Handbook of Nursing Research & Biostatistics

1. Introduction To Nursing Research
Research ........................................................................................ 1
Goals of Research ........................................................................ 1
Research Terminology ................................................................ 1
Variables ....................................................................................... 2
Types of Variables ....................................................................... 2
Conceptual Definition ................................................................ 3
Operational Definition ............................................................... 3
Data ............................................................................................... 4
Relationships ................................................................................ 4
In quantitative studies............................................................ 4
In qualitative studies .............................................................. 4
Nursing Research ........................................................................ 5
Importance of Research in Nursing .......................................... 5
Scope of Nursing Research ........................................................ 5
Consumers of nursing research ............................................ 6
Producers of nursing research .............................................. 6
Other activities on the continuum ........................................ 6
Historical Evolution of Research in Nursing .......................... 7
NCNR–National center for nursing research ..................... 8
Future Directions for Nursing Research .................................. 9
Heightened focus on EBP ...................................................... 9
Development of a stronger evidence-base through
more rigorous methods and multiple,
confirmatory strategies .......................................................... 9
Greater emphasis on systematic integrative review .......... 9
Expanded local research in health care setting .................. 9
Strengthening of multidisciplinary collaboration ............ 10
Expanded dissemination of research findings ................. 10
Increasing visibility of nursing research ........................... 10
Increasing focus on cultural issues and health
disparities ............................................................................... 10
Paradigms for Nursing Research ............................................ 11
Positivist paradigm ............................................................... 11
Major concepts ...................................................................... 11
The naturalistic paradigm ................................................... 12
Important Points to be Noted .................................................. 14
Contents
xiv Handbook of Nursing Research and Biostatistics
Global Nursing Priorities ......................................................... 14
Purposes of Nursing Research ................................................ 15
Purposes of Quantitative Research ......................................... 16
Purposes of Qualitative Research ........................................... 16
2. Evidence-based Practice .......................................................... 17
Sources of Evidence for Nursing Practice.............................. 17
Tradition and authority ....................................................... 17
Clinical experience ................................................................ 18
Trial and error ....................................................................... 18
Intuition .................................................................................. 18
Logical reasoning .................................................................. 18
Assembled information ....................................................... 19
Disciplined research ............................................................. 19
Evidence-based Practice (EBP) ................................................ 19
Nature of EBP ............................................................................ 20
Research Utilization .................................................................. 21
Need for research utilization............................................... 21
Advantages of research utilization .................................... 21
Types of research utilization ............................................... 22
EBP in Nursing .......................................................................... 22
Resources for EBP...................................................................... 23
Systematic reviews ............................................................... 23
Clinical practice guidelines ................................................. 24
Other pre-appraised evidence ............................................ 24
Research Findings on EBP ....................................................... 24
Factors Influencing Research Utilization ............................... 25
Organizational factors .......................................................... 25
Barriers to Research Utilization .............................................. 25
Nature of disseminated research studies .......................... 25
Characteristics of the clinician ............................................ 26
Nurse researcher characteristics ......................................... 26
The health care agency administration ............................. 26
Research Critique ...................................................................... 27
Purposes of research critique .............................................. 27
Dimensions of research critique ......................................... 28
Broad dimensions of research critique .............................. 28
Overall Critique of Research ................................................... 29
Quantitative research report ............................................... 29
Qualitative research report .................................................. 30
EBP in Individual Nursing Practice........................................ 30