to discover knowledge that will solve a clinical problem

quantitative re s e arch: Research that uses numbers to obtain precise measurements

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qualitative re s e arch: Research that uses words to describe human behaviors

One way to classify research is by its aims. Descriptive research answers “What is it?” This category of research is concerned with providing accurate descriptions and can involve observation of a phenomenon in its natural setting. The goal of the explanatory category is to identify the relationships a phenomenon has with individuals, groups, situations, or events. Explanatory studies address why or how phenomena are related. Predictive research aims to forecast precise relationships between dimensions of phenomena or differences between groups. This category of research addresses when the phenomena will occur. Table 1-5 provides an example of how these different types helped nurses to better understand the phenomenon of pain during chest tube removal.

Another way to classify research is to consider whether findings can be used to solve real-world problems. Basic research, sometimes known as bench research, seeks to gain knowledge for the sake of gaining that knowledge. This knowledge may or may not become applicable to practical issues or situations. It may be years before a discovery becomes useful when it is combined with other discoveries. For example, vitamin K was studied for the sake of learning more about its properties. Years later, the knowledge gained about its mechanism of action during coagulation formed the foundation for vitamin K becoming an accepted treatment for bleeding disorders. In contrast, the aim of applied research is to discover knowledge that will solve a clinical problem. The findings typically have immediate application to bring about changes in practice, education, or administration.

Quantitative and qualitative are terms that are also used to distinguish among types of research. Philosophical approach, research questions, designs, and data all provide clues to assist you in differentiating between these two methods of classification. Quantitative research views the world as objective. This implies that researchers can separate themselves from phenomena being studied. The focus is on collecting empirical evidence, in other words, evidence gathered through the five senses. Researchers quantify observations by using numbers to obtain precise measurements that can later be statistically analyzed.

Many quantitative studies test hypotheses. In contrast, the premise of qualitative research is that the world is not objective. There can be multiple realities because the context of the situation is different for each person and can change with time. The emphasis is on verbal descriptions that explain human behaviors. In this type of research, the focus is on providing a detailed description of the meanings people give to their experiences. Table 1-6 provides a comparison of these two approaches.

e mpirical e vide nce : Evidence that is verifiable by experience through the five senses or experimentThe introduction, which follows the abstract, contains a statement of the problem and a purpose statement. The problem statement identifies the problem in a broad and general way. For example, a problem statement may read, “falls in hospitalized patients can increase length of stay.” Authors usually provide background information and statistics about the problem to convince readers that the problem is significant.

The background information provided should set the stage for the purpose statement, which describes what was examined in the study. For example, a purpose statement may read, “the purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between time of evening medication administration and time of falls.” A good introduction convinces readers that the study was worthy of being conducted.

introduction: Part of a research article that states the problem and purpose

The third section is the review of literature. An unbiased, comprehensive, synthesized description of relevant, previously published studies should be presented. For each study included in the review, the purpose, sample, design, and significant findings are discussed. The review should focus on the most recent work in the field but may include older citations if they are considered to be landmark studies. A complete citation is provided for each article so that readers can retrieve the articles if desired. A well-written literature review concludes with a summary of what is known about the problem and identifies gaps in the knowledge base to show readers how the study adds to existing knowledge.

re vie w of lite rature : An unbiased, comprehensive, synthesized description of relevant previously published studies

FIGURE 1-1 Ways of Reasoning

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The research article should include a discussion of the theoretical framework, which may be in a separate section or combined with the review of literature. A theoretical framework often describes the relationships among general concepts and provides linkages to what is being measured in the study. Authors frequently use a model or diagram to explain their theoretical framework.

the ore tical frame work: The structure of a study that links the theory concepts to the study variables; a section of a research article that describes the theory used

A major portion of a research article is the methods section, which includes a discussion about study design, sample, and data collection. In most cases, authors explicitly describe the type of design they selected to answer the research question. In this section, it is important for the authors to describe the target population and explain how the sample was obtained. Procedures for collecting data, including the types of measures used, should also be outlined. Throughout this section, authors provide rationale for decisions made regarding how the study was implemented.

me thods s e ction: Major portion of a research article that describes the study design, sample, and data collection

Readers frequently consider the results section to be the most difficult to understand. Here, authors describe the methods they used to analyze their data, and the characteristics of the sample are reported. In quantitative studies, data tables are frequently included for interpretation, and authors indicate which findings were significant and which were not. In qualitative studies, authors present themes that are supported by quotes from participants. After reading the results section, the reader should be confident that the researchers selected the appropriate analysis for the data collected.

re s ults s e ction: Component of a research article that reports the methods used to analyze data and

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characteristics of the sample

The body of a research article concludes with a discussion section. Authors provide an interpretation of the results and discuss how the findings extend the body of knowledge. Results should be linked to the review of the literature and theoretical framework. The authors discuss the limitations of the study design and sometimes suggest possible solutions to address them in future studies. Implications for practice, research, and education are proposed. Often it is helpful to read this section after reading the abstract and introduction because it provides clarity by giving readers an idea of what is to come.

dis cus s ion s e ction: Portion of a research article where interpretation of the results and how the findings extend the body of knowledge are discussed

The article concludes with the list of references that are cited in the article. While styles vary, many journals adhere to the guidelines provided in the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association. Because it is often helpful to refer to the original works listed in the reference section, it is wise for readers to obtain a copy of the entire article, including the reference list.