L1 Introduction to Nursing Research

NURS4306 Introduction to Nursing Research

Year 2020

Dr. Edmond Choi

Assistant Professor
Courtesy to Dr. Janet Wong
Learning outcomes of this lecture

⎼ Describe common terminologies in research

⎼ Discuss the importance of nursing research

⎼ Discuss the similarities & differences on the research

paradigm of quantitative & qualitative studies

⎼ Identify the major steps in quantitative research

Research Paradigms
What is research

⎼ Research is a process to discover new knowledge.

⎼ A detailed study of a subject, especially in order to

discover (new) information or reach a (new)
understanding

⎼ Research is systematic, critical and self-critical enquiry

which aims to contribute towards the advancement of
knowledge and wisdom (Bassey, 1999:38).

https://ori.hhs.gov/module-1-introduction-what-research
https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/research
Research paradigms

⎼ Paradigm means belief, assumption, tradition – ‘a network

of coherent ideas’ (Bassey 1999)

⎼ A paradigm is an underlying structure for belief.

⎼ A lens through which to view the world.

⎼ A research paradigm is “the set of common beliefs and agreements

shared between scientist about how problems should be
understood and addressed” (Kuhn, 1970)
Research paradigms

⎼ Positivist Paradigm
⎼ Naturalistic/Constructive Paradigm
Positivist paradigm

⎼ View on Nature of Reality

• Reality can be studied & known.
• Reality is objective & independent of human observation.
• The world has absolute truth & is driven by real natural causes.

⎼ View on Human Behavior

• Caused by internal (bio-psycho-social-spiritual) & external (environment) forces
acting on the individual.
• Characterized by regularity & order .

⎼ View on Science
• A logical, objective & systematic method of analysis to uncover general law of
cause & effect in social behavior.
• A process to develop reliable knowledge to predict human behavior.
Positivist paradigm

⎼ Method for (nursing) research: Quantitative methodology

⎼ Deductive Reasoning: Make prediction from a general
principle to more specific

Theory Hypothesis Observation Confirmation

Naturalistic/ Constructive paradigm

⎼ View on Nature of Reality

• Is not a fixed entity
• Is multiple & subjective
• Is mentally constructed by individual
• Is contextual specific

⎼ View on Human Behavior

• Determined by context & individual perception & interpretation of meaning, with
mutual interchange with the environment

⎼ View on Science
• View science as a tool for understanding the reality experienced by people
• How people make sense of life, of self, of situation?
Naturalistic/ Constructive paradigm

⎼ Method for (nursing) research: Qualitative methodology

⎼ Inductive Reasoning: Develop conclusion from specific
observations to broader generalizations & theories

Tentative
Observation Pattern Theory
hypothesis
Two Research paradigms

Can be
There is a Quantitative
Positivists measured
single reality methods
and known

There is no Reality
Qualitative
Constructivists single reality needs to be
methods
or truth interpreted
Quantitative vs. Qualitative
Quantitative vs. Qualitative
Quiz: Quantitative/Qualitative?
Quiz: Quantitative/Qualitative?

Quantitative

Quantitative

Qualitative

Quantitative
Nursing Research
What is nursing research
⎼ Nursing research develops knowledge to:
• Build the scientific foundation for clinical practice
• Prevent disease and disability
• Manage and eliminate symptoms caused by illness
• Enhance end-of-life and palliative care

⎼ Nurses are one of largest groups of clinical practitioners in health

care workforce. We are uniquely positioned to make important
contributions towards improving health and quality of life.
⎼ Nurse scientists conduct clinically-focused, patient-centered-
research to develop the science that informs clinical practice.
⎼ Our work spans the entire spectrum of disease and illness and all
stages of life. https://www.ninr.nih.gov/sites/files/docs/NINROverviewFlyer_2.pdf
Importance of nursing research

⎼ Generate new knowledge to improve patient care, the

nursing profession and health care overall.

⎼ Integrate research findings into clinical decision

making
• Research-based (evidence based) practice

⎼ Reinforce the identity of nursing as a profession

Purpose of (nursing) research

⎼ Description
• What are the characteristics of the phenomenon ?
⎼ Exploration
• What factors are related to the phenomenon?
⎼ Explanation
• What is the causal pathway through which the phenomenon unfolds?
• Does the theory explain the phenomenon?
⎼ Prediction and control
• How can we make the phenomenon happen or alter its prevalence?
• Can the occurrence of the phenomenon be prevented or controlled
Description

⎼ Begin with some phenomenon of interest &

attempt to describe & elucidate it
⎼ Quantitative description
• Prevalence, incidence, size & measurable attributes of the
phenomena

…..Of the 500 respondents included in the study, 19% had depression (PHQ-9 score ≥ 10) and
14% had anxiety (GAD score ≥ 10). In addition, 25.4% reported that their mental health had
deteriorated since the pandemic…..

https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/17/10/3740
Description

⎼ Qualitative description
• Meaning, importance, dimensions & variations of the phenomena

The meaning of the problem for incontinence sufferers is known to be a very significant
influence on coping The present study was based on in‐depth qualitative interviews with 28
young or middle‐aged women who suffered urinary incontinence Analysis, aimed at
discovering the meaning of their condition for the sufferers themselves,
Exploration

⎼ Instead of simply observing and describing a

phenomenon, exploratory research investigates the
full nature of the phenomenon & other factors to which
it is related.
• Examine the factors relating to a phenomenon
• Examine relationship between two phenomena
Exploration
Explanation

⎼ The goal of explanation research are to

understand the underpinnings of specific nature
phenomena.
⎼ Explanatory research is often linked to theories.
Explanation
Explanation
Prediction & control

⎼ The goals of this type of study

• To predict the occurrence of a phenomenon
• To make the phenomenon happen
• To prevent the occurrence of a phenomenon
Prediction & control
Prediction & control
Quiz: What is the purpose of the research?
Options: description, exploration, explanation, prediction and control
Quiz: What is the purpose of the research?

Control

Description

Description

Prediction
Steps of Quantitative Research Process
Quantitative research process

Design and
Conceptual Empirical Analytic Dissemination
Planning
Phase Phase Phase Phase
Phase
Phase 1 Conceptual phase
⎼ Key steps
• Identify and select problems
• From clinical experience/ observation
• E.g. during your clinical placement, you observed that many
cancer patients had a high level of fear and loneness.
• From your own experience
• You found that many of your friends are very physically
inactive.
• Burning issue in the society
• COVID-19
• Review literature (next lecture)
• Identify frameworks and theories (by Dr. Polly Li)
• Formulate hypotheses
Phase 1 Conceptual phase
⎼ Identify and select problems

Clinical experience/ observation Current social issue Personal experience

Phase 1 Conceptual phase
⎼ Identify and select problems
• Begin to ask broad questions
• What is the meaning of…?
• What causes…?
• What factors contribute to…?
• What is the relationship between…?
• How effective is…?
Phase 1 Conceptual phase
⎼ Identify and select problems
• Criteria to be considered:
• Significance of the problem
• What is the impacts of the research problem
• Societal contribution?
• Academic contribution?
• Researchability of the problem
• Is the problem appropriate to be studied through scientific investigation?
• Feasibility of the research problem
• Time
• Experience of researchers
• Ethical consideration
• Availability of recourses
• Researcher interest
• Is there genuine interest/curiosity in the problem?
Phase 2 Design and planning

⎼ Research design (by Dr. Polly Li)

⎼ Research ethics (by Dr. Polly Li)
⎼ Sampling
⎼ Measurement tools

These all depend on your research questions.

Phase 2 Design and planning
⎼ Type of research design
Quantitative studies

Observational studies Intervention / Experimental studies

Cross-sectional Case-control Quasi- experimental Randomized controlled

Cohort study
study study study trial
Phase 3 Empirical phase

⎼ Collect data
⎼ Roll out your intervention
⎼ Prepare data for analysis
Phase 4 Analytic phase

⎼ Analyzing the data

• Analyze data in an orderly, coherent fashion to answer research
questions & test hypotheses

⎼ Interpreting the results

• Make sense of numeric results
• Explain findings in light of existing knowledge
• Examine implications of findings
Phase 5 Dissemination phase

⎼ Communicating the findings

• Prepare report for dissemination

⎼ Utilizing the findings

• Plan for utilization of the findings in a real world
• Recommendations to incorporate the evidence into practice
Academic journals
Academic conferences
Qualitative Research
For qualitative research

Dr Jay Lee will teach you more later…..

Forms of participating nursing research

⎼ Join journal club

⎼ Attend academic conferences
⎼ Discuss research findings
⎼ Review a research proposal
⎼ Develop a research project
⎼ Recruit study participants
⎼ Assist in data collection
⎼ Undergraduate Research Fellowship Programme (URFP)
in HKU
……
Learning outcomes of this lecture

⎼ Describe common terminologies in research

⎼ Discuss the importance of nursing research

⎼ Discuss the similarities & differences on the research

paradigm of quantitative & qualitative studies

⎼ Identify the major steps in quantitative research

Quiz: What is the type of research design?
Options: experimental vs. observational
Any questions?

⎼ Send me email: ephchoi@hku.hk

⎼ Individual zoom appointment

⎼ If you are too shy to ask questions/ give me

comments.
• Please go to the following Google Form
• https://forms.gle/aoVwg7LTtu6d36uc9
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