The Quantitative Research Process

Readings and Overview

Topic 1
Importance to Nursing

Topic 2
Defining the terms

Topic 3
The research setting

Topic 4
The research process

Topic 5
Pilot study

Topic 6
Research reports

Topic 7
Research critique

Topic 8
Critique phases

Web Assignment

References

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Readings and Overview

Required Materials:

Text:

Burns, N. & Grove, S. K. (2003). Understanding nursing research. (3rd Ed). Philadelphia, PA: W. B. Saunders.

Journal article:

Houston, S. & Jesurum, J. (1999). The quick relaxation technique: Effect on pain associated with chest tube removal. Applied Nursing Research, I2, 196 - 205.

The content in this unit meets ten objectives and is provided through eight topics and one short activity.

Required Assignments:

Objectives

After completion of this unit the participant will be able to:

  1. Define quantitative research and discuss its importance in generating nursing knowledge for nursing practice.
  2. Define the following terms, which are relevant to the quantitative research process: Basic research, applied research, rigor, and control.
  3. Identify the variable settings in which quantitative research is conducted: natural, partially controlled, and highly controlled.
  4. Describe the steps of the quantitative research process and identify them in an article.
  5. Explain the purposes of a pilot study.
  6. Identify sources that publish nursing research reports and distinguish between primary and secondary sources.
  7. Describe the basic guidelines that direct the conduct of a research critique
  8. Describe the four phases of quantitative research critique: Comprehension, comparison, analysis, and evaluation.
  9. Identify nursing organizations represented on the worldwide web and the organizations' research mission.
  10. Describe aspects of the NINR's mission, goals, and funding and the relevance to your practice.

Readings:

Chapter 2 and Chapter 12, pp 399 - 409 Burns & Grove (2003)

CHAPTER PURPOSE
Chapter 2 provides an introduction to quantitative research by discussing relevant terms and describing the steps of the quantitative research process. Overviews of the descriptive, correlational, quasi-experimental, and experimental quantitative approaches are presented. The chapter concludes with tips for reading and conducting an initial critique of research reports.

ASSIGNED READING PURPOSE
The specified pages from Chapter 12 provide information on the parts of an intellectual research critique, guidelines for conducting a research critique, and guidelines for the four critical thinking phases of the research critique process.

ARTICLE PURPOSE

Houston, S. & Jesurum, J. (1999). The quick relaxation technique: Effect on pain associated with chest tube removal. Applied Nursing Research, I2, 196 - 205.

We will use this article to accomplish some of the activities over the next several weeks. You will be asked to identify specific parts of the article, some of the mechanisms used in the design and conduct of the study, and the results.

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