nursing research process

1. The Research
Process
Madhusmita Nayak, Asst. Professor, SNC, SAODTU

2. Research Definition
• The Word research derived from the word Re means ‘once
again’ search means ‘to look for something or examine closely
and carefully’, ‘to look for information’, ‘to test and try’ or ‘to
prove’.
• Research is a scientific, systemic, controlled, orderly and
objective investigation to develop, refine, and expand body of
knowledge.
• Nursing research is defined as systemic search for the
knowledge about issue of importance to nursing. (Polit and
Hungler, 2001)
• Nursing research is a way to identify new knowledge, improve
professional educational and practices and use of resources
Madhusmita Nayak, Asst. Professor, SNC, SAODTU

3. Terminology
• Qualitative research: Research that is concerned with
the subjective meaning of an experience to an individual.
• Quantitative research: Research that is concerned with
objectivity, tight controls over the research situation, and
the ability to generalize findings
• Operational definition: "The definition or description of a
study variable that specifies how it will be observed and
measured in the study."
Madhusmita Nayak, Asst. Professor, SNC, SAODTU

4. Terminology contd..
• Assumption: A statement of principles whose correctness has not
been proven, but is taken for granted on the basis of logical
reasoning". “Almighty god present everywhere“
• Hypothesis: "A statement of predicted or expected relationships
between the variables of the research (dep. & indep. variables)".
Hypothesis lead to empirical studies that are seeking to confirm or
disconfirm these predictions.
• Data- set of observation
• Information- meaningful data
• Variable- "A concept that is observable, measurable, and has a
dimension that can vary". For example, temperature is a variable
that is observable, measurable, and varies from high to low.
Madhusmita Nayak, Asst. Professor, SNC, SAODTU

5. Terminology contd..
• Validity: Degree or extent to which the tool or instrument
measures what it is supposed to measure". For example,
a ruler measures the height not the weight, while the
scale measures the weight not the height.
• Reliability: “Degree or extent of consistency or
dependability with which a study tool measures the
variable over time, by different persons".
Madhusmita Nayak, Asst. Professor, SNC, SAODTU

6. Terminology contd..
• Population: Group of people who are going to be studied,
and to whom should the study result apply". For example,
bed-side nurses are the population in a research studying the
factors affecting the nurse's workload.
• Target population: The entire group of people or objects to
which the researcher wishes to generalize the findings of a
study.
• Accessible population: The group of people or objects that
is available to the researcher for a particular study.
• Sample: "Are those persons – in the population- from whom
data will be actually collected, and from whom generalizations
about the population will be made".
Madhusmita Nayak, Asst. Professor, SNC, SAODTU

7. Objectives Research Process
• To gain familiarity with a phenomenon or to achieve new
insights into the subject.
• To portray accurately the characteristics of a particular
individual, situation or a group.
• To determine the frequency with which something occurs
or with which it is associated with something else
• To test a hypothesis of a causal relationship between
variables
Madhusmita Nayak, Asst. Professor, SNC, SAODTU

8. Purpose of the Research Process
• By Using the Scientific Process to Evaluate the Programs,
• Generalizations
• Selective Observation
• Resistance to Change
Madhusmita Nayak, Asst. Professor, SNC, SAODTU

9. 7 STEPS OF RESEARCH PROCESS
• Step One: Define research problem
• Step Two: Review of literature
• Step Three: Formulate hypotheses
• Step Four: Preparing the research design
• Step Five: Data collection
• Step Six: Data analysis
• Step Seven: Interpretation and report writing
Madhusmita Nayak, Asst. Professor, SNC, SAODTU

10. Madhusmita Nayak, Asst. Professor, SNC, SAODTU

11. Step One: Define Research Problem
• There are two types of research problem,
– relate to states of nature
– relationship between variables.
• Essentially two steps are involved in define research
problem
– understanding the problem thoroughly and
– rephrasing the same into meaningful terms from an point of
view.
Madhusmita Nayak, Asst. Professor, SNC, SAODTU

12. Step Two: Review of Literature
• Once the problem is define, a brief summary of it should
be written down. It is compulsory for a research worker
writing a thesis for a Ph.D. degree to write a synopsis of
topic and submit it to necessary committee or the
research board for approval.
Madhusmita Nayak, Asst. Professor, SNC, SAODTU

13. Step Three: Formulate Hypothesis
• Formulate hypothesis is tentative assumption made in
order to draw out and test its logical or empirical
consequences. Hypothesis should be very specific and
limited to the piece of research in hand because it has to
be tested.
• The role of the hypothesis is to guide the researcher by
delimiting the area of research and to keep him on the
right track.
Madhusmita Nayak, Asst. Professor, SNC, SAODTU

14. Step Four: Preparing the Research
Design
• The function of research design is to provide for the
collection of relevant evidence with minimal expenditure
of effort, time and money.
• Research purpose may be grouped into four categories,
viz., (1) Exploration, (2) Description,(3) Diagnosis, and (4)
Experimentation.
Madhusmita Nayak, Asst. Professor, SNC, SAODTU

15. Step Five: Data Collection
• Primary data can be collected through:
– By Observation
– Through personal interview
– Through telephone interview
– By mailing of questionaries
– Through Schedules
Madhusmita Nayak, Asst. Professor, SNC, SAODTU

16. Step Six: Data Analysis
• The analysis of data requires a number of closely related
operations such as establishment of categories.
• This stage mainly include :
1. Coding
2. Editing
3. Tabulation
Madhusmita Nayak, Asst. Professor, SNC, SAODTU

17. Step Seven: Interpretation and Report
Writing
• Researcher has to prepare the report of what has been
done by him.
• Writing of report includes:
1. the preliminary pages;
2. the main text, and
3. the end matter.
Madhusmita Nayak, Asst. Professor, SNC, SAODTU

18. Madhusmita Nayak, Asst. Professor, SNC, SAODTU