Week 1 - Nursing Research & Qual/Quan Data

Question 1

Research

Answer 1

systematic inquiry using disciplined methods to answer questions or solve problems

Question 2

Nursing Research

Answer 2

systematic inquiry to develop trustworthy evidence about issues of importance to nurses and their clients (humans)

Question 3

Clinical Nursing Research

Answer 3

nursing research designed to guide nursing practice

Question 4

Evidence Based Practice (EBP)

Answer 4

the use of the best clinical evidence in making patient care decisions

the basis for nursing decisions at the bedside and in clinical practice; influences many recent clinical practice changes

produces decisions that are clinically appropriate, cost-effective, and result in positive client outcomes

Question 5

Around when did the explosion of EBP begin to be used in medicine

Answer 5

1970s

Question 6

What groups priorities can drive what the nursing profession is looking to ask questions about?

Answer 6

NINR - national institute of nursing research

they provide the funding on what they deem valuable research

Question 7

What are some current and future directions for nursing research

Answer 7

continued focus on EBP

ongoing growth of research synthesis

increased emphasis on patient centeredness

relatedly, greater interest in the applicability of research

expanded local research and quality improvement efforts in health care settings

increased focus on health disparities

growing interest in defining and ascertaining clinical significance

Question 8

Just because something is statistically significant…

Answer 8

may not mean it is clinically significant

Question 9

What are some of NINR’s areas of focus in nursing research

Answer 9

Symptom science - promoting personalized health strategies

Wellness - promoting health and preventing disease

Self Management - improving quality of life for individuals with chronic illness

end of life and palliative care - the science of compassion

Question 10

What are some knowledge sources for nursing practice

Answer 10

tradition and “experts” - this is where knowledge originates from

clinical experience and trial-and-error

disciplined research - the best method of acquiring reliable knowledge; Evidence based findings - hopefully can be free from bias

Question 11

Paradigm

Answer 11

worldview or general perspective of the world’s complexities

“a model in our head”

Question 12

Assumption

Answer 12

a principle that is believed to be true without verification

Assumptions are principles we believe to be true WITHOUT verification

Question 13

What are the 2 key paradigms for nursing research

Answer 13

Positivist Paradigm

Constructivist Paradigm

Question 14

Positivism (Positivist Pardigm)

Answer 14

“There are absolute laws in the world”

Belief in absolute laws that are always true like gravity, and we rely on these laws and not just believe something as it just is

Belief of an objective reality

Question 15

What is positivism research like

Answer 15

Generalization is the purpose

The goal is to exert as much control over the research setting as possible to see if we can see something happen and be confident in believing it is due to the independent variable

The researcher can become independent from those being studied, their biases are checked and objective, they use discrete concept and fixed design while exerting control

Question 16

Positivist research collects ___ information

Answer 16

quantifiable (quantitative)

Question 17

Since positivism collects quantitative data, it is a ___ process

Answer 17

Deductive (Hypothesis Testing)

If I do X then Y will occur

Question 18

Constructivism (Constructivist Paradigm)

Answer 18

The idea of no objective reality - knowledge does not truly exist we make it up based on experience - prominent theory in the 19th CE

Belief reality is subjective and we construct it

Question 19

What is Constructivist research like

Answer 19

it is impossible for the researcher to separate from surroundings - so they end up interacting

There are multiple realities so everything is subjective to the researcher

subjectivity is desirable and the focus is on the non quantifiable

purpose is insight and in depth understanding of the multiple realities - we want to explore and find more information not find laws

the design can be flexible and emergent

Question 20

Constructivist research collects ___ information

Answer 20

qualitative

Question 21

Since constructivism collects qualitative data, it is a __ process

Answer 21

inductive process - hypothesis generation

we are making more hypotheses not testing ones we already have

Question 22

Are either paradigm wrong?

Answer 22

No they are both correct and exist - but as we continue to research we must choose which to follow more closely based on the approach and questions we have

Question 23

Overall quantitative research is more closely allied with ___ tradition while qualitative research is associated with ___ tradition

Answer 23

positivist; constructivist

Question 24

Research Methods

Answer 24

the techniques used to structure a study and to gather, analyze, and interpret information

includes qualitative and quantitative research

Question 25

Do Positivists and Constructivists always have to follow quantitative and qualitative research methods respectively?

Answer 25

No it all depends

Question 26

What are some common features shared among both paradigms?

Answer 26

1. Ultimate Goal - increased knowledge 2. External Evidence - words or numbers, both are external still 3. Reliance on Human Cooperation 4. Ethical Constraints 5. Fallibility - neither is perfect

Question 27

What are the various levels of explanation that research can answer

Answer 27

Identification Description Exploration Prediction and Control Explanation

Question 28

Identification Level

Answer 28

what is the phenomenon? what is its name? Qualitative

Question 29

Description Level

Answer 29

How prevalent is the phenomenon (quan) what are the dimensions or characteristics of the phenomenon (qual)

Question 30

Exploration level

Answer 30

What factors are related to the phenomenon (quan) What is the full nature of the phenomenon (qual)

Question 31

Prediction/Control Level

Answer 31

If phenomenon X occurs, will phenomenon Y follow? Can the phenomenon be prevented (Quan)

Question 32

Explanation Level

Answer 32

What is the underlying cause of the phenomenon (Quan) What does the phenomenon mean (Qual)

Question 33

Why does nursing research relate to use regardless of if we join in the research

Answer 33

We will consume research regardless as a function of clinical practice Part of a nurses professional responsibilities is to evaluate and critique research to determine its worth

Question 34

Overall nursing research can...

Answer 34

better patient outcomes in the end

Question 35

How does the terminology for quantitative and qualitative research differ regarding the "Person contributing information"

Answer 35

Quantitative: Subject, Participant, Respondent Qualitative: Study participant, Informant, Phenomena

Question 36

How does the terminology for quantitative and qualitative research differ regarding "What is being investigated"?

Answer 36

Both: Concepts and Constructs Quantitative: Variables

Question 37

Why does qualitative research not have an equivalent to the quantitative research's word of "variable"?

Answer 37

Because qualitative, by definition, means we do not know what we do not know, so we cannot know what we are going to find so we cannot define a variable

Question 38

How does the terminology for quantitative and qualitative research differ regarding "Information gathered"?

Answer 38

Quantitative: Data expressed NUMERICALLY Qualitative: Data is expressed as WORDS *This is a key difference between the two*

Question 39

How does the terminology for quantitative and qualitative research differ regarding "Connections Studied"?

Answer 39

Quantitative: Relationships (we want to see a causal) Qualitative: Patterns of Association

Question 40

Study (Investigation)

Answer 40

Addressing a research question

Question 41

Study Subject -or- Participant

Answer 41

people being studied or cooperating in quantitative study

Question 42

Informants

Answer 42

people cooperating in qualitative study

Question 43

Researchers or INvestigators

Answer 43

person who conducts the research

Question 44

Study Site

Answer 44

the overall location for a study (e.g. Portland)

Question 45

Multisite Studies

Answer 45

studies occurring at multiple study sites tend to yield more diverse groups of study participants potentially enhancing the generalizability of findings

Question 46

Concepts

Answer 46

Abstractions of particular aspects of human behavior or characteristics (ex: pain, weight) in quantitative studies Word description of a thing that exists in the world (ex: A chair) - we have a concept of a chair but chairs can be a little different so there is an infinite variation of the chair and its concept as long as it meets the basic outlines we have for it In research this must be described like with pain and weight and it may need to be defined depending on the question being asked (like is it emotional pain, physical, etc)

Question 47

Phenomena

Answer 47

abstracts in qualitative studies "a thing that happened"

Question 48

Constructs

Answer 48

slightly more complex abstractions (ex: self care) Even MORE abstract than concepts

Question 49

What is a good rule of thumb for using construct v concept?

Answer 49

Use concept to describe a word description of something that exists in nature, but if something does not exist in nature (like self care or wellness) then use construct

Question 50

Theories

Answer 50

knit concepts into a coherent system that purports to explain phenomena Knitting together a concept system in order to explain and predict outcomes

Question 51

Variable

Answer 51

a characteristic or quality that takes on different values, that is, that varies from one person to the next associated with quantitative studies ex: Blood type, weight, length of stay in hospital

Question 52

The term ___ is used almost exclusively in quantitative research

Answer 52

variable

Question 53

Types of Variables

Answer 53

Inherent v Created Independent Dependent

Question 54

Inherent Variable

Answer 54

a variable that cannot be changed

Question 55

Created Variable

Answer 55

a research created this variable

Question 56

Independent Variable

Answer 56

the presumed cause of a dependent variable outcome this is the one we manipulate in quantitative research

Question 57

Dependent Variable

Answer 57

the presumed effect of an independent variable The " Outcome Variable " Ex: Smoking (IV) Cancer (DV)

Question 58

IV and DV terms can be used to indicated what rather than cause and effect

Answer 58

direction of influence

Question 59

Conceptual Definitions

Answer 59

the abstract or theoretical meaning of a concept being studied becomes more important the more abstract the concept is

Question 60

Operational Definitions

Answer 60

the operations (measurements) a researcher must perform to measure the concept and collect the desired information always important regardless of abstractness and needs to be consistent and always included

Question 61

Data

Answer 61

(Singular - Datum) The pieces of information researchers collect in a study ex: Quan researchers collect numeric data and Qual researchers collect narrative (verbal) data

Question 62

How may quantitative and qualitative questioning look different regarding "pain"

Answer 62

Qualitative - words - "can you tell me about your pain?" Quantitative - numbers - can you rate your pain on a scale of 0-10...

Question 63

Relationship

Answer 63

a bond or connection between phenomena

Question 64

Important types of relationships

Answer 64

Cause and Effect Associative Qualitative

Question 65

Cause and Effect Relationship

Answer 65

(Causal) relationship ex: Cig smoking and lung cancer Quan. looked for this and things can usually be manipulated

Question 66

Associative Relationship

Answer 66

(Functional) Relationship ex: Gender and life expectancy We do not have control over these things though so the researcher cannot feasibly or ethically assign the variables There are also many confounding variables present - ex: hormones, social behavior, and the like for gender and life expectancy

Question 67

Qualitative Relationship (Study of Pattern)

Answer 67

Qualitative researchers may seek patterns of association as a way of illuminating the underlying meaning and dimensionality of phenomena of interest Look for patterns to find meaning, it is open ended, without a hypothesis, and we cannot know what we do not know

Question 68

What are the types of Quantitative Research studies?

Answer 68

Experimental and Non experimental

Question 69

Experimental Research

Answer 69

Quan Study Researchers actively introduce an intervention or treatment most often to address therapy questions Called "CLINICAL TRIALS" in med research Tests causal relationships This has to do with the researcher making changes in the IV to measure DV outcomes and see potential causal relationships

Question 70

Nonexperimental Research

Answer 70

Quan Study Researchers collect data without intervening or introducing treatments "Observational Studies" in med research We check what exists in nature when we cannot manipulate and look at Associative (Correlational) Relationships

Question 71

What are the types of Qualitative research studies

Answer 71

Grounded Theory Research Phenomenological Research Ethnographic Research

Question 72

Grounded Theory Research

Answer 72

Qual Study Seeks to understand key social psychological processes that are grounded in reality Social processes is the key word - we want to know how people move through social situations and the ultimate purpose is to generate a hypothesis

Question 73

Phenomenological Research

Answer 73

Qual Study Focuses on the lived experiences of humans It is a descriptive and narrative research It focuses what the meaning of phenomenon and the essence of phenomenon as it is experienced by people

Question 74

Ethnographic research

Answer 74

Qual Study Focuses on the patterns and lifeways of a cultural group and strives to learn from members of a cultural group to understand their worldview and to describe customs and norms Looks at CULTURE - macro or micro

Question 75

What are the 5 phases of a quantitative study

Answer 75

1. Conceptual Phase 2. Designs and Planning Phase 3. Empirical Phase 4. Analytic Phase 5. Dissemination Phase

Question 76

What phases of quantitative study occur before even leaving the office or brain

Answer 76

Phase 1 and 2 Everything needs to be decided - quantitative research cannot be changed mid stream

Question 77

Steps during Phase 1 (Conceptual) of Quantitative Study

Answer 77

1. Formulating/Delimiting the problem 2. Reviewing related literature 3. Undertaking clinical fieldwork 4. Defining the framework and developing conceptual definitions 5. Formulating hypotheses

Question 78

Steps during Phase 2 (Designs and Planning) of Quantitative Study

Answer 78

6. Selecting a research design 7. Developing intervention protocols 8. ID the population 9. Desiging the sampling plan 10. Specifying methods to measure variables and collect data 11. Developing methods to protect human/animal rights 12. Reviewing and finalizing the research plan

Question 79

Steps during Phase 3 (Empirical) of Quantitative Study

Answer 79

13. Collecting data | 14. Preparing data for analysis (ex: Coding the data)

Question 80

Steps during Phase 4 (Analytic) of Quantitative Study

Answer 80

15. Analyzing the data (through statistical analysis) | 16. Interpreting Results

Question 81

Steps during Phase 5 (Dissemination) of Quantitative Study

Answer 81

17. Communicating the findings in a research report (ex: in a journal article) 18. Putting the evidence into practice

Question 82

What is different about Qualitative Study design as compared to quantitative study design

Answer 82

Qualitative researchers continually examine and interpret data, and make decisions about how to proceed based on what has been discovered Everything is always changeable and mead able at any point in the study The design of the study is emergent and appears from data that tis gathered

Question 83

What activities are done for a qualitative study when conceptualizing and planning the study

Answer 83

Identifying the research problem doing a literature review selecting sites and gaining entrée developing an overall approach addressing ethical issues (safeguard participants) deciding what type of data to gather and how to gather them deciding from whom to collect the data deciding how to enhance trustworthiness

Question 84

What activities are done for a qualitative study when conducting the study

Answer 84

UNDERTAKING INTERATIVE ACTIVITIES THROUGH EMERGENT DESIGN: (Fluid and Meadable design) Making sampling decisions Deciding what questions to ask collecting data evaluating integrity and quality analyzing and interpreting data making new decisions communicating findings utilizing findings in practice and future research

Question 85

A nurse researcher is conducting a quantitative study to determine protocols for triaging patients in the emergency department. Which term is generally associated with this type of research? A. Phenomena B. Subject C. Pattern of Association D. Inductive Reasoning

Answer 85

B. Subject Rationale. The person contributing information in a quantitative study is called the subject. In the qualitative study, this person is called the study participant, informant, or key informant. That which is investigated is called a concept in quantitative studies and concept or phenomena in qualitative studies. Pattern of association and inductive reasoning are qualitative terms. Relationships and deductive reasoning are quantitative terms.

Question 86

Tell whether the following statement is True or False: Researchers involved in quantitative research commonly engage in fieldwork.

Answer 86

False Rationale: Researchers engage in fieldwork when performing qualitative studies.

Question 87

What is the best description of a dependent variable? A. Outcome being measured B. A person's gender C. Presumed cause D. Measurements performed

Answer 87

A. Outcome being measured Rationale: The dependent variable is the presumed effect or outcome of an independent variable (the presumed cause). Gender typically is a categorical variable. The operations (measurements) to be performed for data collection refer to the operational definition of a variable.

Question 88

Tell whether the following statement is True or False: Clinical trials are an example of observational research in medicine

Answer 88

False Rationale: Clinical trials are a form of experimental research in medicine. Observational research is nonexperimental research in medicine.

Question 89

What is an example of a question that researchers ask when using phenomenology during qualitative research? A. What is the meaning of the phenomenon experienced by the people? B. What are the psychological phases that characterize a particular event? C. What are the patterns and lifeways of a defined cultural group? D. What is the core variable that explains what is happening in the social scene?

Answer 89

A. What is the meaning of the phenomenon experienced by the people? Rationale: The phenomenological researcher asks the questions What is the essence of this phenomenon as experienced by these people? or What is the meaning of the phenomenon to those who experience it? The focus of most grounded theory studies is on a developing social experience—the social and psychological phases that characterize a particular event or episode. Ethnography provides a framework for studying the patterns and lifeways of a defined cultural group in a holistic fashion.

Question 90

Which action would be performed first when designing and planning a quantitative study? A. Developing intervention protocols B. Identifying the population C. Designing the sampling plan D. Formulating a research design

Answer 90

D. Formulating a research design Rationale: The first step in designing and planning a quantitative study is formulating a research design. This is followed by developing intervention protocols, identifying the population, and designing the sampling plan.