Chapter 2-The research process: components and language of research reports

Question 1

what are the 4 major sections of a research report

Answer 1

-the problem or introduction—describes the gap in knowledge that will be addressed in the research study
o Methods—describes the process of implementing the research study
o Results
o Conclusions—describes the decisions or determinations that can be made about the research problem.

Question 2

what section of a research report would you look in for the implications of the findings for practice

do healthcare providers often end or begin with this section. why?

Answer 2

the conclusion

HCP begin reading a research report from the conclusion because it contains the implications (telling them if it is useful or not)
o Another reason it is read first is that it has fewer unique research terms than the rest of the rport (less complex language)

Question 3

o What is different about conclusions in research reports from other reports?

Answer 3

research reports contain either new knowledge or confirmation of previous knowledge

Question 4

what is a limitation and what sectin should it be included in

Answer 4

o Limitations—aspects of how the study was conducted that create uncertainty concerning the conclusion that can be derived from the study as well as the deisions that can be based on it (often address the sampling ormethods)

it should be found in the conclusions along with the cautions

Question 5

what should the conclusions contain-

Answer 5

-limitations or cautions
-the findings and not JUST the findings but also how they are relevant to practice
o usually contains recommendatiosn for future research regarding the problem of interest

Question 6

which section should this info go in

o Summarizes the specific findings from the study in a condensed manner

Answer 6

results

Question 7

defn of data

Answer 7

o Data—the information collected in a study

Question 8

what does data analysis accomplish and not do

Answer 8

o Organzing and compiling data is data analysis. It pulls elements of info together to present clear picture of info collected, but it doesn’t interpret or describe the implications for practice of that picture of the information

Question 9

themes in relation to results of research report

Answer 9

abstractions that refect phrases, words or ideas that appear repeatedly wen a researcher analyzes what people have said a bout a particular thing. It summarizes and synthesizes discrete ideas or phrases to create a picture from the words collected in the research study

Question 10

what type of results re these examples of

the number of people in a study, avg age of participants, percentage who responded in specifc manner. Standard deviation and mean

Answer 10

descriptive results—summarize info without comparing it with other info

Question 11

defn of significance and why it is important for people reading research

Answer 11

 Significance—is a statistical term indicating a low likelihood that any differences or relationship found in a study happened by hance (imp because we often take small studies and apply them to lg pt populations and we must rule out the possibility of chance)

Question 12

defn of p value and what a p value of .05 means

Answer 12

by p values—these indicate what percentage of the time the results reported would have happened by chance alone eg p of .05 means that in 5/100 times youd expect to get the results by chance alone

Question 13

what is the difference between results and conclusions

Answer 13

results are a summary of the actual findings or info collected in the research study
conclusions summarize the potential meaning, decisions or determinations that can be made based on the info collected

Question 14

t or f data analysis interprets and describes the implications for practice of that picture of the information

Answer 14

DOESNT interpret or describe the implications for practice of that picture of the information

Question 15

what is this?

abstractions that refect phrases, words or ideas that appear repeatedly wen a researcher analyzes what people have said a bout a particular thing

Answer 15

themes

Question 16

what could you use for the computation of a correlation statistic to look for connections between variable

Answer 16

significance and p values

Question 17

If p value is given fr the correlation between two variables as P .01

Answer 17

this tells us the connection found between these two scores would happen by chance alone in <1% of samples

Question 18

multivariate what does this mean and what must be written about it

Answer 18

indicates the study reports findings for 3 or more factors and includes the relationships among those different factors

in the book they also used an example of only 2??

Question 19

what is logistic regression

Answer 19

a statistical procedure that allows us to look at relationships between more than two factors and test whether those relationships are likely to occur by chance

Question 20

do you use the results or the methods section to understand what was implemented in a study and who was studied

Answer 20

methods for a more complete version

Question 21

which kind of method eg quantitative, qual, mixed

Focus on subjective info and never try to control or predict the phenomenon of interest

Answer 21

qualitative

Question 22

which method

focus on understanding and breaking down the phenomenon into parts to see how they do or do not connect.

Answer 22

quantitative

Question 23

which method

focus on understanding the complexity of humans in the context of their lives. Attempts to build a complete picture of a phenomenon of interest. Involves the collection of info as its expressed by people within the normal context of their lives.

Answer 23

qualitative

Question 24

which method

Collecting info thats specific and limited to the particular parts of vents or phenomena being studied.

Answer 24

quantitave

Question 25

does qual or quant break things down?
which of these assembles info into a whole picture?
what does mixed methods do?

Answer 25

quant studies things by isolating them and looking at the small details

qual assembles info into a whole picture

mixed uses both so it is considered holistic

Question 26

regardless of wht kind of methods were used the methods section of a research report generally contains info about what 3 things

Answer 26

 The sample
 The data collection procedures
 The data analysis methods

Question 27

what method would be concerned with ensuring the subgroup or sample and what happens to them is similar is emphasized in quantitative research methods

Answer 27

quantitative

Question 28

what should the sampling subsection contain

Answer 28

 The sampling subsection describes how people were chosen, what was done to find them, and what if any limits or restrictions were placed on who or which research could be done in the dtudy.
 It gen describes how many people declined to be in the study, withdrew or were not included in it for specific reasons.

Question 29

what should the sampling subsection contain

Answer 29

 The sampling subsection describes how people were chosen, what was done to find them, and what if any limits or restrictions were placed on who or which research could be done in the dtudy.
 It gen describes how many people declined to be in the study, withdrew or were not included in it for specific reasons.

Question 30

if using multiple studies to nswer a research question what might you use (what kind of paper would you be writing? not sure)

what kind of sampling method would you use

Answer 30

metasynthesis

more complex sampling method involving the analysis of info about each indiv studys report in ordr to id the sample of reports that best met the criteria of the stdy. They would then describe how studies were chosen and why not

Question 31

what kind of procedures would they use for qualitative research

Answer 31

 Procedures for qualitative involves systematically planned activitie eg observations or open and unstructured interviews of people in their natural life situations. My be recorded to note each pause intonation etc. Detailed notes may be taken eg on participants expression. Naturally occurring conditions and subjectivity characterize qualitative methods

Question 32

what are measures (in relation to procedures of research methods)

Answer 32

 Measures are the specific meths used to assign number or numbers to an aspect or factr being studied

Question 33

t or f the terms used in research have a range of meanings rather than a single, discrete, locked in meaning

Answer 33

true

Question 34

the problem section of the report aka ____

what is described here

Answer 34

introduction

section of research report describes the gap in knowledge thats addressed b the research study. They explain why the research was needed, why it was carried out in that manner and oftn what the researcher is predicting or asking

Question 35

why does the problem or introduction section generally contain a background review subsection

Answer 35

• the inrto or problem section gen includes a background or literature review subsection thats focused summary of whats already been published. This shows where the gaps in knowledge are. The literature review isn’t limited to research studies

Question 36

t or f
all studies have a hypothesis

you can use a hypothesis when there are existing theories or you have ideas of what relationships are expected to be found

Answer 36

• hypothesis—a prediction regarding the relationships or effects of selected factors on other factors. Not every study has a hypothesis. To have hypothesis there must be existing knowledge

Question 37

what is logistical regression and why is it used

what section of the research report would this be in

Answer 37

 Logistic regression—is a statistical procedure that allows us to look at relationships between more than two factors and test whether those relationships are likely to occur by chance

found in the results

Question 38

what are the similarities between the nursing process and the research process

Answer 38

they are both

• processes with steps
• a form of problem solving
• complex puzzle

Question 39

what are the differences between the nursing and research process
in relation to the purpose

Answer 39

purpose of research is to devlop knowledge

purpose of nursing process is to provide scientificlly? text stops but maybe to provide EBP?

Question 40

what are the differences between the nursing and research process
in terms of planning and implementing

Answer 40

research-plans and implements knowledge acquisition while nursing plans and implements delivery of care

Question 41

what are the differences between the nursing and research process
what is done with the data afterwards

Answer 41

nursing-evaluation concerned with outcomes

research-analysis and interpretation concerned with knowing

Question 42

what is meta synthesis

what is this a form of

Answer 42

• metasynthesis—a report of a study of a group of single research studies using qualitative methods

Question 43

what is meta-analysis

Answer 43

• meta-analysis—quantitative approach to knowledge dev that applies stats to numeric results from different studies that addressed the same research proble to look for combined results that wouldn’t happen by chance alone

Question 44

meta-analysis and meta-synthesis are both similar to

Answer 44

systematic review

Question 45

defn of systematic review and how is it different than metasynthesis or metaanalysis

Answer 45

addresses a specific clinical question by summarizing multiple research studies along with other evidence. Its different than metasynth or analysis as they addres clinical uetions and they don’t gen apply statistical procedures to the info ollected from indiv studies or develop systematic metasummary of the content of each study

Question 46

would systematic review or metasynthesis or analysis use a specific pt care or clinical practice questionand why

Answer 46

systematic review has speicific question because the intent of the review is to provide evidence for practice

Question 47

would metasynthesis and metaanalysis have more defined search methods than systematic review

Answer 47

usually yes, they have clearly identified methods with inclusion and exclusion criteria

Question 48

what is quality improvment and how does it relate to the research process

Answer 48

• Quality improvement—resembles but differs from research process. it is often based on research which informs the process
It is a process of eval of healthcare services to see if they meet specified standards or outcomes of care and to identify how they can be improved.

• Quality imp is all activities that contribute to defining, designing, assessing, monitoring, and improving the quality of healthcare. Focus on patient, systems and processes, measurement, teamwork

Question 49

what kind of questions does quality improvement ask
specific name for this

what kind of relationships do quality improvement studies look at

Answer 49

• The questions in QI are whether a certain set of actions is occurring and how desirable outcomes can be facilitated (a type of descriptive research question
• QI studies often examine relationships among factors that may affect the outcome or actions of interest.

Question 50

what is process improvement and how does it compare to metasynth and analysis, sytematic review

Answer 50

• Process improvement—is a mgmt system in which all participants involved strive to improve customer satisfaction. Meanwhile, meta analysis, meta synth, systematic reviews try to find the best practices to improve pt outcomes while process improvment tries to improve the process in which care delivery is carried out

Question 51

process improvement vs quality improvement

what principles do they share

how are they different

Answer 51

• Process improvement is a mgmt system while quality improvement sees to find practice related answers. Despite these similarities they are often synonymous.
• Process and quality imp use the same quality principles
• Process imp based extensively in business industry to get to customer satisfaction, efficiency

Question 52

how is quality improvement different than the research process

Answer 52

• Quality improvement resembles traditional research but differences are: the problems address in QImp study usually concerns whether certain expected clinical care were completed. QI doesn’t so much try to understand phenomenon but rather studies what is being done or whats happened

Question 53

what is step 1 of the research process and what does this entail

Answer 53

define and describe a knowledge gap or problem

o Often look at previous research
o The researchers question often changes
o Culminates in statement of a problem

Question 54

what are the remaining steps in research process after

define and describe a knowledge gap or problem

Answer 54

• Step 2 develop a detailed plan to gather info to address the problem or gap in knowledge

• Step 3 implement the study
o May involve gathering questionnaires, organizing, analyzing info
o The outcomes are recorded in the results section

• Step 4 analyse and interpret the results of the study
• Step 5 disseminate the findings from the research study

Question 55

if you have to make a change to your study’s plan do you need to record this

Answer 55

yes, in the methods section

Question 56

in qualitative research does all interpretation of data take place in the “analysis and interpretation of results” step of the research process

Answer 56

o In qualitative research this is often woven closely into third step as the analysis often guide further data collection

Question 57

where would you find the meaning of findings vs the findings themselves

Answer 57

the findings would be in results and the interpretation of meaning would likely be in conclusions section

Question 58

Grounded theory

Quant or qual

Answer 58

Qualitative