Research and survey methods Introduction to Research Islamic

Research and survey methods Introduction to Research Islamic University College of Nursing

Health Research: n Definition: n n The application of a scientific and systematic inquiry or investigation to validate and refine existing knowledge and generate new knowledge that directly or indirectly influence practices. To explain or help understand health issues, questions, or problems.

Definition: cont… n “A careful investigation or inquiry specially through search for new facts in any branch of knowledge. ”

Definition: cont… n n Systematized effort to gain new knowledge. A movement from the known to the unknown.

Research is an academic activity n Research comprises defining and redefining problems, formulating hypothesis or suggested solutions; collecting, organizing and evaluating data; making deductions and reaching conclusions; and at last carefully testing the conclusions to determine hypothesis. whether they fit the formulating

Goal: To explain or help understand health issues, questions, or problems.

Purpose of Research n 1. Description: n How prevalent is the phenomenon? What are the characteristics of the phenomenon? n 2. Exploration: n n What factors are related to phenomenon? n 3. Explanation: n Why does the phenomenon exist? n 4. Prediction: n If phenomenon X occurs, well phenomenon Y follow? n 5. Control: n Can the occurrence of the phenomenon be controlled?

Research: n Six ways we can know something: n Tradition. n Expert opinion (authority). n Trial and error. n Acquisition from other disciplines. n Personal experience. n Intuition. n Logical reasoning n Inductive: reasoning from the specific to general. Deductive: reasoning from the general to specific. n Research. n

Research n n Tradition n Doing things as they have always been done n Limitations n Often based on customs & beliefs. n Have not been evaluated or tested. Experts or authorities n Relying on the expertise or authority of others n Limitations n n Experts can be wrong. Experts can disagree among themselves.

Research n Personal experience n Relying on one’s knowledge of their prior experiences. n Limitations: n n How one is affected by an event depends on who one is. Intuition Relying on your “gut” feeling n Limitations: n n Difficulty verifying results.

Research n Inductive reasoning Reasoning from the specific to the general This approach involves starting with a research question, gathering data and analyzing it answer the questions n Limitations n n In order to be certain of a conclusion one must observe all examples. All examples can be observed only in very limited situations where there are few members of the group. Example: nurse observe specific behavior of hospitalized child and conclude that child's separation of parents is stressful events.

Research n Deductive reasoning Reasoning from the general to the specific This approach involves starting with a theoretical framework, formulating hypotheses, gathering data and analyzing it to test the hypotheses. n Limitations: n n You must begin with true premises in order to arrive at true conclusions. Only organizes what is already known. Example: assume that separation anxiety occur in hospitalized child, then we might predict that the child in hospital who his parents not room in would manifest symptoms of stress.

Deductive vs Inductive Deductive Inductive

Inductive/deductive reasoning n It is important to recognize whether the form of an argument is inductive or deductive, because each requires different types of support.

Research n n Systematically studying problems using a scientific and disciplined inquiry approach. Limitations n Difficulty removing errors related to the complexity of human behavior in varying contexts. n Difficulty controlling researcher bias.

Research n n Research provides the most unbiased and verifiable understanding. Some decisions require such evidence, others do not.

The scientific problem solving approach and research process 1. Assessment § Data collection 2. Diagnosis 3. Planning § Goal identification § Planned intervention 4. Implementation 5. Evaluation § modification 1. Identify phenomena 2. Problem & purpose identification 3. Methodology n Design n Sample n Measurement 4. Data collection 5. Outcome & disseminating findings.

Limitations of Research Ø Moral or Ethical Issues. Ø Measurement Problems. Ø Human complexity. Ø General Limitations.

Functions of Research n Basic Research: n § Conducted to develop, test, or refine theory. Applied Research: § Conducted to examine the usefulness of theory in solving practical problems.

Functions of Research n Evaluation Research: n Conducted to assess the value or worth of a specific practice in terms of the values operating at a specific site n Is “X” program accomplishing what is was supposed to accomplish.

Types of research n Quantitative Research: n n n Results of quantitative research are numbers. Utilizes statistical techniques that can be used to analyze the numbers (data) and draw conclusions. Statistically tests a specific hypothesis.

Types of research n Qualitative Research: n n Involves analysis of data derived from words (e. g. , surveys and questionnaires). Investigates naturally occurring phenomena without trying to manipulate them. n n Phenomena are studied as a whole (holistic) rather than focusing on narrow aspects.

Quantitative Designs n n Purposes: n Describe current conditions. n Investigate relationships. n Study causes and effects. Four major designs: n Descriptive/survey. n Correlational. n Causal comparative. n Experimental.

Quantitative Designs n Descriptive/survey n n Purpose – to describe current conditions. Characteristics Use of large samples. n Use of tests, questionnaires, and surveys n Focused on information related to preferences, attitudes, practices, concerns, or interests. n Statistical analysis of numerical data. n

Quantitative Designs n Correlational n n Purpose – to ascertain the extent to which two or more variables are statistically related. Characteristics n Measurement with a correlation coefficient n Use of instruments to measure variables n Focused on the direction and nature of the relationship.

Quantitative Designs n Causal-comparative n Purpose – to explore relationships among variables that cannot be manipulated or controlled by the researcher. n Characteristics n n n Selection of subjects from at least two groups in which the cause (i. e. , the independent variable) has already occurred Statistical comparisons of the effect (i. e. , the dependent variable) using at least two groups Potential problems n Inferring cause and effect relationships

Quantitative Designs n n Experimental n Purpose – to establish cause and effect relationships between variables. Characteristics: n n Strict procedures for selecting subjects and assigning them to groups. Manipulation of the causal variable. Control of extraneous variables. Statistical analysis of numerical data.

Experimental Des. n (continued) Potential problems n n n Inability of researcher to adequately control extraneous variables. Use of complicated research designs. Complex statistical analyses of data.

Qualitative Designs n n Purpose – provide field focused, interpretative, detailed descriptions and interpretations of participants and their settings Four designs n Action research n Historical research n Ethnography n Grounded theory n Phenomenological

Qualitative Designs n Action research n Purposes n n To improve practice or understand issues Characteristics n Four basic steps – identify a problem, collect data, analyze data, and take action to resolve the problem

Qualitative Designs n Historical research n Purpose – to gain insight into past events, issues, of personalities to better understand the current situation n Characteristics Focus on specific individuals, social issues, events, or policies n Documents is the primary sources of data n Data is already available and is presented and interpreted n Data is examined carefully for truthfulness n

Qualitative Designs n Ethnography n n Purpose – to obtain an understanding of the shared beliefs and practices of a particular group or culture Characteristics n The study is conducted in the natural setting for a lengthy period of time n Participants are observed in naturally occurring activities

Qualitative Designs n Grounded theory n n Purpose – to derive theory from the analysis of identified patterns, themes emerging from data Characteristics n Respect for participant’s beliefs and views n Qualitative data collection using analytic strategies n Inductively reasoned synthesis of data through the use of constant comparison analysis

Qualitative Designs n n Phenomenological. Purpose To describe experience as they are lived. Explores the meaning of human experience through intensive dialogue. n Characteristics -The only reliable source of information is persons - The individual must willing to express inner feelings - Data are collected through a variety of means

Quantitative Vs Qualitative n Quantitative n Objective. Soft science. Focus: concise & narrow. Tests theory. Reduction, control. n Basic element of analysis is numbers. n n n Hypotheses. Reasoning is logistic & deductive. Qualitative Subjective. Hard science. Complex and broad. Develops theory. Discovery, description, shared interpretation. Basic element of analysis is words/ideas. Research questions. Reasoning is dialectic & inductive.

Quantitative Vs Qualitative Establishes relationships and causation Uses instruments Strive for generalization Describes meaning and discovery Uses communication and observe. Strives for uniqueness Designs: descriptive, correlation, phenomenological, grounded quasi-experimental & experimental. theory, ethnographic, historical, philosophical. Sample size: Vary Sample size is not a concern; seeks "information rich" sample