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Nursing 435 (Research in Nursing)

CLASS SCHEDULE

(Note: Articles which do not appear in the schedule may be used during review sessions. Article numbers may be reassigned by the instructor during the semester.)

Date

Topics

Required Submisssions

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08/27/01

and

08/29/01

Overview of Course and Introduction to Nursing Research

Overview of Research Process

Objectives: Upon completion of this session, the student will be able to:

  • Understand the course requirements
  • Recognize the importance of research to the profession of nursing
  • Trace the historical development of nursing research
  • Discuss the future of nursing research
  • Articulate the steps in the research process

Required Reading: Burns & Grove (2001), Chapters 1, 2, 3

 

08/31/01

Selecting and Defining a Research Problem

Objectives: Upon completion of this session, the student will be able to:

  • Understand the purpose statement in research
  • Recognize potential sources for research problems
  • Recognize a researchable problem
  • Begin to develop research problem

Required Reading: Burns & Grove (2001), Chapter 5

Required Activities:

  1. Bring to class a preliminary idea from which to organize a problem statement related to your research.
  2. Bring your problem statement to class.

 

09/03/01

and

09/05/01

Overview of Literature Review for Research Studies

Objectives: Upon completion of this session, the student will be able to:

  • Understand the importance of the review of literature
  • Identify appropriate sources for own literature search
  • Understand rationale for identifying parameters of the literature search

Required Reading: Burns & Grove (2001), Chapter 6

Required Activities:

  1. Be prepared to discuss directions in which to go for your literature search.
  2. Be prepared to discuss problem statement and literature review from the articles listed in the syllabus.

Submit names of research team and "tentative topic" for study - due 09/05/01

09/07/01

Library Practicum - Meet in Lower Library Lounge

Objectives: Upon completion of this session, the student will be able to:

  • Effectively utilize resources and reference persons available in our library
  • Utilize a computer search in the compilation of materials
  • Begin library work relative to selected research subject

Required Activities:

  1. Report to Lower Library Lounge at regular class time.
  2. Submit completed practicum to Dr. Parrish by the due date.

 

09/10/01

Research Clinic: Review Research Article #1 (Introduction)

Objectives: Upon completion of this session, the student will be able to:

  • Have clearly identified a researchable problem statement
  • Prepare an outline of literature review

Required Activities:

  1. Read Research Article #1, and be prepared to critique the introduction and research question(s) according to the guidelines in Burns and Grove, Chapter 26.
  2. Bring your research problem statement to class for discussion.

 

09/12/01

and

09/14/01

Placing the Problem in Theoretical Context

Objectives: Upon completion of this session, the student will be able to:

  • Discuss the relationship between theory and research
  • Recognize the importance of identifying the theories/concepts underlying individual research projects
  • Begin to identify the theory/concept underlying a selected research problem
  • Formulate hypotheses based on the problem statement, review of literature, and theoretical framework

Required Reading: Burns & Grove (2001), Chapter 7

Library Practicum - due 09/14/01

09/17/01

Research Clinic: Review Article #2 (Introduction & Review of Literature)

Required Activity:

Read Research Article #2, and be prepared to critique the problem statement and review of literature according to the guidelines in Burns and Grove, Chapter 26.

 

09/19/01

Hypothesis Questions and Objectives

Objectives: Upon completion of this session, the student will be able to:

  • Understand the process of selecting a question, a hypothesis, and an objective to direct a study
  • Define variables differentiating demographic, dependent, independent, extraneous and confounding variables
  • Understand process of defining significant terms, both operations and conceptual

Required Reading: Burns & Grove (2001), Chapter 8

 

09/21/01

and

09/24/01

Research Designs

Objectives: Upon completion of this session, the student will be able to:

  • Differentiate experimental and non-experimental research
  • Discuss advantages and disadvantages of a variety of research designs
  • Apply the techniques of research control to extraneous variables
  • Differentiate internal and external validity
  • Select a research design for use in own research proposal

Required Reading: Burns & Grove (2001), Chapters 10, 11, 12, 13

Introduction (Chapter I of the Research Paper) - due 09/21/01

09/26/01

Research Clinic: Review Article #3 (Introduction, Review of Literature, & Theoretical Framework)

Required Activity:

Read Research Article #3, and be prepared to critique the theoretical (conceptual) framework and hypotheses according to the guidelines in Burns and Grove, Chapter 26.

 

09/28/01

and

10/01/01

Human Subjects/Informed Consent

Objectives: Upon completion of this session, the student will be able to:

  • Define informed consent
  • Discuss the key elements of a human subjects consent form for a research study
  • Discuss ethical dilemma related to procedural consideration and human rights in the conduct of scientific study
  • Enumerate "at risk" or "vulnerable" populations which may be targeted for research study

Required Reading: Burns & Grove (2001), Chapter 9

 

10/03/01

and

10/05/01

Sampling Designs

Objectives: Upon completion of this session, the student will be able to:

  • Define terminology frequently used in the discussion of subject selection
  • Assess the adequacy of a sampling procedure used in a selected research study
  • Differentiate probability and non-probability sampling methods
  • Select a sampling method most appropriate to his/her own research study
  • Recognize the impact of sampling methodology on the interpretability and generalizability of the research study

Required Reading: Burns & Grove (2001), Chapter 14, Appendix A

Review of Literature (in Chapter II of the Research Paper) - due 10/05/01

10/08/01

and

10/10/01

Research Clinic: Review Article #4 (Introduction, Review of Literature, Theoretical Framework & Design)

Required Activity:

Read Research Article #4, and be prepared to critique the research design and sampling design according to the guidelines in Burns and Grove, Chapter 26.

 

10/12/01

and

10/15/01

and

10/17/01

Principles of Measurement in Research

Objectives: Upon completion of this session, the student will be able to:

  • Define terms used in assessing measuring tools: errors of measurement, reliability and validity
  • Discuss factors which contribute to errors of measurement
  • Discuss reliability of measuring tool in terms of stability, internal consistency, and equivalence
  • Discuss validity, comparing and contrasting different types of validity
  • Describe the relationship between reliability and validity
  • Recognize the existence of a number of other criteria by which measuring tools can be assessed

Required Reading: Burns & Grove (2001), Chapter 15

Revision of Introduction (Chapter I of the Research Paper) - due 10/12/01

 

Theoretical Framework (in Chapter II of the Research Paper) - due 10/17/01

10/22/01

and

10/24/01

Data Collection

Objectives: Upon completion of this session, the student will be able to:

  • Discuss a variety of data collection tools available for use in nursing research
  • Recognize the advantages and disadvantages of each of a variety of data collection tools
  • Select an appropriate tool for use in own research study

Required Reading: Burns & Grove (2001), Chapter 17

 

10/26/01

Research Clinic: Review Article #5 (Introduction, Review of Literature, Theoretical Framework, Design, & Sampling)

Required Activities:

  1. Read Research Article #5, and be prepared to critique the sampling design and sampling technique according to the guidelines in Burns and Grove, Chapter 26.
  2. Draft a consent form to be used in your research study.

Revision of Introduction (Chapter I of the Research Paper) and Review of Literature (in Chapter II of the Research Paper) - due 10/26/01

10/29/01

and

10/31/01

Data Analysis: Quantitative Data (Statistics Review)

Objectives: Upon completion of this session, the student will be able to:

  • Recognize that the design of the study and the data (qualitative or quantitative) generated directs the analyses
  • Identify specific techniques to be used on analyzing quantitative data
  • Apply knowledge of descriptive and inferential statistics to the analyses of data
  • Determine appropriate analytical methodology to be used in own research study
  • Recognize the usefulness of the computer in analyzing descriptive and inferential statistics
  • Categorize data by level: nominal, ordinal, and interval-ratio

Required Reading: Burns & Grove (2001), Chapters 18, 19, 20, 21, 22

Required Activity: Complete the statistics review exercise

Letters requesting institutional permission to conduct studies - due 10/31/01

11/02/01

and

11/05/01

Research Clinic: Review Article #6 (Introduction, Review of Literature, Theoretical Framework, Design, & Sampling)

Required Activity:

Read Research Article #6, and be prepared to critique the research design and sampling design according to the guidelines in Burns and Grove, Chapter 26.

Methodology: Design and Instrumentation (Chapters III-A and III-B of the Research Paper) - due 11/02/01

11/07/01

Data Analysis: Qualitative Data

Research Clinic: Review Article #7 (Introduction through Methodology)

Objectives: Upon completion of this session, the student will be able to:

  • Identify the unique nature of qualitative research
  • Identify specific techniques to be used in analyzing qualitative data
  • Discuss the rationale for integrating quantitative and qualitative analysis

Required Reading: Burns & Grove (2001), Chapter 23

Required Activity:

Read Research Article #7, and be prepared to critique the sections from the introduction to the methodology according to the guidelines in Burns and Grove, Chapter 26.

 

11/09/01

Interpreting and Reporting Research Findings

Objectives: Upon completion of this session, the student will be able to:

  • Interpret the results of the data analysis keeping in mind the hypotheses or questions, purposes and limitations of the study
  • Apply the findings of the study to practice
  • Begin to write the interpretation section of the final research report

Required Reading: Burns & Grove (2001), Chapter 24

Methodology: Proposed Treatment of Data (Chapter III-C of the Research Paper)

11/12/01

Research Clinic: Review Article #1 (Introduction through Methodology)

Required Activity:

Read Research Article #1, and be prepared to critique the sections from the introduction to the methodology according to the guidelines in Burns and Grove, Chapter 26.

 

11/14/01

Dissemination of Research Findings

Objectives: Upon completion of this session, the student will be able to:

  • Recognize importance of disseminating research findings
  • Compare oral and written options for dissemination of research findings
  • Organize an oral presentation utilizing effective visual aids
  • Evaluate oral presentations of research projects

Required Reading: Burns & Grove (2001), Chapter 25

Revision of Chapters I, II, and III - due 11/14/01

DATA COLLECTION MUST BEGIN AS SOON AS APPROVAL FROM INSTRUCTOR/INSTITUTION HAS BEEN OBTAINED

11/16/01

and

11/19/01

Computers in Nursing Research

Objectives: Upon completion of this session, the student will be able to:

  • Identify computer options for the analysis of data
  • Input data utilizing SPSS
  • Interpret output from the SPSS programs
  • Apply previous computer science education to codifying for computer analysis

Required Reading: Burns & Grove (2001), Chapter 17 (pp. 456-460; 468-470)

Required Activity: Complete an SPSS tutorial

Computer Clinic (Data Entry)

Required Activities:

  1. Report to the computer lab and design an SPSS data file for your research project.
  2. Enter data (make up fake data if real data is not yet available) in the SPSS data file, and submit a printed copy of the data.

 

11/26/01

and

11/28/01

Research Clinic: Article #1 (All Sections)

Required Activity:

Read Research Article #1, and be prepared to critique all sections according to the guidelines in Burns and Grove, Chapter 26.

Research Clinic: Article #2 (All Sections)

Required Activity:

Read Research Article #2, and be prepared to critique all sections according to the guidelines in Burns and Grove, Chapter 26.

Results: Analysis of Findings (Chapter IV of the Research Paper) - due 11/28/01

11/30/01

Abstracts

Objectives: Upon completion of this session, the student will be able to:

  • Discuss proper format and content of an abstract
  • Write an abstract of one's own research study
  • Differentiate between two types of abstracts

Required Reading: Fuller, E. (1983), "Preparing an Abstract of a Nursing Study", Nursing Research, 32(5).

 

12/03/01

Preparation for Oral Presentations

Discussion: Conclusions and Implications for Nursing (Chapter V of the Research Paper)

12/05/01

Oral Presentations

Abstract of the Research Paper

12/07/01

(Preparation for final exam)

OPTIONAL: Revision of entire research paper (This is an opportunity for students to get feedback and make improvements before the final version of the paper is submitted and graded.)

12/10/01

(final exam administered in the scheduled final exam period)

Final Paper - due 12/14/01 by 12:00 noon