Research EXAM #2 Flashcards
QUANtitative research vs. QUALitative research
Quantitative research: A traditional approach to research in which variables are identified and measured in a reliable and valid way.
— To use measurement to determine the effectiveness of interventions.
— Involves measuring objective characteristics or responses of subjects, and is reported using numbers.
*e.g. — *
Qualitative research: A naturalistic approach to research in which the focus is on understanding the meaning of an experience from the individual’s perspective.
— To use
*e.g. — *
Chapter 5 Objectives
Discuss the rationale for conducting a thorough search of the literature.
Discuss tools that measure the impact of studies.
Review the concept of “open access” and describe how it is making research information more accessible.
Describe the types of literature used to support a research study, including studies that constitute the “evidence pyramid.”
Understand the steps of a well-thought-out search strategy to find evidence-based information.
Compare a literature search for research to a literature search for a practice guideline.
Critically appraise the literature review section of a research article.
Reflect on the ways that research literature can be used as evidence for nursing practice.
Discuss the rationale for conducting a thorough search of the literature.
— Adds credence to the importance of the topic
— Provides studies that can be replicated
— This is a source of time savings for researchers!
— Locates instruments that have already been tested
— Existing instruments save time (and often money)
— No need to develop and test an instrument, which often takes months or years
Chapter 6 Objectives
Establish the link between the research question and the study design.
Evaluate the characteristics that are the basis for design decisions.
Differentiate the kinds of questions that require quantitative, qualitative, and mixed method designs.
Identify the types of variables that reflect the concepts in a research question.
Review designs that describe populations, test relationships, or examine causality.
Relate the type of design to the strength of evidence it can support
What are the basis for design selection?
Purpose to be achieved
Ethical limitations
Measurements needed
Researcher skills and resources
Time frame
Amount of control needed
Ultimate audience
From research question —> design
If you see these words..
— Cause = experimental design
— Change
— Measure an effect
— Test a relationship
— Predict an outcome
— Quantify an occurrence
— Describe a phenomenon
— Develop theory
..it will lead to this design:
— Experimental design
— Correlation
— Regression study
— Prevalence/Incidence
— Qualitative
—Qualitative or quantitative
What is a phenomenon related to research question
—> Examining a meaning of an experience or phenomena (e.g. How did the victims of a bomb threat feel in school? “What was your first rxn of a bomb threat?”)
There are 3 phases of design
1) Identify assumptions about the knowledge to be gained from the study
2) Select a design that serves the purpose of the study
3) Develop detailed plans for implementation of the study
Type of Variables
— Descriptive
— Independent (IV)
— Dependent (DV)
— Extraneous = confounding variables = anything other than the IV and DV
Chapter 7 Objectives
Define a population and discuss the rationale for sampling.
Contrast probability sampling with nonprobability sampling.
Discuss sampling options and select an appropriate strategy.
Describe methods for estimating necessary sample size.
Discuss methods for avoiding selection bias.
Appraise how the sampling method affects research as evidence.
Exploratory vs confirmatory designs
Exploratory —> Research to explore and describe a phenomenon of interest and generate new knowledge.
— often qualitative or mixed method studies; classified as descriptive even if they happen to describe relationships and associations. Explore and describe a given phenomenon.
Methods used = survey, mixed-methods (initial)
E.g. = reasons RNs choose clinical specialty may determine the specific characteristics that the RN was looking for (such as certifications required and work hrs), but also examine the value-based reasons a particular selection was made
— Confirmatory —> Research in which a relationship between variables has been posed and the study is designed to examine this hypothesis.
Common descriptive designs
Survey design — targets instruments or procedures that ask > 1 question that may/may not be answered
Cross-sectional study — can evaluate people of different ages, ethnicity, geographical locations, social backgrounds
Longitudinal study — repeated observations of the ame variables over short/long periods of time
Case study — in-depth, detailed examination of a particular case w/in a real-world context
Single subject design — the subject serves as his/her own control, rather than using another individual/group
Phenomenology — uses research to understand phenomenon’s universal nature by exploring views of those who have experienced it
Ethnography — observing cultures, customs
Research that examines relationships
— Correlation research: quantifies strength and direction of a relationship
— Predictive research: search for variables that can explain or predict an outcome
Chapter 8 Objectives
Discuss the link between the research question and the measurement strategy.
Describe the types of reliability and validity and explain how they are assessed.
Evaluate sources of measurement error and plan strategies to minimize their effects.
Compare the advantages and disadvantages of data collection methods.
Discuss the importance of having clearly prescribed data management procedures.
Determine how the measurement strategy supports application of the data to evidence-based practice.
Deductive vs. Inductive reasoning
Deductive: process of reasoning from the general to the specific
Inductive: process of reasoning from specific observations to broader generalizations
Inductive reasoning
An observation
Exploration of “The Gap”
General focus of interest
Development of the problem statement
Development of the purpose statement
Refinement of the research question(s)
3 Categories for Gray Matter in Research
1) Patient sensitive
2) Staff member sensitive
3) Organizationally sensitive
Numbers are a key element of measurement in nursing because they are?
— Objective
— Standard
— Consistent
— Precise
— Statistically testable
— An accurate representation of attributes
Prevalence vs. Incidence design
— Prevalence differs from incidence in that prevalence includes all cases, both new and preexisting, in the population at the specified time
— Incidence is limited to new cases only
Regression study
— Regression analysis is a way of mathematically sorting out which of those variables does indeed have an impact
The #s used in research measurements to represent the underlying characteristics are what?
Examples of patient-sensitive concepts regarding nursing
Anxiety
Skin integrity
Functional independence
Blood glucose
Blood pressure
Quality of life
Examples of nursing-sensitive concepts
Burnout
Lower back injuries
Medication errors
Pain management
Patient falls
Restraint prevalence
Organizationally sensitive concepts
Cost
Length of stay
Readmisión
Resource utilization
Satisfaction with nursing care
Satisfaction with nursing care
Confirmatory studies
Correlation research
Dependent variable
Descriptive studies
Descriptive variables + example
— Characteristics that describe the sample and provide a composite picture of the subjects of the study; they are not manipulated or controlled by the researcher.
Describe the sample/some characteristic of the phenomenon under study.
— May represent demographic data about the subjects (e.g. age, gender, ethnicity) or measurable characteristics (e.g. BP, weight, hematocrit)
E.g. What is the perception of the effectiveness of complementary medicine among intensive care unit nurses?
Descriptive variable = Perception of effectiveness
Exploratory studies
Research to explore and describe a phenomenon of interest and generate new knowledge.
— often qualitative or mixed method studies; classified as descriptive even if they happen to describe relationships and associations. Explore and describe a given phenomenon.
Methods used = survey, mixed-methods (initial)
Extraneous variables
= confounding variables
— Rival explanations for an outcome: threats to internal/external validity
— Ways to deal with: eliminate, control them, own up to them
Independent variable
Predictive research
Research design
What is a variable?
What is a sample?
Selection of objects/observations taken from a population of interest
(E.g. All apples at an orchard at a given time; wish to know how big all apples at the orchard are, but cannot measure all of them, so we take some from the population)