Unit 1: Nursing

Research

Dileep Kumar
(R.N, CHN, Post R.N BSc.N)

Lecturer,
Ilmiya Institute of Nursing, Karachi
 Objectives
By the end of my this lecture
Students will be able;
To define research and nursing

research
To discuss role of Nurse in research
participation
To enlist the process of research.
To Know about the importance of Research.
Discuss the historical trends or history of
Nursing Research.
To review the types of research methods “
Qualitative, Quantitative and outcomes ”
To discuss areas of high priorities for nurse
researchers

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 Research
Research means
To Search Again.
To examine carefully.

Research seeks answers to questions in an

orderly and systematic way.
It is a method of problem solving.

Definition of Research
It is diligent (careful), systematic inquiry or
study
that validates and refines existing knowledge
and
develops new knowledge.

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 Nursing Research
Definitions
A scientific process that validates and
refines existing knowledge and generates
new knowledge that directly and indirectly
influences clinical nursing practice.
Nursing research is systematic inquiry
designed to develop knowledge about issues
of importance to the nursing profession,
including nursing practice, education,
administration, and informatics.
Example of research question
How do adults with acquired brain injury
perceive their social interactions and
relationships (Paterson & Stewart, 2002)

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 Importance of Research in
nursing
1. It is an important tool for the continual development
of a relevant body of knowledge in nursing.
2. Research generates information from nursing
investigations which help define the unique role of
nursing as a profession.
3. Professional accountability of nurses to their clients is
demonstrated when nurses incorporate research evidence
into their clinical decisions.
4. Research facilitates evaluation of the efficacy of
nurses;
practice which may articulate their role in the delivery of
health services.
5. Research involves the spiraling costs of health care and
the cost-containment practices being instituted in health
care facilities. With research, costly trial-an-error
and even unsafe interventions are avoided.

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Importance of Research in nursing

6. Research may allow nurses to make more

informed decisions as each phase of the
nursing process is clarified through research.
Research also enables nurses to
7. understand a particular nursing situation
about which little is known,
8. assess the need for an intervention,
9. identify factors that must be considered in
planning nursing care,
10.predict the probable outcomes of certain
nursing decisions
11.control the occurrence of undesired
outcomes,
12.provide advice to enhance client health
13.initiate activities to promote appropriate
client behavior.
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 Types of Research

 From the Perspective of Application

1. Pure Research:
Involved in developing and
testing theories and hypothesis or
may or may not have practical
application at the present time or
in the future.

2. Applied Research:
Research techniques, procedures,
and methods. These are applied
to various aspects of situations,
issues, problems or phenomenon.

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 Types of Research
 From the perspective of objective

Descriptive.
Attempts to describe a situation, problem,
phenomenon, service, or program.
Correlational.
To discover or establish the existence
of a relationship between two or more
aspects of a situation or phenomenon.
Exploratory.
Also called as a feasibility study or pilot
study. Carried out to investigate the
possibilities of understanding a particular
research study.
Explanatory.
Attempts to clarify why and how there is
a relationship between two aspects of a
situation or phenomenon.
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 Types of Research

 From the perspective of type of info

sought

1. Qualitative.
Purer or descriptive. The purpose
of the study is to describe a
situation phenomenon, problem,
or event.

2. Quantitative.
Analysis is geared to ascertain
(discover ) the magnitude
(level/amount) of the variation.

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 Characteristics of
Research
1. Research is always directed towards
the solution of a problem.
2. Research is always based on
empirical and observational
evidence.
3. Research involves precise
observation and accurate
description.
4. Research emphasize to the
development of theories, principles,
and generalizations.
5. Research is characterized by
systematic, objective and logical
procedures.
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 Characteristics of
Research
6. Research is marked by patience,
courage and unhurried activities.
7. Research requires that the
researcher has full experience of
the problem being studied.
8. Research is replicable.
9. Research uses systematic method of
problem-solving.
10. In research the factors which are
not under study are controlled.
11. Research requires full skill of
writing report

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 Characteristics of
Research
 Controlled. It minimizes effects of
other factors affecting research.
 Rigorous. Procedures are followed are
relevant, appropriate, and justified.
 Critical. Process of investigation must
be fool proof and free from drawbacks.
The process must be able to withstand
critical scrutiny.
 Valid and verifiable. Findings are
correct and can be verified by you and
others.
 Empirical. Conclusions are based upon
hard evidence collected from real life
experiences.
 Systematic. Follows a certain logical
sequence.
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 What does research do?
Research enables nurses to:
 Describe the characteristics of a particular
nursing situation about which little is known.
 Explain phenomenon that must be considered
in planning nursing care.
 Predict the probable outcome of certain
nursing decisions made in relation to client
care.
 Control the occurrence of undesired client
outcomes.
 Initiate, with a fair degree of confidence,
activities that will achieve desired client
behavior.

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 Why do nurses need
research?

For the continuous growth of nursing

profession.

Helps nursing to achieve its own

professional identity.

Helps to identify the boundaries of

nursing.

To define the parameters of nursing.

For cost containment practices.

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Role of Nurse in research participation
at various levels of education
preparation (ANA-1989)
BSN Degree
1. Critiquing & synthesizing research
findings from nursing profession and
other discipline for use in practice.
2. Provide valuable assistance in identifying
research problems & collecting data for
studies.
Master's degree
1. To lead health care teams
 Making essential changes in nursing practice
 Health care system based on research
2. Conduct investigations
3. Initial studies in collaboration with other
investigators
4. Facilitate research & provide consultation
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 Continue

Doctoral Degree
1. Assume a major role in the conduct of
research.
2. Generation of nursing knowledge in a
selected area of interest.
 Extend scientific basis
 Develop methods to measure nursing
phenomena

Post doctoral degree

1. Assumed a full researcher role and has a
funded
program of research
2. Develop and coordinate funded research
programs

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 Nursing Research
priorities

To Improve:

Nursing as a profession

Nursing practice

Patient outcomes

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 Research Process in
quantitative research
Phase 1: The Conceptual Phase
Step 1: Formulating and Delimiting (state
clearly) the Problem
Step 2: Reviewing the Related Literature
Step 3: Undertaking Clinical Fieldwork
Step 4: Defining Framework & Developing
Conceptual Definitions
Step 5: Formulating Hypotheses
Phase 2: The Design and Planning Phase
Step 6: Selecting a Research Design
Step 7: Developing Protocols for the Intervention
Step 8: Identifying the Population to be Studied
Step 9: Designing the Sampling Plan
Step 10: Specifying Methods to Measure the
Research Variables

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 Continue

Step 11: Developing Methods for

Safeguarding human/ Animal Rights
Step 12: Finalizing and Reviewing the
Research Plan
Phase 3: The Empirical (Practical) Phase
Step 13: Collecting the Data
Step 14: Preparing the Data for Analysis
Phase 4: The Analytic Phase
Step 15: Analyzing the Data
Step 16: Interpreting the Results
Phase 5: The Dissemination Phase
Step 17: Communicating the Findings
Step 18: Utilizing the Findings in Practice

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 Why is research important in
nursing?
Goals or purposes of research
Knowledge generated through research is
essential to provide a scientific basis for:-
Description
What exist in N/practice and discover a new
knowledge.
Explanation
Explains the existing knowledge in relation to
the effect and the outcome
Like bed sore occur in the old people due to lack
of mobility
Prediction
A nurse could predict the out come on the bases
of interventions
Control
Ability to write a prescription to produce the
desire result.
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 History in nursing research

 Began with Florence Nightingale over

150 years ago (1850).

 In (1859) describes her initial research

activities which looked at the importance
of leading environment in promoting
physical and mental well being

 Ventilation
 Cleanliness
 Purity of water
 Diet

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 History in nursing research

 In addition collected the data of

morbidity from Crimean War this made
the military provide:
 Enough food.
 Clear quarters for the sick.
 Appropriate medical treatment.

These interventions made impact on

public health (military help)
drastically reduces mortality from 43% up-to
2% in the Crimean War.
Testing public water
Improve sanitation
preventing starvation.

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 History in nursing research

1900- 20’s
First Journal Published “ American
Journal of nursing (1900)
Case study appeared ( 1920 - 1930)

In-depth analysis and systematic

description of one patient or group to
promote understanding of nursing
Research.

Little research done except for a few

important educational studies
recommending establishing School of
nursing in a university. (Gold mark
report, 1923)
First doctoral program for nurses was at
Teachers college in Colombia. (NYC) in 1924.
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 History in nursing research

1950
American Nurse Association (ANA)
initiated a five year study on nursing
functions and activities.
Clinical Research began
Research took on new importance due
to vision of Virginian Henderson &
Faye Abdullah;
One could see more nurses with Master's
degree and School of Nursing began
introducing research as a separate course

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 1952
First Journal Of Nursing Research
published.
Researches conducted at
Baccalaureate and masters level.

1953
The institute of Research and services
in Nursing education established at
teachers collage Columbia University,
New York.
Provided learning experience in research
for Doctoral studies.

late 60's saw more research being done

that imported clinical and quality of care

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1970's

Saw nursing process as focus for

many studies.
Saw increase in number of nursing
theories and models.
Image: Journal of nursing scholarly,
first published in 1967 and Advance
in nursing science in 1978
( Including Nursing Theories) by
STTI.
• To tackle the issue of communication /
dissemination of information
Council of Nurse research establish

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  1980's

Clinical research became the important

design in research
Saw many new journals being published

e.g. Cancer nursing; Pediatric nursing,

Dimension of critical care nursing etc..,
Applied nursing research.
Clinical research written priority of the 80's
increase funding for nursing research.

 The ANA achieved a victory by establishing

the National Center for Nursing Research in

1985.

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Priorities of National Center for Nursing
Research 1999 includes:

Community based nursing models.

Effectiveness of nursing interventions in

HIV/AIDS.

Cognitive impairment.

Living with chronic illness.

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 NURSING RESEARCH

Qualitative research Quantitative research Outcome

research

- Phenomenological - Descriptive
- Grounded theory - Correlational
- Ethnographic - Quasi-experimental
- Historical - Experimental

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 Quantitative research
 Is a formal, objective, systematic process in
which numerical data are used to obtain
information about the world.
 Is "hard science" it is perceived as rigorous
(exact), systematic and objective focusing on
numerical data and using statistical analysis and
controls in an attempt to eliminate bias.
 It is conducted to test theory by;
 Describing variables
 Examining relationship among variables
 Determine cause and effect interaction between
variables.
Types of Quantitative Research:
 Descriptive- explore new areas/describe
situations.
 Correlational- examine relationships
 Quasi-experimental- effectiveness of intervention.
 Experimental- producing positive outcomes.

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 Qualitative research
 Is a systematic, subjective approach used to describe
life experiences and situation and to give them
meaning.
 "Mode of systematic inquiry concerned with
understanding human
beings and the nature of their transaction with
themselves and with
their surrounding" (Benoliel, 1984, p.3).
 Qualitative research is often described as holistic,
that is, concerned
with humans and their environment in all their
complexities. It is lived
and as it is defined by the actors themselves
Types of Qualitative Research:
Phenomenological- describes experience as lived.
Grounded theory- formulate, test and refine a theory
about a phenomena.
Ethnographic- investigates cultures in depth.
31 Historical- description analysis of events that occurred in
past.
 Outcome Research
Is focused on examining the end results of
care or determining the changes in health
status for the patient.
Four essential areas require for this reason:
 The patients responses to medical or
N/Intervention.
 Functional maintenance/improvement of
physical functioning for the patient.
 Financial outcome achieved with the provision
of health care services.
 Patients satisfaction with the health outcomes
care received and the health care provider.

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 Quantitative & Qualitative
research characteristics

S. Quantitative Research Qualitative Research

#
1. Hard science Soft Science
2. Focus: Concise and Focus: Complex and Broad
Narrow
3. Reductionistic Holistic
4. Objective Subjective
5. Reasoning: Reasoning:
Logistic Dialectic,
Deductive Inductive
6. Basis of knowing: cause Basis of knowing: meaning
and effects, relationships discovery

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 Quantitative and qualitative
research characteristics
S. Quantitative Qualitative Research
# Research
7. Tests theory Develops theory
8. Control Shared interpretation
9. Instruments Communication and
observation
10. Basic elements of Basic elements of
analysis: numbers analysis: words
11. Statistical analysis Individual interpretation.
12. Generalization Uniqueness

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 Areas of High Priority for
Nurse Researcher

 Patient focused research

 The management processes within
health care services
 Cultural issues for nurses and patients
 The history of nursing
 Ethical decision making
 Nursing and professional regulation
 Education of nurses
 Nursing workforce skills mix

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 References

 Polit, D.F., and Bech, C.T. “Nursing

Research; principles and Methods” 7th
edition, LWW.
 Burns, N., and Grove, S.K. (2007).
“Understanding Nursing Research;
building an evidence based practice” 4th
edition, New Delhi, Elsevier.
 Anonymous, (n.d). Promoting Research in
Clinical Practice: Strategies for
Implementing Research Initiatives. Journal
of Trauma Nursing, April/June 2009
Acknowledgements
 Dr. Fauziya Ali Ph.D
 Tazeen Saeed Ali RN, RM, BScN, MSc
( Epidemiology)

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