MODULE ON NURSING RESEARCH

Prepared by: Mrs. Joylyn L. Mejilla

Mrs. Elvira Urgel
Mrs. Pearl Ed G. Cuevas

RESEARCH – (Kerlinger) systematic, empirical,

controlled & critical investigation of a hypothetical
proposition related to natural phenomenon.
- must be conducted to affirm or deny a hypothesis.

PHENOMENON – anything that affects human life

- disease, signs & symptoms, procedures, MD-
doctors, RNs- Registered Nurses.

HYPOTHESIS – educated guess, scientific guess, tentative

statement of a supposed answer.
- not known yet if true of false, right or wrong

NURSING RESEARCH – conduct of investigation

relevant to nursing.

4 major Characteristics of a Scientific Research

1. Systematic – follow step by step process. From
identification of problem to conclusion.
2. Empirical – proper objective. To collect data, facts &
evidence to support hypothesis.
3. Controlled – proper planning/ direction. Research
design.
4. Critical investigation – fact finding investigation.
PURPOSE OF A SCIENTIFIC NURSING RESEARCH

D – Descriptive purpose. Gain richer familiarity

regarding a phenomena. Observation. 100% known to RN.
E – Exploratory purpose. 50% still unknown to RN.
E – Experimental purpose. Perform manipulation.
Perform intervention. What to find out cause & effect.
D – Developmental purposes. For improvement of
system of care.

HISTORY
F Nightingale – birthplace. Italy
Training ground: Germany
Greatest contribution: Research based-
Environmental theory &
Training of RNs in Crimean War.
School: St. Thomas School of Nursing

FOCUS OF NURSING RESEARCH

Patient –center of focus on nurse’s research endeavors.

a. Patient care
b. Patient satisfaction
c. Patient safety
Problem resolution in the clinical setting – nursing
challenges that require solution.
a. Quality Improvement
10 MAJOR STEPS

1. Identification or formulation of research problem

2. Review of related literature
3. Conceptualization of conceptual/ theoretical
framework
4. Formulation/ Adapting hypothesis
5. Choosing the appropriate design
6. Choosing sample from population
7. Conducting final study or pilot study
8. Collection of data base
9. Analysis & interpretation of data base
10. Disseminating the conclusion &
recommendation.

Sources (CLIENT) of good problem

C – Concepts

L – Literatures

I – Issues

E – Essays

N – Nursing problems

T – Theories
Characteristics of a good research problem (GReFINS)

G – General applicability – result should be helpful or

applicable to all.

a.)Basic/ Pure – for personal knowledge

b.) Applied – focus is solving problems of
others

Re – Researchable – collectable & abundant in data

F – Feasible (can be done) and measurable

a.) time
b.) money/ cost
c.) participants
d.) instruments
e.) experience
f.) considering ethics of a good researcher

I – Important

N – Novelty or original - avoid plagiarism.

S – Significant
ETHICS OF A RESEARCHER: (SCIENTIFIC)

S – Scientific & Objective always (in good faith)

C – Consent
I – Integrity
E – Equitable (with appropriate acknowledgments)
liable for.
N – Noble – Respect 3 basic rights of research
samples
T – Truthfulness
I – Importance of topic to nursing profession
C – Courage to look for data.

Reminder:

Legal owner of chart: Hospital

Legal owner of data in the chart: Patient
Plagiarism – illegal replication of data in the chart: with no
consent & acknowledgement.

3 rights of sample/ patient

1.) Right not to be harmed

-Right from physical , mental & moral harm
2.) Right to self determination – get consent & right
to withdraw consent
3.) Right to privacy
a.) anonymity – privacy of identity of informant
b.) confidentiality – name given but privacy of
information and data.
Negligence
1.) Commission – done a negligent act, unacceptable in
standard of practice.
2.) Ommission – didn’t do anything. No intervention
done.

Mental Harm:
1.) Assault – being threatened causes mental fear.
Ex. moral harm, slander, oral defamation, libel.
2.) Assault & Battery – mental fear with physical harm.

Researchable problem
A study on the difference in financial income of Filipinos
working in NYC & QC (comparative & basic research)

Variables – anything that is subject to change on

manipulation.
 1.) Independent variable – target population IV –
stimulus intervention
2.) Dependent variable – response DV – response
measured

Independent Target Dependent Variable

variable Population (Response)
(stimulus) (Organism)
Financial income early
Place of work Filipino RN review January
Reviewers

Theoretical Foundation
Pavolovian Theory
(SOR) Stimulus Organism Response

Other variables-
Intervening variables comes between independent &
dependent. Ex. Organismic variable internal factors age,
sex, gender, color.

Extraneous variable – external influences can be changed.

Ex. citizenship, educational status.

Dichotomus variable – 2 choices/ results. Ex. Male or

Female.

Polychotmus – multiple choices/ multi variables.

THE RESEARCH PROCESS

 1.) Identity Problem
2.) Statement of the Purpose – objective (SMART)

S – smart
M – measurable
A – attainable
R – realistic
T – time bound (Scope and delimitation)

3.) Definition of terms

Conceptual definition – dictionary meaning

Operational definition – based on use of research char
of problem
Example:
Toxic – conceptual – waste products
Operational – very busy day for RNs

4.) Framework of the study

Theory – relationship between study concepts

Conceptual framework- Illustration showing relationship
between variables in the study
Paradigm- diagrammatic presentation / illustration of
conceptual framework.

5.) Review of Related Literature and Studies

Source of review literature
1. Conceptual Sources – authors & conceptualists
(Ex.Lippincott, Mosbys)
- Found in the library: for general use and can be
sold.
2. Research sources – researchers & theorists
(Ex. Maslow’s Hierarchy of needs)
- Can be searched but cannot be sold.

6.) Statement of the Hypothesis

Types of Hypothesis:
1. NULL hypothesis (-) no relationship, no difference
between 1 variable to another
Ex. There’s no difference between professional
Opportunities in the US & RP

2. Alterative, simple or operational hypothesis – (+)

show a relationship between 1 variable to another
Ex. Filipino RNs have more professional opportunities
in the US

3. Complex hypothesis – shows a relationship bet 2 or

more variables to another.
Ex. Filipino RNs who worked for 5 yrs & passed all
foreign tests have the opportunities to acquire higher
starting salaries and insurance abroad.

4. Directional Hypothesis – specifies the direction

of relationship between variables
 Ex. Filipino RNs working in USA have more
professional opportunities than those working in the
Philippines

5. Non directional Hypothesis – no specific direction

Ex. There is a difference between Filipino RNs
working in the USA on different states.

7.) Research Design/ Methodology

Choosing appropriate design:

- skeletal framework of the research study.

Research Design:
According to application or motive
According to approach
According to data

Method used applicable to quantitative research

Case study – focus 1 patient only or 1 family

Research Design

Application motive Approach

Data

Basic / pure Applied

Quantitative Qualitative

(majority answer)
facts (single pt)

Survey
Case study

Non experimental
1.) Observe sample subject
2.) Massive participation
3.) Describes & records
4.) Natural setting – where the population exists

Types of non experimental research design.

 1. Historical – happened in the past
- collect written, published, circulated or
archived data like the patient’s chart.
Ex. Health practices during Crimean War

2. Expost Facto/after facts (Retrospective)

- Antecedent facts happened
Study a group of people who have naturally
experienced particular phenomena related to a
problem & has something to do with present
study.
- Interview only, no manipulation. Subject is
related to present problem.

3.Prospective – focus is the future time to look for

data existing on the subject with some result of
future happening.
Focus: weekend review (Present)
Result: board exam this coming June (Future)

4. Descriptive – no intervention but merely observe &

collect data.
Ex. Study on absenteeism in St Lukes.
Study on environmental pollution in Quezon City.

Types:
 a.) Comparative study – similarity & difference of
variables
ex. Environmental pollution in Manila and Quezon
City.

b.) Correlatonal – relationship between variables

ex. Environmental pollution & increased TB cases
in Manila

c.) Evaluative – effects/ results

ex. Effects of environmental pollution to women’s
health.

d.) Survey type – data collection based on majority

result

Types or survey research

1.) According to population sample
Ex. Large groups & small group sample
2.) According to data gathering method
a. Face to face method
- can get response/ feed back right away
b. Mailed survey method
-the problem is in data collection
3.) According to time orientation

Cross sectional & Longitudinal – done for an extend period

of time. It has 2 or more # of groups but has 1 core group
for long term study. The groups are unidentical.
- purpose: development of a study on comparison.
Experimental:
1.) Active manipulation – treatment or intervention
done
2.) Active participation to sample population
3.) Controlled setting – laboratory research units

Steps in experimental type of research design

1. controlled stage – discipline/ direction

control group – will not be subjected to intervention
experimental group- will be manipulated and
subjected to intervention.

2. Randominization – choose sample by chance

3. Manipulation – intervention given to

experimental group.

4. Measurements of effect – determine the results of

the experiment.

Quasi experimental- when research lacks the steps in an

experimental study.

8.) Choosing the population sample

Types of sampling
1.) Probability – choose sample by chance.
Types of probability:

Incidental sampling – ex. Only those present in

the hospital coffee shop.

a.) Simple random sampling – equal chance or

opportunity to be chosen
- done in identical or equal footing

b.) Stratified random sampling – create

subdivided population (divide into 4 levels) or
substrata before doing randominization.

c.) Cluster random sampling – create sub areas or

sub clusters.

d.) Systematic random sampling – sampling

frame is used.

Ex. 3,000 HIV patients in Phil – write list of names

appearing in population, use multiple numbers in
choosing.

2. Non probability sampling – not by chance

- has a pre-selected group.
 a.) Accidental or convenience sampling.
Criteria – immediate availability/ accessibility
of sample.

b.) Purposive/ judgmental sampling.

- based on personal knowledge/ information
that the subjects can contribute to the research.
ex. Study of Lived experience with Multiple
Sclerosis. Choose only clients with the
disease condition.

c.) Snowball sampling – based on last referral

d.) Quota sampling – setting a certain criteria,

with bias. The researcher will choose only who
meets the quota.

9.) Data Collection Strategy

Methods of collection of data

1.) Questionnaire – source of collection of data
 - pen & paper type of data

3 Major Types of Questionnaire

a. Dichotomasis – (2) – answerable by T/F,
Y/N, right or wrong
b. Checklist style – rating scale 1,2,3,4,5 poor,
fair, average. . .
c. Multiple choice – a) man b) dog c) cat d) all
of the above

2.) Records – easiest to collect and get pre existing data.

Ex. journals, essays, documents, newspapers
Meta Analysis- Quantitative statistical data
Meta synthesis- Qualitative textual data

3.) Interviewer – use oral communication on interviews.

a. Structured – with checklist formal
b. Non structured – with open ended questions.
-The sample will expand on topic researcher will
illicit answers through active listening.

4.) Observation – ocular approach

a. Participant – journey with the
respondents
b. Non-participant – passive observer but
uses tools to determine results of data.

2 main problems in colleting data

 1. Hawthorne’s effect – problem in
experimental design, data derived may be
inaccurate because the respondents are
conscious that they are being observed. Ex.
During PAASCU accreditation –
management keeps school clean and
students trained before PAASCU visits the
school.

2. Halo Effect – special relationship between

the researcher and the respondents cause
inaccurate results for the study due to bias.
- the solution of researchers to avoid halo
effect is to do the double blind research
method.

Double Blind research – the respondents and research

assistants are blinded on the treatment/ intervention being
used. Therefore, no bias or prejudice on treatment will
emerge. This is mostly done on experimental research.
- gives accuracy to the data being collected
because the respondents are not conscious of the treatment
given to them. Thus, minimizes bias.

10.) Data Analysis

Analysis of data phase
- research is forming a body of knowledge for the
purpose providing an answer.

2 Methods in presenting your analysis

1.) Quantitative – using numerical or graphical
presentation of answer. Statistical Significance.
ex. 50% of q 500 Filipino RNs becomes 75% richer
after working abroad.
- or use pie chart, bar graph, line graph to
statistically outline the answers.

2.) Qualitative – narrative approach using words (text)

& facts. Thematic Significance.
ex. Majority of High School graduates prefer to
enroll in the Nursing course than in Physical Therapy.