Chapter 4 Selecting and Defining a Problem

Question 1

Electronic databases

Answer 1

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).

Question 2

Empirical literature

Answer 2

Data-based literature that presents reports of completed research; also called scientific literature.

Question 3

Literature review

Answer 3

1. 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.
2. 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.

Question 4

Operational definitions

Answer 4

1. Explanations of concepts or variables in terms of how they are defined for a particular study.
2. Clear-cut statements of how variables are measured; especially important for quantitative research. Usually found in the methods section.
3. Concepts such as “spiritual well-being” must be translated to measurable definitions that are valid reflections of the concepts.

Question 5

Primary source

Answer 5

Source reported by the person(s) who conducted the research or developed the theory; refers to original data or firsthand facts.

Question 6

Problem statement

Answer 6

1. 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.
2. Justifies the study by citing background information about the problem and its contributions to practice, theory, or both.
3. Should express the relationship between two or more variables.

Question 7

Purpose statement

Answer 7

1. A statement that describes why the study has been created.
2. Specifies the overall goal/intent/objectives of the research while clarifying the knowledge to be gained.
3. May be a declarative statement, a question, or a hypothesis.
4. 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.

Question 8

Refereed journals

Answer 8

A journal that determines acceptance of manuscripts based on the recommendations of peer reviewers.

Question 9

Replication

Answer 9

The duplication of research procedures in a second study to determine whether earlier results can be repeated.

Question 10

Scientific literature

Answer 10

A data-based literature presenting reports of completed research.

Question 11

Secondary source

Answer 11

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.

Question 12

Theoretical literature

Answer 12

Conceptual articles presenting reports of theories, some of which underlie research studies, and other non-research-related material.

Question 13

Selecting and defining a research problem begins with _ and ends with _

Answer 13

Identifying a potential problem; at least one hypothesis or research question.

Question 14

Ethical and philosophical problems are _

Answer 14

Not researchable (but they can be debated).

Question 15

Factors determining the feasibility of a study

Answer 15

1. Availability of subjects.
2. Time and money constraints.
3. Researchers’ expertise.
4. Cooperation of others.
5. Available resources.
6. Ethical considerations.

Question 16

Sources of research problems

Answer 16

1. Nursing practice or the investigator’s own experience.
2. Literature review.
3. Theory - less likely to involve a clinical problem.
4. Replicating a previous study.

Question 17

The major purpose of reviewing the literature is to _

Answer 17

Discover what is already known (and what is not known) about the problem.

Question 18

An appropriate literature review mainly reflects the use of _

Answer 18

Primary sources.

Question 19

All good literature reviews end with _

Answer 19

A summary statement (or paragraphs) of the state of the science on the topic just discussed.

Question 20

A good qualitative problem statement _

Answer 20

Conveys a sense of emerging design. [The problem statement is the foundation of the research design.]

Question 21

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)

Answer 21

All of the above.

Question 22

The problem statement is usually found _

Answer 22

In the beginning of the report/article.

Question 23

The purpose statement is usually found _

Answer 23

At the end of the introduction.

Question 24

Research problem in the infertility/Watson’s Theory of Human Caring article

Answer 24

Women who experience infertility have psychosocial needs that are not being addressed.

Question 25

Purpose statement in the infertility/Watson’s Theory of Human Caring article

Answer 25

The purpose of the study is to investigate the effects of nursing care based on Watson’s Theory of Nursing Care on infertility-related distress, perceived self-efficacy, and adjustment related to infertility.

Question 26

A “current” scholarly source is one that has been published with the last _

Answer 26

3-5 years.

Question 27

Landmark studies

Answer 27

Significant research studies that generated knowledge that influences the discipline and sometimes society as a whole. Such studies may not be very recent.

Question 28

Examples of electronic databases

Answer 28

CINAHL (Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health); Ovid; MEDLINE; PubMed; Psych Info; AIDSLINE; Science Direct; ERIC (Educational Resources Information Center).