Course Title: Nursing Research Methods

Course Designation: NURS441

Computer Number: 0703703 (Academic Year:2021/2022)
Course Credits: 3 Credit Hours Bridging Program
Duration: 16 weeks
Pre-requisites:
E-Learning: Blackboard Available

Course Description:
This course is an in-depth examination of the scientific process of research as it relates to nursing and

health care; providing the necessary knowledge and skills for identification of nursing researchable

problems, critical appraisal of research studies; evaluating the adequacy of research findings in terms of

their merits and potential for utilization in practice through applying approaches of evidence-based

practice. The students will prepare their own proposals which will be actually carried out in the

"Research Project" course.

A. Learning outcomes:
Leadership:
• Describe the role of research in the practice of professional nursing.
• Understand the role of the professional nurse in knowledge generation for
nursing practice.
• Play a changing role to change a current nursing practice based on latest
evidence.
• Incorporate nursing research and nursing science generated through research
into continuing professional development.
• Judge the appropriateness of a specific nursing practice based on research
findings.
• Identify methods of disseminating research findings through participation in
national and international conference.
• Discuss legal and ethical implications for conducting and applying nursing
research.

B. Critical Thinking:
• Gain knowledge about various nursing research methods and their applications.
• Apply research knowledge to critique research studies.
• Apply research knowledge to develop research proposals.
• Evaluate the appropriateness of a research methodology.
• Understand the essential processes of quantitative and qualitative research.
• Apply the essential processes of quantitative and qualitative research.
• Understand evidence-based practice.
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 • Employ the research process in identifying and discussing clinical problems and
problem-solving strategies.
• Identify appropriate evidence-based resources for improving the quality of
nursing practice.
• Demonstrate critical thinking in evaluating the usefulness of clinical nursing
research studies and conduct a research critique.
• Suggest improvement for a given research study to enhance the weaknesses.
• Utilize professional writing styles such as the American Psychological
Association (APA) style in developing research proposals and reports.

C. Caring:
• Apply evidence-based practice to judge the merit of a traditional practice.
• Be active consumer of research in practice related issues.
• Apply ethical guidance while evaluating research using human participants.

D. Communication:
• Play an active role in teaching nursing personnel about the importance of
utilizing research and evidence-based practice in the nursing.
• Collaborate with healthcare team to improve the quality of nursing practice by
utilizing evidence-based practice.

Course Content:
References Unit and Topic Dates of
lectures
P&B (2012) Ch. 1, 3, 1. Overview of Nursing Research 2 WK
8

P&B (2012) Ch. 7 2. Ethical Considerations of Nursing Research

N (2008) Ch.2

P&B (2012) Ch. 2, 3. Evidenced-based Practice (EBP)

27,28
N (2008) Ch.18

P&B (2012) Ch. 4 4. Research Problem 1 WK

N (2008) Ch.5 • Scientific research
• Research problem selection
• Steps of selecting a research problem
• Formulating the purpose statement

P&B (2012) Ch. 4 5. Variables, Research Questions, and 1 WK

N (2008) Ch.8
Hypotheses
• Type of variables
• Characteristics of research questions.
• Purposes, sources, characteristics, and types of
hypothesis

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 P&B (2012) Ch. 6 6. Conceptual and Theoretical Frameworks 1 WK
P&B (2006) Ch. 8 • Purposes, uses, and problems of frameworks
B&G (2001) Ch.7 • Induction versus deduction
• Uses of frameworks
• Sources of frameworks.

P&B (2012) Ch. 5 7. Literature Review 1 WK

B&G (2001) Ch.6
• Purposes of the review
• Literature review process
• Types of reviewed information
• Sources
• Evaluating collected information
• Writing a literature review.
• APA Style

P&B (2012) Ch. 13, 14, 10. Data Collection Methods and Measurement 2 WKS
22 Techniques
• Criteria for data collection (reliability and
B&G (2001) Ch. 15, 16, validity of instruments used for data collection)
17,23
• Instrument to be used: self-reports,
observation, physiologic measures scales,
N (2008) Ch.12,13 questionnaires, and interviews: advantages and
disadvantages
• Measurement techniques and errors.
• Type I & II errors

P&B (2012) Ch. 16, 17, 11. Data Analysis 2 WKS

18, 19, 23,24
• Level of significance (Alpha) and Beta value
• Approaches of data analysis (parametric and
B&G (2001) Ch. 18-27 nonparametric); examples
• Quantitative data analysis: descriptive
N (2008) Ch.14-17
statistics, inferential statistics.
• Power analysis and statistical conclusion
validity
• Qualitative data analysis: constant comparative
method, content analysis, analytical induction, and
hermeneutical analysis.

P&B (2012) Ch. 15, 29 12. Critiquing a Nursing Research 1 WK

B&G (2001) Ch.26, 28 13. Writing a Research Proposal or Critique
N (2008) Ch.19

Teaching Methods:
• Interactive lectures.
• Group work.
• Students-led presentations
1. Active participation is expected and will be initiated.
- All students have to read the assigned material and solve the assigned exercises before each lecture
Assessment:
1.
Participation in online and class discussions (including class material 10%
presentation)

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 Midterm Exam (20/10/2021 ) 20%

Critique of Quantitative Research Study 10%

(Due Date 20 /11/2021)

Quantitative Research Proposal 20%

(Due Date 25h /11/2021)
(Research Proposal Presentation could be arranged)
Final Exam Sunday 16th /12/2021 or an exam per each module 40%

References:
1. Gray, J., Grove, S., & Sutherland, S. (2017). The practice of nursing research:
Appraisal, synthesis, and generation of evidence (8th ed.). Philadelphia: W.B Saunders
Company.

2. Burns, N., & Grove, S. K. (2013). The practice of nursing research: Appraisal, synthesis, and
generation of evidence (7 ed.). Philadelphia: W.B Saunders Company.

3. Burns, N., & Grove, S. K. (2011). Understanding nursing research (5 ed.).

Philadelphia: W.B Saunders Company.

4. Nieswiadomy, R. M. (2012). Foundations of nursing research (6 ed). Upper Saddle River, NJ:
Pearson Education, Inc.

5. Polit, D.F., & Beck, C.T. (2016). Nursing research: Generating and assessing evidence for
nursing practice (10 ed). Lippincott Williams and Wilkins: Philadelphia, PA.

6. Polit, D.F., & Beck, C.T. (2013 or any recent edition). Essentials of nursing research:
Appraising evidence forth nursing practice (8 ed). Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.

Recommended Books:
1. Melnyk, B., & Ellen Fineout-Overholt, E. (2010 or any recent edition). Evidence-
based practice and nursing and healthcare: A guide to best practice (2 ed.).
Philadelphia: Lippincott.

2. Munro, B. H. (2012 or any recent edition). Statistical methods for health care
research (6 ed.). Philadelphia: Lippincott.

3. Polit, D. F. (2010). Statistics and data analysis for nursing research (2 ed.).
Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.

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4. Stevens, J,P. (2009 or any recent edition). Applied multivariate statistics for the
social sciences (5 ed.). London: Routledge Academic.

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