IDENTIFYING A NURSING PROBLEM, PURPOSE, AND LITERATURE REVIEW

IDENTIFYING A NURSING IDENTIFYING A NURSING PROBLEM, PURPOSE, AND PROBLEM, PURPOSE, AND

LITERATURE REVIEWLITERATURE REVIEW

AMENABLE TO QUALITATIVE AMENABLE TO QUALITATIVE RESEARCH STUDIESRESEARCH STUDIES

CLASS 3CLASS 3JUDITH ANNE SHAW, Ph.D., R.N.JUDITH ANNE SHAW, Ph.D., R.N.

September 30, 2009September 30, 2009

REMINDER

QUALITATIVE RESEARCHQUALITATIVE RESEARCH

SIMULTANEITYSIMULTANEITY

PARADIGMPARADIGM

AIMAIMQUALIATIVE RESEARCHQUALIATIVE RESEARCH

TO UNDERSTAND THE INDIVIDUAL’S TO UNDERSTAND THE INDIVIDUAL’S MEANING OF THE WHOLE MEANING OF THE WHOLE

OFOF

THEIRTHEIR HUMAN EXPERIENCE HUMAN EXPERIENCE

QUALITATIVE RESEACHERQUALITATIVE RESEACHER

The instrumentThe instrument

The bricoleurThe bricoleur

CORE ACTIVITIESCORE ACTIVITIESQUALITATIVE RESEARCHQUALITATIVE RESEARCH

Identifying question about the phenomenonIdentifying question about the phenomenon Literature reviewLiterature review Explicating researcher’s beliefsExplicating researcher’s beliefs

BracketingBracketing Setting for data collectionSetting for data collection Selection of participantsSelection of participants SaturationSaturation Data analysisData analysis

RESEARCH TOPICSRESEARCH TOPICS

FOCUS ON CURRENT CONCERNS AND FOCUS ON CURRENT CONCERNS AND ISSUESISSUES

CONCEPTS OR BROAD PROBLEM CONCEPTS OR BROAD PROBLEM AREASAREAS

IDENTIFYING IDENTIFYING

A NURSING PROBLEM A NURSING PROBLEM

Broad Problem AreasBroad Problem Areas

Contain countless potential research problemsContain countless potential research problems

WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR THE WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR THE NURSE RESEARCHER?NURSE RESEARCHER?

Nursing research topics focus on:Nursing research topics focus on:

areas controlled by nursingareas controlled by nursing

areas that will influence nursing practiceareas that will influence nursing practice

Research ProblemResearch Problem

““A situation in need of: A situation in need of: a solution,a solution, an improvement,an improvement, alteration” alteration” (Adebo, 1974, p. 53)(Adebo, 1974, p. 53)

greater understanding of thegreater understanding of the phenomenon phenomenon (Speziale & Carpenter, 2007)(Speziale & Carpenter, 2007)

Research ProblemResearch Problem

May be simply defined as:May be simply defined as:

what is and what should be from the what is and what should be from the perspective of those experiencing the perspective of those experiencing the phenomenonphenomenon

what is the meaning of the phenomenon what is the meaning of the phenomenon of interestof interest

Questions to ask to identify a Questions to ask to identify a problemproblem

What ….What …. is wrongis wrong is a concernis a concern known/not knownknown/not known knowledge is neededknowledge is needed

Where…Where… are discrepanciesare discrepancies

Would…Would… another process be another process be

more empoweringmore empowering

WHERE CAN YOU FIND NURSING WHERE CAN YOU FIND NURSING RESEARCH PROBLEMS?RESEARCH PROBLEMS?

NURSING PRACTICENURSING PRACTICE RESEARCHER AND PEER INTERACTIONRESEARCHER AND PEER INTERACTION LITERATURE REVIEWLITERATURE REVIEW

replication of studiesreplication of studies THEORYTHEORY RESEARCH PRIORITIESRESEARCH PRIORITIES

A RESEARCH PROBLEM SHOULD A RESEARCH PROBLEM SHOULD INDICATE:INDICATE:

practice experiencepractice experience

a gap or inconsistent finding in the literaturea gap or inconsistent finding in the literature

an interest in an untested theoryan interest in an untested theory

limited understanding of a phenomenonlimited understanding of a phenomenon

REFINING THE PROBLEM REFINING THE PROBLEM STATEMENTSTATEMENT

Refinement- Refinement-

the researcher’s thinkingthe researcher’s thinking

Refining Refining Researcher’s ThinkingResearcher’s Thinking

Defining a specific problem areaDefining a specific problem area

*Review of relevant literature *Review of relevant literature (*varies with qualitative approach)(*varies with qualitative approach)

Examine the problem’s significance to nursingExamine the problem’s significance to nursing

Pragmatically examine the feasibility of the research Pragmatically examine the feasibility of the research problemproblem

Problem StatementProblem Statement

Crux of the research projectCrux of the research project

Involves reflection and creativityInvolves reflection and creativity

Refinement of the researcher’s thinkingRefinement of the researcher’s thinking

Six ElementsSix ElementsProblem StatementProblem Statement

1.1. Information about what provoked the studyInformation about what provoked the study2.2. Scope of problemScope of problem3.3. Why important to study the problemWhy important to study the problem4.4. Benefit to nursing scienceBenefit to nursing science5.5. General characteristics- population of General characteristics- population of

interestinterest6.6. Overall study goal/aim or question to be Overall study goal/aim or question to be

answeredansweredThomas, 2000Thomas, 2000

Characteristics of a Good Characteristics of a Good Problem StatementProblem Statement

#1#1Clearly identify:Clearly identify:

o phenomenonphenomenono culture culture o concepts under considerationconcepts under considerationo variables (*generally quantitative variables (*generally quantitative

research) research)


#2#2

Clear and conciseClear and concise


#3#3 Justification of needJustification of need

o gap in the literaturegap in the literatureo conflicting findingsconflicting findingso omission of a group omission of a group o limited understanding of the phenomenonlimited understanding of the phenomenon

KEY PHRASESKEY PHRASES

Little is known about….Little is known about….

Findings of previous studies are conflictingFindings of previous studies are conflicting

Few studies of this have been doneFew studies of this have been done

HOW MUCH MILEAGE HOW MUCH MILEAGE CAN YOU GETCAN YOU GET

FROM YOUR PHENOMENOM FROM YOUR PHENOMENOM OF INTEREST?OF INTEREST?

Researchers have developedResearchers have developeda personal research program a personal research program

lasting throughout their career,lasting throughout their career,

based on a select phenomenom of interest.based on a select phenomenom of interest.

Purpose APurpose APurpose BPurpose B

Phenomenon Phenomenon Purpose CPurpose C of of Purpose DPurpose D

Interest Purpose E Interest Purpose E

How much time is required to specify the How much time is required to specify the research problem, within the research research problem, within the research

process?process?

Specifying Specifying The ResearchThe Research

Problem Problem

Summary About the Research Summary About the Research ProblemProblem

Identifying a problem is the initial and one of Identifying a problem is the initial and one of the most important steps in the research the most important steps in the research process.process.

A research problem should indicate:A research problem should indicate: a practice experiencea practice experience a gap or inconsistent finding in the literaturea gap or inconsistent finding in the literature an interest in an untested theoryan interest in an untested theory limited understanding of a phenomenonlimited understanding of a phenomenon

RESEARCH QUESTIONRESEARCH QUESTION

Interrogative statementsInterrogative statements

(who, what, which)(who, what, which)

RESEARCH QUESTIONRESEARCH QUESTION

Focus: Focus: What is to be describedWhat is to be described

phenomenonphenomenon concepts concepts (such as, culture),(such as, culture), variablesvariables

relationships among themrelationships among them

WHAT IS A RESEARCH WHAT IS A RESEARCH PURPOSEPURPOSE

Statement of the specific goalStatement of the specific goalor aim of the studyor aim of the study [concise & clear].[concise & clear].

IncludesIncludesthe phenomenon, concepts/variables,the phenomenon, concepts/variables,

population and setting for a studypopulation and setting for a study

The purpose usually indicates the The purpose usually indicates the type of study to be conducted.type of study to be conducted.

The purpose of this qualitative study was to The purpose of this qualitative study was to understand the lived experience of……understand the lived experience of……

The purpose of this study was to understand The purpose of this study was to understand the meaning of…. the meaning of….

PURPOSEPURPOSE

WhyWhy

investigator is conducting the investigator is conducting the studystudy

PURPOSEPURPOSE

Generated from the problemGenerated from the problem

clearly focuses the development of the clearly focuses the development of the studystudy

not to be confused with the problemnot to be confused with the problem

PROBLEM versus PURPOSEPROBLEM versus PURPOSE

PROBLEMPROBLEM WHAT WHAT [research question to [research question to

be answered]be answered]

PURPOSEPURPOSE WHYWHY [the study is being [the study is being

conducted]conducted]

Observation of real world situationsObservation of real world situations(Nursing Practice)(Nursing Practice)

Identify research topicsIdentify research topics

Generate QuestionsGenerate QuestionsNonresearchableNonresearchableQuestionsQuestions

Review of Review of RESEARCH PROBLEM RESEARCH PROBLEM Input Input literature Clarification & refinementliterature Clarification & refinement others others

RESEARCH PURPOSE RESEARCH PURPOSE

Objectives, questions, or hypotheses Objectives, questions, or hypotheses

RESEARCH PROCESSRESEARCH PROCESS

Problem StatementProblem Statement

Purpose StatementPurpose Statement


Problem Statement:Problem Statement:

identifies gap in the knowledge in a identifies gap in the knowledge in a select area.select area.


Purpose Statement:Purpose Statement:

clarifies knowledge to be generated in a clarifies knowledge to be generated in a

particular studyparticular study

How do You Formulate the How do You Formulate the Research Questions?Research Questions?

PROBLEM PROBLEM STATEMENTSTATEMENT

Includes: Includes:

The nature of the problemThe nature of the problem The context of the problemThe context of the problem The significance of the problemThe significance of the problem

PROBLEM PROBLEM STATEMENTSTATEMENT

Terms and concepts often indicate Terms and concepts often indicate the select research approachthe select research approach

Possible Terms and ConceptsPossible Terms and Conceptsin Problem Statement in Problem Statement

Phenomenology – lived experiencePhenomenology – lived experience

Grounded Theory- social processGrounded Theory- social process

Ethnography- meaning ofEthnography- meaning of

Literature ReviewLiterature Review

WHAT IS A WHAT IS A LITERATURE REVIEWLITERATURE REVIEW


An examination of research sources An examination of research sources to generate a picture of what is to generate a picture of what is knownknown and and not knownnot known about a about a clinical problem to determine if the clinical problem to determine if the knowledge is ready for use in knowledge is ready for use in practicepractice

LITERATURE REVIEWLITERATURE REVIEW QUALITATIVE QUALITATIVE

RESEARCHRESEARCH

Purpose and Timing-Purpose and Timing-vary according to thevary according to thetype of study to betype of study to beconducted.conducted.


Qualitative ResearchQualitative Research

Researchers differ about the extent of an Researchers differ about the extent of an initial literature reviewinitial literature review


Phenomenological Study: after data Phenomenological Study: after data collection & analysiscollection & analysis

Ethnographic Study- cursory review, early Ethnographic Study- cursory review, early in the research/ general understanding or in the research/ general understanding or background for conducting the studybackground for conducting the study


Grounded Theory Study- minimal review at Grounded Theory Study- minimal review at the beginning, with more in-depth review the beginning, with more in-depth review during data collection & analysisduring data collection & analysis

Historical Study- initial review to select a Historical Study- initial review to select a research topic and to develop a research research topic and to develop a research question and is a source of data in the studyquestion and is a source of data in the study

PURPOSEPURPOSELITERATURE REVIEW LITERATURE REVIEW

QUALITATIVE RESEARCHQUALITATIVE RESEARCH

Varies for each Qualitative Approach Varies for each Qualitative Approach

((MUST MUST determine when is the determine when is the appropriate time to review literature)appropriate time to review literature)

PURPOSEPURPOSE LITERATURE REVIEW LITERATURE REVIEW

QUALITATIVE RESEARCHQUALITATIVE RESEARCH may bemay be::

to determine current knowledge of a to determine current knowledge of a phenomenonphenomenon

to raise philosophical questionsto raise philosophical questions to explain, support, and extend the generated to explain, support, and extend the generated

theorytheory to provide a background for conducting the to provide a background for conducting the

studystudy

may bemay be:: to verify the significance of the research to verify the significance of the research

problemproblem to specify the purpose of the research to specify the purpose of the research

problemproblem

to clarify questionsto clarify questions

to develop a study oto develop a study orientationrientation

to select research designto select research design

to direct data collection and analysisto direct data collection and analysis

to interpret findingsto interpret findings

Common Nursing Research Common Nursing Research JournalsJournals

Canadian Journal of Nursing ResearchCanadian Journal of Nursing Research Journal of Nursing ScholarshipJournal of Nursing Scholarship Nursing ResearchNursing Research Scholarly Inquiry for Nursing PracticeScholarly Inquiry for Nursing Practice Western Journal of Nursing ResearchWestern Journal of Nursing Research Advances in Nursing ScienceAdvances in Nursing Science Applied Nursing ResearchApplied Nursing Research Research in Nursing and HealthResearch in Nursing and Health

LEVELS OF READINGLEVELS OF READING

Skimming SourcesSkimming Sources

Comprehending SourcesComprehending Sources

Analyzing SourcesAnalyzing Sources

How You Review the How You Review the Research LiteratureResearch Literature

Three StagesThree Stages

STAGE ONESTAGE ONELITERATURE REVIEWLITERATURE REVIEW

Identify literature sources:Identify literature sources:. . Ask professors working in the areaAsk professors working in the area

. Ask reference librarian. Ask reference librarian

. Check textbooks, appropriate . Check textbooks, appropriate discipline’s abstracts, and journals discipline’s abstracts, and journals


Identify literature sources:Identify literature sources:

• Select databases to searchSelect databases to search

• Select keywordsSelect keywords


LimitLimit

Your SearchYour Search

STAGE TWOSTAGE TWO LITERATURE REVIEW LITERATURE REVIEW

Summarize the read research study. Summarize the read research study.

Answer the questions:Answer the questions:

. . Who?Who?

. What?. What?

. Where?. Where?

. When?. When?

STAGE TWOSTAGE TWOLITERATURE REVIEWLITERATURE REVIEW

Write a statement about the Write a statement about the quality of the studyquality of the study

..Was the study sound?Was the study sound?

. Merit of findings?. Merit of findings?

. Key article?. Key article?

STAGE THREESTAGE THREE LITERATURE REVIEW LITERATURE REVIEW

Integrative ReviewIntegrative Review

ofof

FindingsFindings

INTEGRATIVE REVIEWINTEGRATIVE REVIEW

Ask are reported findings:Ask are reported findings:

ConsistentConsistent

Supportive ofSupportive of

Contrary to othersContrary to others

CRITIQUING CRITIQUING

THETHE


ASK:ASK: Are relevant studies identified and Are relevant studies identified and

described?described? Are the studies critiqued by the researcher?Are the studies critiqued by the researcher? Are the references current? (What is Are the references current? (What is

“current”?)“current”?) Is a summary of current knowledge Is a summary of current knowledge

provided?provided?

LITERATURE REVIEW LITERATURE REVIEW SUMMARYSUMMARY

The end product of the literature review:The end product of the literature review:

--the generation of a written report the generation of a written report

that summarizes what is that summarizes what is knownknown and and

not knownnot known about a phenomenon. about a phenomenon.

GROUP WORKGROUP WORK

Determining the Feasibility Determining the Feasibility of a Studyof a Study

Time CommitmentTime Commitment Money CommitmentMoney Commitment Researcher’s ExpertiseResearcher’s Expertise Availability of SubjectsAvailability of Subjects Availability of Facility and EquipmentAvailability of Facility and Equipment Cooperation of OthersCooperation of Others Ethical ConsiderationsEthical Considerations


Time CommitmentTime Commitment

Money CommitmentMoney Commitment


Researcher’s ExpertiseResearcher’s Expertise

Availability of SubjectsAvailability of Subjects

Availability of Facility and Availability of Facility and EquipmentEquipment


Cooperation of OthersCooperation of Others

Ethical ConsiderationsEthical Considerations

PRAXIS:PRAXIS: Nursing Scholarship and Nursing Scholarship and

PracticePractice

In In MotionMotion

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IDENTIFYING A NURSING PROBLEM, PURPOSE, AND LITERATURE REVIEW