Cálculo del máximo valor deducido corregido (VDC)

Based on the problem statement, purpose statement, or research question: 1. Is the research problem area clear?

2. Is their a succinct problem statement, purpose statement, or research question? 3. Are the study variables and the population included?

4. Can a determination be made as to whether the study was a quantitative or qualitative study? 5. Can a decision be made that empirical data were gathered on the topic of interest?

6. Does it appear that the study was ethical? 7. Is the feasibility of the study evident?

8. Is the significance of the study to nursing apparent?

SUMMARY

The selection of a research problem is probably the most important and most difficult step in the research process. Some of the most common sources of research ideas are personal experi- ences, literature sources, existing theories, and previous studies. Nurses need to conduct repli- cation studies based on previous nursing re- search investigations.

Several criteria should be considered in de- termining a problem to study. First, ethical issues must be considered. Second, the problem should be significant to nursing. Third, personal motiva- tion to conduct the study should be present. Fourth, the researcher’s qualifications must be considered. Finally, the feasibility of the study must be considered. How long will the project take? How much will it cost? Can the needed equipment and supplies be obtained? Does the researcher have administrative and peer support for the project? Is a study sample available?

The research problem area should be nar- rowed down to a research question. The question

should contain the population and variables that are being studied, and be empirically testable. The use of a question format is a clear way to identify the problem area for a study. Questions demand answers. Another way to make a research ques- tion concise is by delimiting or narrowing down the population for the study. Also, the variables under study must be clearly identified. One, two, or many variables may be studied.

Studies may be referred to as univariate,

bivariate, or multivariate studies, according to whether one, two, or many variables are being studied. There is an increasing emphasis on mul- tivariate research because nursing is concerned with the relationships between many combina- tions of variables. Testable research questions contain variables that can be measured empiri- cally. Empirical data consist of data gathered through the sense organs. Scientific research questions do not concern value or ethical issues. Research problems that examine more than one variable are usually written in the form of a corre- lational statement or comparative statement.

NURSING RESEARCH

ON THE WEB

For additional online resources, research activi- ties, and exercises, go to www.mynursingkit.

com. Select Chapter 5 from the drop-down menu.

GET INVOLVED ACTIVITIES

1. Gather in groups of four to six people and practice writing research questions. Place the research questions on the blackboard and take turns presenting them to the rest of the group.

2. Bring in research articles that contain prob- lem statements/purpose statements/ research questions. Have volunteers read their statements. Pick the most appropriate statement.

3. Are more of the statements written as prob- lem statements, purpose statements, or as research questions?

4. Rewrite, in interrogatory form, some of the declarative problem statements/purpose statements that were brought to the group.

5. Think of a problem to address that is not ap- propriate for research because it is an ethical or value issue (such as “Should all nurses work 12-hour shifts?”).

6. Change the problem area of Activity 5 into a researchable problem area.

SELF-TEST

Evaluate the following research questions. Select answer A, B, C, or D according to the presence of the necessary elements of an acceptable research question.

A. The population is missing.

B. The dependent variable is missing.

C. The independent variable is missing.

D. All elements are present.

____ 1. Is there a correlation between fa- thers’ heights and their sons’ heights?

____ 2. Is there a difference in the level of assertiveness between men and women?

____ 3. Is there a difference in anxiety lev- els after a relaxation exercise? ____ 4. Is there a correlation between exer-

cise and weight loss?

____ 5. Is there a relationship between the self-concept of baccalaureate nurs- ing students and their level of ca- reer aspirations?

____ 6. Is there a difference in pregnant women who attend prenatal classes and those who do not attend prena- tal classes?

____ 7. Is there a difference in the anxiety levels of preoperative patients after practicing relaxation exercises? ____ 8. Is there a correlation between anxi-

ety levels and pulse rates?

____ 9. Is there a difference in people who have exercised and those who have not exercised?

____ 10. Is there a difference in the birth weight of infants?

REFERENCES

Fahs, P. S., Morgan, L. L., & Kalman, M. (2003). A call for replication. Journal of Nursing Scholarship, 35, 67–71. Hicks, M., McDermott, L. L., Rouhana, N., Schmidt, M.,

Seymour, M. W., & Sullivan, T. (2008). Nurses’ body size and public confidence in ability to provide health educa- tion. Journal of Nursing Scholarship, 40, 349–354.

Pierce, L. L. (2009). Twelve steps for success in the nursing research journey. The Journal of Continuing Education in Nursing, 40, 154–161.

Rogers, C. (1969). Freedom to learn. Columbus, OH: Charles E. Merrill.

Roos, S., Kärner, A., & Hallert, C. (2009). Gastrointestinal symptoms and well-being of adults living on a gluten-free diet. Gastroenterology, 32, 196–201.

Sharts-Hopko, N. C. (2000). Journal of the Association of Nurses in AIDS Care, 11, 86–88.

Wells, M., Lever, D., & Austin, E. N. (2006). The effect of the nurse’s body size on client confidence in the nurse’s ability to provide health education on diet and exercise. Unpublished manuscript, State University of New York, Binghamton.

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