Zachary Felix
NUR 325 Terms Worksheet – Due Week 3
Word /Term/phrase Scholarly Definition
Qualitative research Is a scholarly, rigorous approach to
understanding life experiences,
cultures, and social processes. Instead
of using statistical data, these studies
seek to understand concepts,
opinions, or experiences (Polit & Beck,
2017).
Quantitative research Is “the collection and analysis of
numeric information. Quantitative
research is typically conducted within
the traditional scientific method,
which is a systematic, controlled
process. Quantitative researchers
gather and analyze empirical evidence
(evidence collected through the
human senses) and strive for
generalizability of their findings.”
(Polit & Beck, 2017).
Mixed study “Included methodologies from both
quantitative and qualitative research”
(Ameritech.com, 2020).
Nursing research “Systematic inquiry designed to
generate evidence about issues of
importance to the nursing profession,
including nursing practice, education,
administration, and informatics.”
(Polit & Beck, 2017).
Nightingale Rose Diagram A “polar area diagram… [that] showed
how the Sanitary Commission’s work
decreased the death rate and made
the complicated data accessible to all,
inspiring new standards for sanitation
in the army and beyond.” (History.com
Editors, 2009).
Statistics 1. Refers to collections of quantitative
Example- if applicable
A study seeks to determine
what factors are most stressful
to nurses in an ICU unit. The
researcher gains data by asking
open-ended questions about
the nurses’ work experiences.
A study seeks to determine if
bedside nursing report on a
surgical unit makes any
significant changes in patient
experience. Findings are
quantified and inferences are
made from the results.
A study is performed to assess
people’s knowledge and risk
perceptions about genetically
modified food by asking both
quantitative and qualitative
questions. Which can then be
integrated and analyzed.
Asking questions relating to
nursing practice, education,
administration and informatics
and if they are the most
effective methods, or if there
are better options available.
For example, asking “How
effective is a web-based
intervention in improving
parent-adolescent
communication about sexuality
and sexual health?” (Varas-Diaz
et al., 2019).
No example needed
1. A hospital’s database listing
Zachary Felix
NUR 325 Terms Worksheet – Due Week 3
information, and methods of handling
that sort of data.
2. Refers to the drawing of inferences
about large groups on the basis of
observations made on smaller ones
(Fowler et al., 2020).
Evidence-based practice “EBP involves using the best evidence
(as well as clinical judgment and
patient preferences and
circumstances) in making patient care
decisions, and “best evidence”
typically comes from research
conducted by nurses and other
healthcare professionals.” (Polit &
Beck, 2017).
Quality improvement “The systematic use of data to
monitor the outcomes of care
processes as well as the use of
improvement methods to design and
test changes in practice, the aim of
which is to continuously improve the
quality and safety of health care
systems.” (Ameritech.com, 2020).
Research critique “A research critique is the process of
critical appraisal that objectively and
critically evaluates a research report’s
content for scientific merit and
application to practice. A research
critique requires some knowledge of
the subject matter and knowledge of
how to critically read and use
critiquing criteria.” (Ameritech.com,
2020).
Research hypothesis “Almost always a prediction about the
relationship between variables”.
Usually result from research questions
that are derived from theories, earlier
studies, personal experiences and
interests (Polit & Beck, 2017).
Statistical hypothesis/ “State[s] that there is no relationship
the names, addresses and
medical history records of all its
registered patients.
2. Estimating the relationship
between smoking and the
incidence of lung cancer.
Nurses should measure blood
pressure according to
evidence-based practice for
more accurate measurements,
which will allow for more
effective treatment.
A research study has been
completed and the results
indicate that turning patients
with pressure ulcers every two
hours is an effective form of
treatment. Quality
improvement would be to
implement these findings into
current practice and start
turning patients that present
with pressure ulcers every two
hours.
A new report of a research
study has come out that
debunks traditional nursing
practice. A nurse would need
to use research critique to
evaluate the study and
determine if the study was
done in an acceptable manner.
If the report withstands the
critiquing process, then
findings may be implemented,
but if not then it will just be
disregarded.
Palesh and colleagues (2018)
hypothesized that, among
women with advanced breast
cancer, a greater degree of
physical activity is associated
with longer survival.
-Patients’ age is unrelated to
Zachary Felix
NUR 325 Terms Worksheet – Due Week 3
Null hypothesis between the independent and
dependent variables.” (Polit & Beck,
2017).
Alternative hypothesis “Statement that is contradictory to
the null hypothesis. It is what we
conclude when we reject the null
hypothesis” (Ameritech.com, 2020).
Directional hypothesis “One that specifies not only the
existence but the expected direction
of the relationship between
variables.” (Polit & Beck, 2017).
Non-directional “Does not state the direction of the
hypothesis relationship” between variables (Polit
& Beck, 2017).
Literature review “Critical examination of individual
studies and systematic reviews to
refine and focus the research question
Important variables can be identified”
(Ameritech.com, 2020).
Independent variable “The presumed cause… corresponds
with the I plus the C” in PICO
questions. (Polit & Beck, 2017).
Dependent variable “The presumed effect… corresponds
with the O” in PICO questions. (Polit &
Beck, 2017).
their risk of falling
-Older patients are just as likely
as younger patients to fall (Polit
& Beck, 2017).
Smoking does increase the
chances of getting a lung
disease.
-Older patients are more likely
to fall than younger patients.
-The older the patient, the
greater the risk that he or she
will fall.
-Younger patients tend to be
less at risk of a fall than older
patients (Polit & Beck, 2017).
-There is a relationship
between the age of a patient
and the risk of falling.
-Older patients differ from
younger ones with respect to
their risk of falling (Polit &
Beck, 2017).
A nurse is conducting a
research study and is looking at
the existing literature to
determine exactly what they
want to research in their study.
Literature review helps them
determine if the study they are
looking at applies to their study
or not.
Research question “Is dietary
vitamin C deficiency associated
with cardiac event–free
survival in adults with heart
failure? (Wu et al., 2019)
Independent variable: Dietary
vitamin C deficiency (vs. no
deficiency).
Research question “Is dietary
vitamin C deficiency associated
with cardiac event–free
survival in adults with heart
failure? (Wu et al., 2019)
Dependent variable: Cardiac
event–free survival versus a
Zachary Felix
NUR 325 Terms Worksheet – Due Week 3
Sub-set “Sampling is a method that allows
researchers to infer information about
a population based on results from a
subset of the population, without
having to investigate every individual.”
(Polit & Beck, 2017).
Sample The collection of study participants or
subjects. The subset of a population
(Polit & Beck, 2017).
Observation “A record, such as a measurement”
provided by units in a sample. (Fowler
et al., 2020).
Parameters “Measures that describe a variable of
a sample are called statistics. It is from
the sample statistics that the
parameters of a population are
made.” (Fowler et al., 2020).
Descriptive statistics “Used to organize, summarize and
describe measures of a sample. No
predictions or inferences are made
regarding population parameters.”
(Fowler et al., 2020).
Inferential statistics “Are used to infer or predict
population parameters from sample
measures.” Done through using
probability. (Fowler et al., 2020).
Target population Everyone who meets the criteria for
the research study, whether they
know it or not. (i.e. all patients who
have asthma, but a portion of the
patients might not know they have
asthma). (Fowler et al., 2020).
Study population “Consists of all patients who could
actually be selected to form the
sample” (Fowler et al., 2020).
Convenience sample “Using the most conveniently
available people as participants.”
cardiac event.
The population of interest has
over 50,000 subjects. Including
every single one of them in a
study is impractical and
unfeasible, so a sample of
maybe 5,000 is taken. This is a
sub-set of the population.
Research question “Is dietary
vitamin C deficiency associated
with cardiac event–free
survival in adults with heart
failure? (Wu et al., 2019)
Sample would be the subjects
who are studied to see if
vitamin C has an effect on
cardiac events. Good samples
are representative of the
population of interest.
3.62kg
The average weight of a
population of new-born males.
(Fowler et al., 2020).
The average weight of babies
measured was 3.62 kg, with the
heaviest being 3.86 kg, and the
lightest being 3.24 kg.
The average weight of all
babies in this area born within
this time frame will weigh an
average of 3.62 kg.
“The number of patients
registered with the GP practice
who have asthma.” (Fowler et
al., 2020).
“Those who are known to have
asthma (Fowler et al., 2020).
Dev et al. (2019) studied
variation in the barriers to
Zachary Felix
NUR 325 Terms Worksheet – Due Week 3
Potential risks can include the sample
not being representative of the
population. Can be biased. (Polit &
Beck, 2017).
Network/snowball sample “Early sample members (called seeds)
are asked to refer other people who
meet the eligibility criteria. This
approach is often used when the
population involves people who might
otherwise be difficult to identify”
(Polit & Beck, 2017).
Purposive sample “Uses researchers’ knowledge about
the population to make selections.
Researchers might decide purposely to
select people who are judged to be
particularly knowledgeable about the
issues under study”. May result in
nonrepresentative samples (Polit &
Beck, 2017).
Random sample “Involves a selection process in which
each element in the population has an
equal, independent chance of being
selected.” (Polit & Beck, 2017).
Refusal rate “In most studies, not everyone invited
to participate in a study agrees to do
so.” Usually the number of people you
need to recruit in order to get the
sample size you want will be higher
than the sample size. (Polit & Beck,
2017).
Attrition rate “The number of participants usually
declines over time.” Happens when
time between data collection points is
great, if the population is mobile, or
death and disease inflict participants.
(Polit & Beck, 2017).
Resources:
compassion across healthcare
disciplines in New Zealand. The
researchers recruited a
convenience sample of 1,700
nurses, physicians, and medical
students.
Patients with rare diseases
might know others with the
same disease because of
support groups etc.
Hewitt and Cappiello (2015)
conducted a Delphi survey of
nurse experts to identify the
essential competencies in
American nursing education for
prevention and care related to
unintended pregnancy.
Purposive sampling was used
to recruit 100 panelists
representing all 50 U.S. states.
Putting 250 staff members
names in a hat and picking out
25 to see who has to work on
Christmas.
If 200 potential subjects meet
sampling criteria, but only 160
of them agreed to participate
in the study, the refusal rate
would be 40 percent.
Polit and Gillespie (2009)
found, in a sample of over 100
nursing RCTs, that the average
participant loss was 12.5% for
studies with follow-up data
collection between 31 and 90
days after baseline and 18%
when the final data collection
was more than 6 months after
baseline.
Zachary Felix
NUR 325 Terms Worksheet – Due Week 3

Ameritech (2020). Research questions, hypothesis in research questions, and what it means to reject the
null hypothesis [PowerPoint Slides]. Retrieved from www.instructure.comLinks to an external site.

Barratt, H., & Shantikumar, S. (2018, August 20). Methods of sampling from a population. Retrieved
January 28, 2021, from https://www.healthknowledge.org.uk/public-health-textbook/research-
methods/1a-epidemiology/methods-of-sampling-population

Dev V., Fernando A., Kirby J., & Consedine N. (2019). Variation in the barriers to compassion across
healthcare training and disciplines: A cross-sectional study of doctors, nurses, and medical students.
International Journal of Nursing Studies, 90, 1–10.

Fowler, J., Jarvis, P., & Chevannes, M. (2020). Practical statistics for nursing and health care. Chichester,
West Sussex, England: Wiley-Blackwell.

Hewitt C., & Cappiello J. (2015). Essential competencies in nursing education for prevention and care
related to unintended pregnancy. Journal of Obstetric, Gynecologic, & Neonatal Nursing, 44, 69–76.

History.com Editors. (2009, November 09). Florence Nightingale. Retrieved January 28, 2021, from
https://www.history.com/topics/womens-history/florence-nightingale-1

Palesh O., Kamen C., Sharp S., Golden A., Neri E., Spiegel D., & Koopman C. (2018). Physical activity and
survival in women with advanced breast cancer. Cancer Nursing, 41, E31–E38.

Polit, D.F. & Beck, C.T. (2017). Nursing research: Generating and assessing evidence for nursing practice.
Philadelphia, PA: Wolters Kluwer.

Polit D. F., & Gillespie B. (2009). The use of the intention-to-treat principle in nursing clinical
trials. Nursing Research, 58, 391–399.

Varas-Díaz N., Betancourt-Díaz E., Lozano A., Huang L., DiNapoli L., Hanlon A., & Villaruel A. (2019).
Testing the efficacy of a web-based parent-adolescent sexual communication intervention among
Puerto Ricans. Family & Community Health, 42, 30–43.

Wu J., Song E., Moser D., & Lennie T. (2019). Dietary vitamin C deficiency is associated with health-
related quality of life and cardiac event-free survival in adults with heart failure. Journal of
Cardiovascular Nursing, 34, 29–35.