IDENTIFYING A NURSING PROBLEM, PURPOSE, AND LITERATURE REVIEW AMENABLE TO QUALITATIVE RESEARCH STUDIES CLASS 3 JUDITH ANNE SHAW, Ph.D., R.N. September 30, 2009

REMINDER

QUALITATIVE RESEARCH SIMULTANEITY SIMULTANEITYPARADIGM

AIM QUALIATIVE RESEARCH TO UNDERSTAND THE INDIVIDUAL’S MEANING OF THE WHOLE OF THEIR HUMAN EXPERIENCE THEIR HUMAN EXPERIENCE

QUALITATIVE RESEACHER The instrument The instrument The bricoleur The bricoleur

CORE ACTIVITIES QUALITATIVE RESEARCH Identifying question about the phenomenon Identifying question about the phenomenon Literature review Literature review Explicating researcher’s beliefs Explicating researcher’s beliefs Bracketing Bracketing Setting for data collection Setting for data collection Selection of participants Selection of participants Saturation Saturation Data analysis Data analysis

RESEARCH TOPICS FOCUS ON CURRENT CONCERNS AND ISSUES FOCUS ON CURRENT CONCERNS AND ISSUES CONCEPTS OR BROAD PROBLEM AREAS CONCEPTS OR BROAD PROBLEM AREAS

IDENTIFYING A NURSING PROBLEM

Broad Problem Areas Contain countless potential research problems Contain countless potential research problems

WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR THE NURSE RESEARCHER? Nursing research topics focus on: areas controlled by nursing areas controlled by nursing areas that will influence nursing practice areas that will influence nursing practice

Research Problem “A situation in need of: ã a solution, ã an improvement, ã alteration” (Adebo, 1974, p. 53) ã greater understanding of the phenomenon (Speziale & Carpenter, 2007) phenomenon (Speziale & Carpenter, 2007)

Research Problem May be simply defined as: May be simply defined as: what is and what should be from the perspective of those experiencing the phenomenon what is and what should be from the perspective of those experiencing the phenomenon what is the meaning of the phenomenon of interest what is the meaning of the phenomenon of interest

Questions to ask to identify a problem What …. What …. is wrong is wrong is a concern is a concern known/not known known/not known knowledge is needed knowledge is needed Where… Where… are discrepancies are discrepancies Would… Would… another process be more empowering another process be more empowering

WHERE CAN YOU FIND NURSING RESEARCH PROBLEMS? NURSING PRACTICE NURSING PRACTICE RESEARCHER AND PEER INTERACTION RESEARCHER AND PEER INTERACTION LITERATURE REVIEW LITERATURE REVIEW replication of studies replication of studies THEORY THEORY RESEARCH PRIORITIES RESEARCH PRIORITIES

A RESEARCH PROBLEM SHOULD INDICATE: practice experience practice experience a gap or inconsistent finding in the literature a gap or inconsistent finding in the literature an interest in an untested theory an interest in an untested theory limited understanding of a phenomenon limited understanding of a phenomenon

REFINING THE PROBLEM STATEMENT Refinement- the researcher’s thinking

Refining Researcher’s Thinking Defining a specific problem area *Review of relevant literature (*varies with qualitative approach) Examine the problem’s significance to nursing Pragmatically examine the feasibility of the research problem

Problem Statement Crux of the research project Involves reflection and creativity Refinement of the researcher’s thinking

Six Elements Problem Statement 1. Information about what provoked the study 2. Scope of problem 3. Why important to study the problem 4. Benefit to nursing science 5. General characteristics- population of interest 6. Overall study goal/aim or question to be answered Thomas, 2000

Characteristics of a Good Problem Statement #1 Clearly identify: o phenomenon o culture o concepts under consideration o variables (*generally quantitative research)

Characteristics of a Good Problem Statement #2 Clear and concise

Characteristics of a Good Problem Statement #3 Justification of need Justification of need o gap in the literature o conflicting findings o omission of a group o limited understanding of the phenomenon

KEY PHRASES Little is known about…. Little is known about…. Findings of previous studies are conflicting Findings of previous studies are conflicting Few studies of this have been done Few studies of this have been done

HOW MUCH MILEAGE CAN YOU GET FROM YOUR PHENOMENOM OF INTEREST? Researchers have developed a personal research program lasting throughout their career, based on a select phenomenom of interest. based on a select phenomenom of interest.

Purpose A Purpose B Phenomenon Purpose C ofPurpose D Interest Purpose E

How much time is required to specify the research problem, within the research process? Specifying The Research Problem

Summary About the Research Problem Identifying a problem is the initial and one of the most important steps in the research process. Identifying a problem is the initial and one of the most important steps in the research process. A research problem should indicate: A research problem should indicate: a practice experience a practice experience a gap or inconsistent finding in the literature a gap or inconsistent finding in the literature an interest in an untested theory an interest in an untested theory limited understanding of a phenomenon limited understanding of a phenomenon

RESEARCH QUESTION Interrogative statements (who, what, which) (who, what, which)

RESEARCH QUESTION Focus: What is to be described  phenomenon  concepts (such as, culture),  variables relationships among them

WHAT IS A RESEARCH PURPOSE Statement of the specific goal or aim of the study [concise & clear]. [concise & clear].Includes the phenomenon, concepts/variables, population and setting for a study

The purpose usually indicates the type of study to be conducted. The purpose of this qualitative study was to understand the lived experience of…… The purpose of this qualitative study was to understand the lived experience of…… The purpose of this study was to understand the meaning of…. The purpose of this study was to understand the meaning of….

PURPOSE Why investigator is conducting the study investigator is conducting the study

PURPOSE Generated from the problem  clearly focuses the development of the study  not to be confused with the problem

PROBLEM versus PURPOSE PROBLEM PROBLEM WHAT WHAT [research question to be answered] PURPOSE PURPOSE WHY [the study is being conducted]

Observation of real world situations (Nursing Practice) Identify research topics Generate Questions Nonresearchable Questions Review of RESEARCH PROBLEM Input literature Clarification & refinement others RESEARCH PURPOSE Objectives, questions, or hypotheses

RESEARCH PROCESS Problem Statement Purpose Statement

RESEARCH PROCESS Problem Statement: z identifies gap in the knowledge in a select area.

RESEARCH PROCESS Purpose Statement: z clarifies knowledge to be generated in a particular study particular study

How do You Formulate the Research Questions?

PROBLEM STATEMENT Includes: The nature of the problem The nature of the problem The context of the problem The context of the problem The significance of the problem The significance of the problem

PROBLEM STATEMENT Terms and concepts often indicate the select research approach

Possible Terms and Concepts in Problem Statement Phenomenology – lived experience Phenomenology – lived experience Grounded Theory- social process Grounded Theory- social process Ethnography- meaning of Ethnography- meaning of

Literature Review

WHAT IS A LITERATURE REVIEW

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

LITERATURE REVIEW QUALITATIVE RESEARCH Purpose and Timing- vary according to the type of study to be conducted.

LITERATURE REVIEW Qualitative Research Researchers differ about the extent of an initial literature review Researchers differ about the extent of an initial literature review

LITERATURE REVIEW Phenomenological Study: after data collection & analysis Phenomenological Study: after data collection & analysis Ethnographic Study- cursory review, early in the research/ general understanding or background for conducting the study Ethnographic Study- cursory review, early in the research/ general understanding or background for conducting the study

LITERATURE REVIEW Grounded Theory Study- minimal review at the beginning, with more in-depth review during data collection & analysis Grounded Theory Study- minimal review at the beginning, with more in-depth review during data collection & analysis Historical Study- initial review to select a research topic and to develop a research question and is a source of data in the study Historical Study- initial review to select a research topic and to develop a research question and is a source of data in the study

PURPOSE LITERATURE REVIEW QUALITATIVE RESEARCH Varies for each Qualitative Approach Varies for each Qualitative Approach (MUST determine when is the appropriate time to review literature) (MUST determine when is the appropriate time to review literature)

PURPOSE LITERATURE REVIEW QUALITATIVE RESEARCH may be: may be: to determine current knowledge of a phenomenon to determine current knowledge of a phenomenon to raise philosophical questions to raise philosophical questions to explain, support, and extend the generated theory to explain, support, and extend the generated theory to provide a background for conducting the study to provide a background for conducting the study

may be: to verify the significance of the research problem to verify the significance of the research problem to specify the purpose of the research problem to specify the purpose of the research problem to clarify questions to clarify questions to develop a study orientation to develop a study orientation to select research design to select research design to direct data collection and analysis to direct data collection and analysis to interpret findings to interpret findings

Common Nursing Research Journals Canadian Journal of Nursing Research Canadian Journal of Nursing Research Journal of Nursing Scholarship Journal of Nursing Scholarship Nursing Research Nursing Research Scholarly Inquiry for Nursing Practice Scholarly Inquiry for Nursing Practice Western Journal of Nursing Research Western Journal of Nursing Research Advances in Nursing Science Advances in Nursing Science Applied Nursing Research Applied Nursing Research Research in Nursing and Health Research in Nursing and Health

LEVELS OF READING Skimming Sources Skimming Sources Comprehending Sources Comprehending Sources Analyzing Sources Analyzing Sources

How You Review the Research Literature Three Stages

STAGE ONE LITERATURE REVIEW Identify literature sources:. Ask professors working in the area. Ask reference librarian. Check textbooks, appropriate discipline’s abstracts, and journals

STAGE ONE LITERATURE REVIEW Identify literature sources: Select databases to search Select databases to search Select keywords Select keywords

STAGE ONE LITERATURE REVIEW Limit Your Search

STAGE TWO LITERATURE REVIEW Summarize the read research study. Answer the questions:. Who?. What?. Where?. When?

STAGE TWO LITERATURE REVIEW Write a statement about the quality of the study.Was the study sound?. Merit of findings?. Key article?

STAGE THREE LITERATURE REVIEW Integrative Review of of Findings Findings

INTEGRATIVE REVIEW Ask are reported findings: Consistent Supportive of Contrary to others

CRITIQUINGTHE LITERATURE REVIEW

ASK: Are relevant studies identified and described? Are relevant studies identified and described? Are the studies critiqued by the researcher? Are the studies critiqued by the researcher? Are the references current? (What is “current”?) Are the references current? (What is “current”?) Is a summary of current knowledge provided? Is a summary of current knowledge provided?

LITERATURE REVIEW SUMMARY The end product of the literature review: - the generation of a written report that summarizes what is known and that summarizes what is known and not known about a phenomenon. not known about a phenomenon.

GROUP WORK

Determining the Feasibility of a Study Time Commitment Money Commitment Researcher’s Expertise Availability of Subjects Availability of Facility and Equipment Cooperation of Others Ethical Considerations

Time Commitment Money Commitment Money Commitment

Determining the Feasibility of a Study Researcher’s Expertise Availability of Subjects Availability of Facility and Equipment

Determining the Feasibility of a Study Cooperation of Others Ethical Considerations

PRAXIS: Nursing Scholarship and Practice In Motion In Motion