Electronic databases
Bibliographic files that can be accessed by the computer through an online search (i.e., directly communicating with a host computer over telephone lines or the Internet) or by CD-ROM (compact discs that store bibliographic information).
Empirical literature
Data-based literature that presents reports of completed research; also called scientific literature.
Literature review
- A critical summary (i.e., one that points out strengths and weaknesses) of the most important scholarly literature on a particular topic. Scholarly literature can refer to research-based publications and conceptual or theoretical literature.
- The purpose is not to demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of the general area, but to place the hypotheses and/or research questions in the context of previous work to support and explain knowledge that this study intends to fill.
Operational definitions
- Explanations of concepts or variables in terms of how they are defined for a particular study.
- Clear-cut statements of how variables are measured; especially important for quantitative research. Usually found in the methods section.
- Concepts such as “spiritual well-being” must be translated to measurable definitions that are valid reflections of the concepts.
Primary source
Source reported by the person(s) who conducted the research or developed the theory; refers to original data or firsthand facts.
Problem statement
- A statement of the topic under study, outlining all relevant variables within the study, providing justification for the choice of topic, and guiding the selection of the research design.
- Justifies the study by citing background information about the problem and its contributions to practice, theory, or both.
- Should express the relationship between two or more variables.
Purpose statement
- A statement that describes why the study has been created.
- Specifies the overall goal/intent/objectives of the research while clarifying the knowledge to be gained.
- May be a declarative statement, a question, or a hypothesis.
- Should include information about what the researcher intends to do (describe, identify, observe); information about the setting (where the researcher plans to collect data); and information about the subjects.
Refereed journals
A journal that determines acceptance of manuscripts based on the recommendations of peer reviewers.
Replication
The duplication of research procedures in a second study to determine whether earlier results can be repeated.
Scientific literature
A data-based literature presenting reports of completed research.
Secondary source
Source reported by person(s) other than the individual(s) who conducted the research or developed the theory; usually represents a comment, summary, or critique of another’s work.
Theoretical literature
Conceptual articles presenting reports of theories, some of which underlie research studies, and other non-research-related material.
Selecting and defining a research problem begins with _ and ends with _
Identifying a potential problem; at least one hypothesis or research question.
Ethical and philosophical problems are _
Not researchable (but they can be debated).
Factors determining the feasibility of a study
- Availability of subjects.
- Time and money constraints.
- Researchers’ expertise.
- Cooperation of others.
- Available resources.
- Ethical considerations.
Sources of research problems
- Nursing practice or the investigator’s own experience.
- Literature review.
- Theory - less likely to involve a clinical problem.
- Replicating a previous study.
The major purpose of reviewing the literature is to _
Discover what is already known (and what is not known) about the problem.
An appropriate literature review mainly reflects the use of _
Primary sources.
All good literature reviews end with _
A summary statement (or paragraphs) of the state of the science on the topic just discussed.
A good qualitative problem statement _
Conveys a sense of emerging design. [The problem statement is the foundation of the research design.]
A literature review serves several functions. They include: (expanding or further defining the problem statement; helping to establish a theoretical base; identifying relationships between variables; all of the above)
All of the above.
The problem statement is usually found _
In the beginning of the report/article.
The purpose statement is usually found _
At the end of the introduction.
Research problem in the infertility/Watson’s Theory of Human Caring article
Women who experience infertility have psychosocial needs that are not being addressed.
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Chapter 1 Introduction to Nursing Research29
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Chapter 2 Understanding the Research Process and Ethical Issues in Nursing Research44
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Chapter 3 Understanding Evidence-Based Practice33
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Chapter 4 Selecting and Defining a Problem28
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Chapter 5 Applying Appropriate Theories and Conceptual Models29
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Chapter 6 Formulating Hypotheses and Research Questions41
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Chapter 7 Selecting the Sample and Setting44
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Chapter 8 Principles of Measurement53
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Chapter 9 Data Collection Methods34
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Chapter 10 Analyzing Data41
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Chapter 11 Selecting a Quantitative Research Design39
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Chapter 12 Selecting a Qualitative Research Design41
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Chapter 13 Interpreting and Reporting Research Findings23
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Chapter 14 Critiquing Research Reports9
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Research articles18
