positivist (logical) paradigm
one objective reality exists out there and is waiting to be discovered.
naturalistic (constructivist) paradigm
there are many truths as we socially construct reality and different people have different perceptions and experiences.
phenomena
an observable observable occurrence, a fact, an event a situation, circumstance or happening; something that is impressive or extraordinary
concepts
an idea, thought or notion conceived in the mind.
meta-paradigm
Broad. Identitifies the basic subject matter of a discipline (person, environment, health, nursing)
Grand theory
explain large segments of the human experience; conceptual framework that defines broad perspectives of nursing.
middle-range theory
precise and focus on a portion of the human experience; moderately abstract and able to be tested.
nursing theory
conceptualization of some aspect of nursing communicated for the purpose of describing, explaining, predicting and/or prescribing nursing care.
Research Utilization (RU)
Applying research to nursing practice. Translating empirically based knowledge into real-world application.
Evidence Based Nursing Pracitce
Translating of scientific investigations and other types of knowledge into clinical practice.
site
overall location of the research
multisite
various places/locations where data is gathered. It offers a larger or more diverse group of participants.
settings
different places, where data is gathered. Naturalistic, partially controlled and highly controlled
research problem
a situation or circumstance that requires a solution to be described, explained, or predicted. It is an unsatisfactory situation that wants you to confront.
null hypothesis
a statement saying that there is no difference between/among groups or no systematic relationship between/among variables.
alternative hypothesis
predicts a relationship between the I.V. and the D.V.
experimental design
a procedure for devising an experimental setting such that a change in the D.V. may be solely attributed to a change in I.V.
manipulation
the researchers consciously vary the IV and then observe its effect on the DV.
Two types: basic and crossover
control
researchers introduce control, including the use of control group or comparison group
randomization
placing subjects at random - through randomization each subject has an equal chance of being in any group
Basic Design
randomizing subjects to different groups and subsequently measuring the D.V.
Two types: pretest-posttest and posttest only
Pretest-posttest design
classical controlled experiment. Golden standard
Posttest only design
No control over confounding variables that could have influenced the post-exposure measurements.
Subjects are randomly assigned.
Crossover Design
=Repeated measure design.
Exposing the same participants to more than one treatment. Subjects receive a sequence of different treatments (or exposure).
Quasi-experimental Design
Manipulation of an IV. Comparison between groups, time periods. No random assignment - matching instead.
Three types: Non-equivalent CG before and after, non-equivalent CG after-only, and time-series design.
Non-equivalent CG before-after design
non-equivalent groups assessed before and after intervention
Non-equivalent CG after only design
non-equivalent groups assessed only after intervention
Time series design
collecting data over an extended time period. No CG, or randomization.
Non-experimental
Observations - no intervention.
Types: Descriptive research and Correlational Studies
descriptive research
observe, descrive, and document aspects of a situation as it naturally occurs serve as a starting point for hypothesis generation or theory development.
Correlational Studies
Study relationships among variables but not to infer causal relationships.
Types: retrospective and prospective
Retrospective Design
a concept observed in the present is linked to concept occurring in the past
Prospective Design
start with a presumed cause and then go forward to the presumed effect
Cross-sectional design
Data are collected at 1 single point in time
Longitudinal Study
Data are collected at 2 or more points in time over an extended period in time. Useful to examine changes over time.
Between-subjects
subjects in groups being compared are different people
within-subjects
subjects in groups are being compared are the same people at different times or in different conditions.
ethnography
approach for studying the meanings, patterns, and experiences of a defined group in a holistic fashion. Aims to produce a detailed description of how a particular group operates, based on observation of, and often participation in, the group. Describing cultures
Non-participant Observation
the researcher does not become, nor aims to become an integral part of the system or community they are observing.
Participant Observation
researcher is or becomes a part of the team, community, or cultural group they are observing.
Phenomenolgy
study subjective phenomena in the belief that critical truth about reality are grounded in people’s lived experiences. Goal is the fully describe lived experience and the perceptions to which it gives rise.
Grounded Theory
focused on generating theoretical ideas from the data….rather than having these specified beforehand. Theory emerges from the data.
sampling
the process of selection a portion of the population to represent the entire population
sample
a set of units observed from the all possible units. Subset of the population.
representative sample
a sample that represents the characteristics of the population as closely as possible
sampling bias
sample is not representative of the population or inappropriate for the question asked. A consistent error that arises due to the sample selection.
probability sampling
members of the population have a known chance (probability) of being selected.
Types: Simple random sampling, stratified, multistage, systematic
Non-probability sampling
instances in which the chances (probability) of selecting members from the population are unknown.
Types: Convenience, quota, purposive, snowball.
Convenience Sample
Selection of the most readily available people as subjects in the study
snowball sampling
researchers ask early informants to make referrals for other study participants.
Quota Sampling
Researchers identify STRATA of the population and then determine how many participants are needed from each stratum to meet the quota.
Purposive Sampling
the conscious selection of certain participants or elements to include in a study
Simple Random Sampling
flipping a coin or choosing from a hat
Stratified Random Sampling
The population is separated into homogenous groups and a sample is taken from each, then subsamples are merged in to one sample.
cluster sampling
population is divided into similar groups or clusters. These are mini populations and therefore are heterogeneous. Selection of one or a few clusters at random to represent the population.
Systematic Sampling
The selection of every kth case from a list of group.
saturation
point where redundancy is achieved.
Meta-Analysis
method that combines the evidence of multiple primary studies (independent studies) by employing statistical methods, thus enhancing the objectivity and validity of the findings.
Systematic review
systematic undertaking of a review with a focused research question (RQ) that tires to identify, appraise, select and synthesize all high quality evidence to that question.
Self-Reports
Subjects responses to questions posed by the researchers. Using completely unstructured interviews, semi-structured (or focused) interviews, focus group interviews.
Semi-structured Interview
conceptual or chronological framework, from general to specific: FUNNELING.
Questionnaire
subjects may complete the instrument (self-administered questionnaire) themselves or the questions are asked orally in either a face-to-face or telephone format.
Rating Scale
A scientific measurement instrument designed to assign a numeric score to people to place them on a continuum with respect to attributes being measured.
Three types: Likert Scale, Semantic Differential Scale, and Visual Analog Scale
Structured Self-Report
Open-ended questions to Close d-Ended questions.
Likert Scale
Scaling technique in which respondents are asked to indicate their degree of agreement or disagreement with a series of statements in a single instrument.
Semantic Differential Scale
A rating scale in which bipolar adjectives are placed at both ends of the scale, and response options are expressed as “semantic” space.
Visual Analog Scale
Participants mark a point on the line corresponding to the amount of sensation experienced.
unstructured observations
objectives/data requirements have not been specified- exploratory research.
structured research
researcher identifies beforehand which variables are to be observed and recorded.
In Vivo Measures
directly within or on living organism.
ex// BP, vital capacity
In Vitro measures
data gathered by extracting some bio-physiological material from subjects.
ex// hormones, blood sugar,etc.
reliability coefficient (=r)
a numeric index of a measure’s reliability - range from 0.00 to 1.00
4 criteria for establishing Trustworthiness of qualitative data
Credibility
Dependability
Confirmability
Transferability
Credibility
Truth Value = confidence in the truth of the data and your interpretations of them.
- Prolonged engagement
- Triangulation
- Peer debriefing and member checks
- Researcher Credibility
Data Source Triangulation
using multiple data sources in a study
Method Triangulation
Using multiple methods to address a research problem.
Theory Triangulation
Using multiple perspectives to interpret a set of data.
Dependability
Consistency, replicability, data stability over time and over conditions.
What helps:
Triangulation
Code-Recode Procedure
Confirmability
Objectivity or neutrality of the data/ NOT BIASED What helps: Triangulation Reflexivity Audit Trail
Transferability
refers to the extent to which the findings from the data can be transferred to other settings.
What helps:
Thick Description
univariate analysis
the examination of the distribution of cases on only one variable at a time
bivariate analysis
the examination of 2 variables simultaneosly
multivariate analysis
the examination of more than 2 variables simultaneously.