Summary

Fourth Edition A conversational style and comprehensive, step-by-step approach makes Foundations of Nursing Research, Fourth Edition one of the best-selling research texts for nurses. Following the steps of the nursing process, it diligently moves from problem identification and literature review, to development of hypotheses, design formulation, samples and data collection and data analysis. Case studies and self-tests provide further review. Additional features include: bull; bull; New - Concepts of evidence-based practice and its implications for nursing practice. bull; New - Nursing Research on the Web sections that highlight online resources and refer to the Companion Website, www.prenhall.com/nieswiadomy. bull; Updated - Review of the Literature provides the most current nursing research. bull; Excerpts from 58 published nursing research studies. bull;Get-Involved Activities provide real-life examples of what it is like in the field. bull; Self-tests allow for reinforcement and review of material. bull; Critiquing guidelines highlight steps for judging the appropriateness of study findings. Comprehensive Technology Solutions bull; bull; New ~ Companion Website (www.prenhall.com/nieswiadomy) A text-specific, online, review it provides additional learning activities, opportunities to perform research searches and links to related resources. bull; New ~ Online Course Management Systems - Ask your Prentice Hall Representative or go to www.prenhall.com/demo for more information about the Blackboard, CourseCompass, and WebCT courses that accompany Foundations of Nursing Research, Fourth Edition.

Preface

vii

Acknowledgments

PART I INTRODUCTION TO NURSING RESEARCH

(52)

Development of Nursing Research

(24)

An Overview of Quantitative Research

(13)

Ethical Issues in Nursing Research

(15)

PART II PRELIMINARY STEPS IN THE RESEARCH PROCESS

(70)

Identifying Nursing Research Problems

(15)

Review of the Literature

(19)

Theory and Nursing Research

(20)

Hypotheses and Research Questions

108

(15)

PART III RESEARCH DESIGNS

123

(44)

Quantitative Research Designs

124

(25)

Qualitative Research Designs

149

(18)

PART IV OBTAINING STUDY SUBJECTS AND COLLECTION OF DATA

167

(74)

Populations and Samples

168

(22)

Measurement and Collection of Data

190

(20)

Data-Collection Methods

210

(31)

PART V DATA ANALYSIS

241

(68)

Descriptive Statistics

242

(27)

Inferential Statistics

269

(24)

Presentation and Discussion of Study Findings

293

(16)

PART V RESEARCH FINDINGS AND NURSING PRACTICE

309

(38)

Communication and Utilization of Nursing Research

310

(24)

Critique of Research Reports

334

(13)

Answers to Self-tests

347

(4)

Appendix A Consent Form

351

(2)

Appendix B Sources of Research Instruments

353

(2)

Glossary

355

(18)

Index

373

Supplemental Materials

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Excerpts

My primary purpose for writing the fourth edition of this book continues to be promoting interest in research, particularly research conducted by nurses. I firmly believe that research is essential to the growth of the nursing profession. Nursing research improves patient care and demonstrates that nurses are key members of the health care team. Research results show that nurses are not only caring but efficient providers of health care. As a reader of this book, you are not expected to become proficient in critiquing research reports or to be able to conduct research independently. My goals for writing this book will have been achieved if you: are more enthusiastic about nursing research have gained knowledge about the research process possess beginning skills necessary to evaluate research findings are motivated to use research findings in your practice have the desire to conduct your own research studies in the future. For those of you who are just beginning your careers in nursing, the future of the profession depends on you. This book is intended primarily for individuals with little research experience, particularly undergraduate nursing students. However, many students in graduate programs have used this text to gain a better understanding of nursing research. They have commented that this text explains the research process clearly and succinctly. It is my hope that practicing nurses will also use this book as they evaluate study findings for use in practice and as they begin to conduct their own studies. FEATURES OF THE BOOK The informal writing style has been maintained in this fourth edition of the text. The book is even more learner-friendly than the previous three editions. In the past, readers have made many positive comments about the writing style. Students have said that they often feel as if they are talking with me, the author. Please interact with me as you read this text. You can nod in agreement, frown in disagreement, or shake your head in disbelief if you do not understand the material. Regardless of your responses, pleasereact!Get involved. This is the best way to learn about research. The exercises at the end of the chapters are meant to help you get excited about research. Because most of you will not be conducting research while you are learning about the research process, exercises in class will help to simulate what it would be like if you were actually carrying out the steps of a study. Material is presented in a very concrete manner. This book presents approximately 60 excerpts from recent studies published by nurses to illustrate various aspects of research. New terms are highlighted and defined the first time they are discussed. At the end of Chapters 3 through 15, a section is devoted to critiquing the specific step of the research process that each chapter addresses. Also, a set of critiquing questions is highlighted in a box for easy access. Each chapter concludes with a summary of the content presented in the chapter. Two distinctive features of the book are the Get Involved Activities and the Self-Tests at the end of each chapter. Readers tell me that they like to see how well they perform on the self-tests. Answers to all questions are provided at the back of the book. A new feature of the text is the inclusion ofResearch on the Web.This feature appears in each chapter, encouraging readers to go to the free Companion Website at www.prenhall.com/nieswiadomy to access the interactive, chapter-specific modules. Each module consists of a variety of critical thinking and other exercises, links to other online resources regarding nursing research, and objectives. Instructors adopting this textbook have free access to the online Syllabus Manager feature of the Companion Website,