Identification of

Research problem

From,
Mr. nagesh v.a
Asst. professor
sdmions
What is research?
It is an organized, systematic, data based,
critical, scientific inquiry or investigation in
to a specific problem, undertaken with the
objectives of finding answers or solutions to
it.
NURSING RESEARCH
Nursing research is “Systematic inquiry
designed to develop knowledge about issues of
importance to the nursing profession,
including nursing practice, education,
administration and informatics”.
(Polit and Beck )
Why we need research in nursing
Validation (accuracy of something) as a

profession: Build a body of nursing

knowledge

 Scientific basis for practice: Validate

improvements in nursing practice

 Make health care efficient as well as cost

 Filling gap in knowledge and practice: EBP.
Chorlhexdine mouth wash in mucositis

 Moulding the technical skills and intellectual

competence.

 Fostering commitment and accountability to

the clients
 Identifying new measures in nursing

service.

 Helping to improve the standards in nursing

education

 Refining existing theories and discovering

what is the importance
of research in nursing?
SIGNIFICANCE OF RESEARCH IN NURSING:
• Develop broad knowledge in their
specialization.
• Evidence based practice
• New technological treatment methods ,

reduces cost of hospital stay, medication etc.

 (Cont)
• Improvement in nursing procedures and nursing
care.
• Participate in nursing research and health care
research and conducting research in clinical area
(Clinical nursing research).
• Research utilization and evidence based practice
“Theory into practice”.
Scope of nursing
research
Scope of nursing research

• Nursing Education

• Nursing Practice

• Nursing Administration
 NURSING EDUCATION
• Improving new teaching methods in
nursing education
• Helps to update knowledge
• Evaluate teaching learning activities
effectively
• Curriculum revision or innovation
• Helps to put theory into practice
• Identifies issues in teaching learning process
and find out solution for that problem.
 NURSING PRACTICE
• It helps to improve quality of care
• It provides innovative and modifies nursing
care
• Helps to meet the needs of the patients in
various care setting
- Home care
- Palliative(relieving pain) and
- Hospice care (terminally ill)
 (Practice cont)
• Super speciality hospital
• Community health nursing care
setting
• School based nursing care
• Evidence based practice in treatment
and prevention of disease
 NURSING ADMINISTRATION
• Developing new knowledge
regarding nursing administrative concepts
• It helps to provide current concept of
patient care, assignment method, quality
care, supervision technique and motivation
method
• In-service or continuing nursing education
programme to discuss current issues and
concept of nursing care.
• It helps to develop skill in leadership,
administration, communication and
supervision.
• It helps to solve conflicts in health related
problems.
• It helps to improve human resource
management skills in recruitment,
selection etc.
 TOPIC IV
research PROBLEM
Identification of Research problem
 RESEARCH PROBLEM

INTRODUCTION
 A Research Problem Is A Question That A
Researcher Wants To Answer &Wants To Solve
 First Step
 Depends On Several Factors I,e Knowledge ,
Skills, Interest, expertise, motivation, creativity
etc
 DEFINITIONS OF RESEARCH PROBLEM

• A problem is an interrogative sentence or

statement that asks what relation exists
between two or more variables. the answer to
question will provide what is having sought in
the research. -- KERLINGER
• A research problem is an area of concern
where there is a gap in the knowledge base
needed for professional practices.
 Research problem

Research problem refers to some difficulty which

a researcher experience in the context of either a
theoretical or practical situations and requires a
solution to that particular problem.
 IN IDENTIFYING THE PROBLEM
RESEARCHER SHOULD ASK

“What is the problem?”

Example: Bed sore.

Question is how can I prevent bed sore?

What alternative methods can I use that would be more

effective?
THE RESEARCH PROBLEMS SHOULD BE:
• Verifiable

Collect observable data and verify statistically. One should

also see whether the problem is practical
• Is it needed?
• Is it important?
• Is this study feasible?
• Will it add to nursing knowledge and evidence based
practice?
 A WELL DEFINED PROBLEM
SHOULD CONTAIN

What we are going to study

(Variables under study),

How we are going to study (methodology),

On whom the study will be conducted (Population)

Where the study is going to be conducted (Setting).

Do I need a research question?
The research question can be written either
in Interrogative (question form)
or
in Declarative (statement) form.
How do I find a research problem?
 Social
issues Previous
Professional
research
literature

Sources Conferences/
Of Study tours
Experience
problem
Discussion
Intuition with experts/
Colleagues
• THANK U
 How can I decide
which question/problem to
study?
• Interest and motivation

• A researchable question

• Problem significance

• Time availability

• Research expertise CONT

• Ethical consideration

• Resources available

• Subject availability

• Co-operation of others

• Applicability of the findings

CONDITIONS FOR SELECTING THE
PROBLEM
• There must be some individual/
group/organization which face some difficulty
or problem in a situation or an environment.
• There must be some objectives to be attained.
• Subject areas which are already done or overdone

should not be selected

• Problem should be clearly stated and defined

• The research problem should have utility value,

moral value, social value or any one of them.

• The suitability of the time period should be considered

before defining the problem

FEW TIPS CHOOSING A RESEARCH
TOPIC
1. Brainstorm for ideas. Choose a topic that you
are interested in!

2. Narrow your topic to something manageable.

3. Background reading can help you choose and

limit the scope of your topic (review the literature).

4. Identify the key words.

5. Discuss the topic with experts and colleagues.

6. Write down the topic

7. Critically evaluate the topic

 Why, what, who, when and
where of the topic:
• Why did you choose the topic?
• What interests you about it?
• Who are the information providers on this topic?
• Who might publish information about it? Who is
affected by the topic? Do you have institutions or
organizations affiliated with topic?
• What are the major questions for this topic?
• Where is your topic important: individual, at
the community level, local level, national or
international level? Are there specific places
affected by the topic?
• When is/was your topic important? Is it
current event or a historical event?
 IN QUANTITY STUDIES HAS SIX
COMPONENTS

1. Relevance of the study

2. Title of the study
3. Operational definition of the variables
4. Objectives of the study
5. Delimitations of the study (the factors, variables not
included in the study Ex. time, size etc)

6. Scope and limitation of the study

 CRITERIA FOR SELECTING A GOOD
RESEARCH PROBLEM

• Significance to nursing profession- benefit, purpose,

practical use.
• Original –unique
• Feasible – time, cost,

equipment &supplies, administrative support, peer

support, sample, researchers competence, solvable
,current, interesting.
1.Example for selecting a topic
• Topic: “The environment”. It is very broad.
Different ways to limit the topic are:
• By geographical area: Eg: What
environmental issues are most important in
the north part of Hubli
• By time: What are the most prominent
environmental issues of the last 10 years?
• By discipline: How does environmental
awareness affect health practices?
• By population: What are the effects of
air population on senior citizens?
2.Decubitus ulcer:
• Can care givers involvement prevent bed sore
in immobilized clients?
• Is alcohol rub more effective than soap and
water in preventing bed sore?
• Can frequent change in position prevent bed
sore?
• Who are people more prone for bed sore?
• What are the factors causing bed sore?
3.Hypothermia In Premature Infants:
Can Kangaroo mother care help in maintaining
the temperature of premature infant?
4. Injection pain in infants:
Can breast feeding just before an injection
reduce pain in infants?
These are some of the ways by which we can
find out the research topics.
• Thank-u