability and Validity	255	(1)
Data Analysis	256	(1)
Protection of Human Subjects	256	(1)
Summary	257	(1)
Variations in the Proposal Format	258	(3)
Thesis or Dissertation	258	(1)
Grant Proposals	259	(2)
The Finished Proposal	261	(3)
Check Your References	262	(1)
Polishing the Draft	262	(2)
Recommended Readings	264	(1)
Appendix: Sample Research Proposals	265	(134)
Level I
What Do Edmonton Seniors Say Are the Reasons for Including Herbal Supplements in Their Diet for the Maintenance of Their Health?	266	(16)
Brett Hodson
Value Orientations of the Copper Inuit	282	(44)
Nancy A. Edgecombe
Living in a Nursing Home with Multiple Sclerosis	326	(17)
Connie Winther
Level II
The Relationship Between Physical and/or Psychological Abuse and Health Status	343	(29)
Pamela Ratner
Level III
Umbilical Cord Care	372	(10)
Jennifer Medves
Maintaining Catheter Patency Using Recombinant Tissue Plasminogen Activator	382	(17)
Colleen M. Astle
Index	399