Chapter 1 Introduction to Nursing Research in an Evidence-Based Practice Environment

Copyright 2008 Wolters Kluwer Health | Lippincott Williams & Wilkins

What Is Research? Systematic inquiry using disciplined methods to solve problem Nursing research Systematic inquiry to develop knowledge about issues of importance to the nursing profession

Copyright 2008 Wolters Kluwer Health | Lippincott Williams & Wilkins

Future Directions for Nursing Research

Promotion of evidence-based practice Increased multidisciplinary collaboration

Greater focus on outcomes research

Use of multiple, confirmatory strategies Expanded dissemination of research findings Increased visibility of nursing research
Copyright 2008 Wolters Kluwer Health | Lippincott Williams & Wilkins

Sources of Evidence for Nursing Practice

Tradition Authority Clinical experience; trial and error; intuition Logical reasoning (inductive & deductive) Assembled information (e.g., quality improvement data) Disciplined research
Copyright 2008 Wolters Kluwer Health | Lippincott Williams & Wilkins

What Is a Paradigm? A world view; a general perspective on the complexities of the real world, with certain assumptions about reality Key paradigms for nursing research: Positivist paradigm Naturalistic paradigm
Copyright 2008 Wolters Kluwer Health | Lippincott Williams & Wilkins

What Is the Nature of Reality? Positivist assumption: Reality exists; there is a real world driven by natural causes Naturalistic assumption: Reality is multiple and subjective, constructed by individuals

Copyright 2008 Wolters Kluwer Health | Lippincott Williams & Wilkins

How Is the Inquirer Related to Those Being Studied?

Positivist assumption: The inquirer is independent of those being studied Naturalistic assumption: The inquirer interacts with those being studied; findings reflect the interaction

Copyright 2008 Wolters Kluwer Health | Lippincott Williams & Wilkins

What Is the Role of Values in the Inquiry?

Positivist assumption: Values are held in check; objectivity is sought

Naturalistic assumption: Subjective values are inevitable, desirable

Copyright 2008 Wolters Kluwer Health | Lippincott Williams & Wilkins

How Is Knowledge Obtained?

Positivist Fixed design Discrete, specific concepts Naturalistic Flexible design Holistic

Deductive processes
Control over context Verification of hunches

Inductive processes
Context-bound Emerging interpretations

Quantitative information
Seeks generalizations

Qualitative information
Seeks patterns

Copyright 2008 Wolters Kluwer Health | Lippincott Williams & Wilkins

The Purposes of Nursing Research Identification Description

Exploration
Explanation

Prediction
Control
Copyright 2008 Wolters Kluwer Health | Lippincott Williams & Wilkins