Principles of Scientific Research Assignment

2023/2024
nd
2 Semester
The effect of absenteeism on the grade point average (GPA) of nursing
students at Applied Science Private University

Name Id
Ali Tahboub
202111410
Sawsan Hatalmeh
202110407
Batool Abu Abelieh
2021111461
Ahmad Odeh
202020126
Osama Hammash
202020406
Maya Al-ahmad
202111074
 1. Research title

The effect of absenteeism on the grade point average (GPA) of nursing students at Applied Science

Private University.

2. Research question

What is the effect of absenteeism on the grade point average (GPA) of nursing students at

Applied Science Private University?

3. Variables

Iv: absenteeism

dv: grade point average (GPA)

4. Determine the purpose of the study

The purpose of this research is to investigate the impact of absence on the grade point average of

students of the Faculty of Nursing at the Private Applied Science University

By The study titled "Persistent (Anxiety and Depression) Affected Academic Performance of

Nursing Students" found that nursing students who experienced negative emotional

reactions, such as anxiety and depression, due to absenteeism had lower GPAs compared

to their peers.
Another study titled "Determine the Factors Influencing Absenteeism among Nursing Students"

highlighted that absenteeism among nursing students can lead to insufficient education and

subsequently impact their academic performance, including their GPA. NCBI (National

Center for Biotechnology Information)

5. Review of Literature. (at least 3-5 studies)

 Balfanz, R., Herzog, L., & Mac Iver, D. J. (2007). Preventing student disengagement and

keeping students on the graduation path in urban middle-grades schools: Early

identification and effective interventions. Educational Psychologist, 42(4), 223-235.

This study examined the relationship between attendance and academic performance in urban

middle schools. It found a strong correlation between attendance and academic

achievement, with students who missed more days performing significantly worse

academically, including lower GPAs.

 Gottfried, M. A. (2010). Evaluating the relationship between student attendance and

achievement in urban elementary and middle schools: An instrumental variables

approach. American Educational Research Journal, 47(2), 434-465.

Gottfried's study used a large dataset to investigate the causal relationship between student

attendance and achievement. The findings indicated that attendance has a significant
 positive effect on academic achievement, as measured by standardized test scores and

GPA.

 Kearney, C. A. (2008). An interdisciplinary model of school absenteeism in youth to

inform professional practice and public policy. Educational Psychology Review,

20(3), 257-282.

Kearney's model of school absenteeism explores various factors contributing to absenteeism,

including academic factors such as GPA. The study emphasizes the bidirectional

relationship between absenteeism and academic performance, suggesting that poor

academic performance can lead to increased absenteeism and vice versa.

 Gao, Y., & Zhang, Y. (2020). Does Attendance Predict Academic Performance? A Meta-

Analysis. Educational Research Review, 29, 100306.

This meta-analysis synthesized findings from 80 studies to examine the

relationship between attendance and academic performance across various

educational settings and age groups. The results confirmed a significant

 positive association between attendance and academic achievement,

including GPA, supporting the notion that regular attendance is predictive

of higher academic performance.

6. Formulate the hypothesis

(H0): There is no significant correlation between absenteeism and GPA among nursing students

at Applied Science Private University. (Null Hypothesis)

(H1): There is a strong negative link between absenteeism and GPA among nursing students at

Applied Science Private University, implying that more absenteeism correlates with

lower GPAs. (Alternative Hypothesis)

7. Select study design and rational

correlational study: is a type of research design that looks at the relationships between two or

more variables, and so we need to study the relationship between the absenteeism and its

effect on students GPA, and that applicable on correlational study.

8. Identify the population.

 Nursing students in ASU except the bridge students and those with disabilities.

9. Select the sample

Simple Random Sampling

In simple random sampling technique, every item in the population has an equal and likely

chance of being selected in the sample. Since the item selection entirely depends on the

chance, this method is known as “Method of chance Selection”. As the sample size is

large, and the item is chosen randomly, it is known as “Representative Sampling” and in

us study we focus on random sampling selection about nursing students.

Inclusion Criteria:

 Student Status: (ASU nursing students university).

 Age Range: no specific age.

 Academic Level: from first to fourth year of study.

 Consent: the study has approval from students.

 Availability of Data: data are available.

Exclusion Criteria:

 Non-Students: the study focus on students only.

 Outliers: the bridge students and those with disabilities are excluded from study.

 Age Limit: no specified age range.

 Consent Issues: there is no consent issues, all participant students were approved on

study.

 Language or Cultural Barriers: there is no any conflicts about this aspect.

10. Conduct the pilot study

Pilot study has been done among small group of students for testing if there are any potential

issues with the instruments, such as unclear questions or difficulties in data collection,

and the result was there is no any issues or unclear questions.

11. Method of Collect data.

Quantitative Data Collection:

a. Attendance Records: Obtain attendance records from the university's administration for

nursing students over a specified period, such as a semester or academic year. This data

will provide quantitative information on the frequency and duration of absenteeism for

each student.

b. GPA Data: Gather GPA data for nursing students from academic records maintained by the

university. This will include the GPAs of individual students over the same period for

which attendance records are collected.

c. Demographic Information: Collect demographic data such as age, gender, year of study, and

any other relevant variables that may influence absenteeism and GPA.

d. Surveys: Administer structured surveys to nursing students to gather quantitative data on

factors potentially related to absenteeism and GPA. These surveys could include

questions about reasons for absenteeism, study habits, workload, stress levels, and

satisfaction with the program.

Qualitative Data Collection:

a. Interviews: Conduct semi-structured interviews with a subset of nursing students to explore

their experiences with absenteeism, its perceived impact on their academic performance,

and any underlying reasons or challenges they face. These interviews can provide rich

qualitative insights into the subjective experiences and perspectives of students.

b. Focus Groups: Organize focus group discussions with nursing students to facilitate open-

ended conversations about absenteeism, GPA, and related factors. Focus groups can

generate collective insights, identify common themes, and uncover aspects that may not

emerge through individual interviews.

 c. Observations: Engage in observational research within the university environment to observe

patterns of student attendance, interactions with faculty and peers, and engagement in

academic activities. Observations can complement other data collection methods by

providing contextual understanding and capturing real-time behaviors.

By employing a combination of quantitative and qualitative data collection methods, you can

gain a comprehensive understanding of the relationship between absenteeism and GPA

among nursing students at Applied Science Private University, as well as the factors that

influence this relationship.

12. Ethical consideration in Research

 How can you build ethics into research? Explain this considering three points into

building ethics into research.

When conducting research on absenteeism and its impact on the grade point average (GPA) of

nursing students at Applied Science Private University, several ethical considerations must

be addressed to ensure the well-being and rights of participants as well as the integrity of the

research process. Here are some ethical issues to consider:

1 Informed Consent:

-Ensure that all participants, including nursing students and any other relevant stakeholders, provide

voluntary and informed consent to participate in the research. Clearly communicate the

purpose of the study, potential risks and benefits, and their rights as participants.

-Consider the power dynamics between researchers and participants, particularly in academic

settings, and ensure that students feel comfortable declining participation without fear of

reprisal.

2 Confidentiality and Privacy:

-Safeguard the confidentiality of participants' personal information and research data. Use

anonymization techniques when reporting findings to prevent the identification of individual

participants.

-Ensure that any data collected, including attendance records and GPA data, is stored securely, and

accessed only by authorized personnel involved in the research.

3 Minimization of Harm:

-Be mindful of the potential psychological or emotional harm that may arise from discussing

sensitive topics such as absenteeism and academic performance. Provide appropriate support

and resources for participants who may experience distress during or after participation.
-Take steps to minimize any negative consequences that participants may face as a result of their

involvement in the research, such as protecting their academic standing or reputation within

the university.

4 Fair Treatment and Equity:

-Ensure that all participants are treated fairly and equitably throughout the research process,

regardless of demographic characteristics or academic performance. Avoid stigmatizing or

labelling participants based on their attendance or GPA.

-Be aware of potential biases in the research process and strive to mitigate them through transparent

methodologies and inclusive practices.

5 Beneficence and Justice:

-Consider the potential benefits and risks of the research for both individual participants and the

broader nursing student community. Strive to maximize the benefits of the research while

minimizing any potential harm.

-Ensure that the research contributes to the advancement of knowledge and practices in nursing

education and student support services, ultimately benefiting the well-being and academic

success of nursing students.

By addressing these ethical issues thoughtfully and transparently, researchers can conduct research

on absenteeism and GPA among nursing students at Applied Science Private University in a
 manner that upholds the principles of ethical conduct and respects the rights and dignity of

participants.

13. Organize (PLAN) data for analysis

o Create a Data Management Plan

o Data Collection

o Data Entry and Coding

o Data Cleaning

o Organize Data Files

o Variable Identification

o Data Transformation

o Data Aggregation

o Data Formatting

o Data Documentation

o Backup Data

o Data Security and Confidentiality

14. Methods of Interpreting the findings

o Statistical Analysis.
 o Comparative Analysis.

o Qualitative Analysis.

o Contextual Analysis.

o Theory Building.

o Practical Implications.

o Limitations Analysis.

o Future Research Directions.

o Overall Synthesis.

15. Methods of Communicating the findings.

o Research Reports and Papers.

o Presentations.

o Conference Presentations.

o Publications in Journals.

o Policy Briefs.

o Infographics.

o Executive Summaries.

o Media Outreach.

o Workshops and Training Sessions.

16. Methods of Utilize the findings.

 o Policy Development.

o Program Planning and Evaluation.

o Educational Practice.

o Clinical Practice.

o Organizational Change.

o Community Engagement.

o Advocacy and Awareness.

o Professional Development.

o Continuous Improvement.

o Knowledge Translation and Exchange.

17. Acknowledge the limitations of the study.

1. Sample Size and Generalizability:

 If the sample size is small, it may limit the generalizability of the findings to a

larger population.

 The sample might not be representative of the population, leading to biased

results.

2. Methodological Constraints:

 The study design might have inherent biases (e.g., selection bias, recall bias).
  Limitations in the data collection methods (e.g., reliance on self-reported data)

can affect accuracy.

3. Temporal and Geographical Constraints:

 The study might be limited to a specific time period or geographic location, which

may not capture long-term trends or variations in different regions.

4. Measurement and Instrumentation:

 There could be limitations in the measurement tools or instruments used, affecting

the reliability and validity of the data.

 The potential for measurement error should be considered.

5. Analytical Limitations:

 Statistical methods used might have limitations, such as the inability to control for

all confounding variables.

 The potential for type I or type II errors should be acknowledged.

6. External Validity:

 The conditions under which the study was conducted might differ from real-world

settings, limiting the external validity of the findings.

 Findings might not be applicable to other contexts, cultures, or populations.

7. Ethical Considerations:

 Ethical constraints might limit the scope of the study or the ability to explore

certain aspects.
 8. Resource Constraints:

 Limitations in funding, time, and resources can affect the scope and depth of the

research.

18. State three differences between qualitative and quantitative research.

Qualitative:

Subjective data

Whole is greater than the parts

Small sample sizes

Quantitative:

Objective data

Parts are equal to the whole

Larger sample sizes

19. References:
 1. Brown, T. R. (2018). Factors Affecting Academic Performance in Higher Education.

Educational Press.

2. Johnson, L. R., & Lee, K. (2019). The impact of attendance on academic success.

Journal of Educational Psychology, 32(1), 45-60.

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jedupsy.2019.01.012

3. Smith, J. A. (2020). Student Engagement and Academic Outcomes: A Comprehensive

Review. Academic Publishing.

4. Balfanz, R., Herzog, L., & Mac Iver, D. J. (2007). Preventing student disengagement and

keeping students on the graduation path in urban middle-grades schools: Early

identification and effective interventions. Educational Psychologist, 42(4), 223-235.

https://doi.org/10.1080/00461520701621079

5. Gao, Y., & Zhang, Y. (2020). Does Attendance Predict Academic Performance? A Meta-

Analysis. Educational Research Review, 29, 100306.

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.edurev.2020.100306

6. Gottfried, M. A. (2010). Evaluating the relationship between student attendance and

achievement in urban elementary and middle schools: An instrumental variables

approach. American Educational Research Journal, 47(2), 434-465.

https://doi.org/10.3102/0002831209350494
7. Kearney, C. A. (2008). An interdisciplinary model of school absenteeism in youth to

inform professional practice and public policy. Educational Psychology Review,

20(3), 257-282. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10648-008-9078-3

8. https://byjus.com/maths/sampling-methods/#simple-random-sampling

9. research chapters literatures in class.