CHAPTER 1:

INTRODUCTION
Nor Masita Esa
Hospital Slim River, Perak
INTRODUCTION TO NURSING RESEARCH

OUTLINES:
Definition
Scientific Methods
Need for Nursing Research
Academic Writing – Chapter 1: Introduction
INTRODUCTION TO NURSING RESEARCH

DEFINITION
3

➢ The word Research is derived from the French word

“recherche”, which means “to go about seeking”, Old
French term “recerchier” a compound word from “re-
” + “cerchier” The earliest recorded use of the term
was in 1577.

➢ RE – SEARCH The prefix “re” means “again” and

signifies replication of the search. One seeks new
knowledge or to directly utilize knowledge specific to
life situations.
INTRODUCTION TO NURSING RESEARCH

DEFINITION
4

➢ Webster (1971), “research is a studious inquiry or

examination, investigation, or experimentation aimed
at the discovery and interpretation of facts, revision of
accepted theories or laws in the light of new facts or
practical applications of such new or revised theories
or laws.”

➢ Treece and Treece (1973) stated: “Research is an

attempt to gain solutions to problems. It is the
collection of data in a rigorously controlled situation
for the purpose of prediction or explanation.”
INTRODUCTION TO NURSING RESEARCH

NURSING RESEARCH
5

➢ Polit and Beck (2004) - systematic inquiry designed to

develop knowledge about issues of importance to the
nursing profession, including nursing practice,
education, administration and informatics.:
“Research is an attempt to gain solutions to
problems. It is the collection of data in a rigorously
controlled situation for the purpose of prediction or
explanation.”
➢ Burns and Grove (2005) - defined nursing research as a
“scientific process that validates and refines existing
knowledge and generates new knowledge that
directly and indirectly influences clinical nursing
practice.
 INTRODUCTION TO NURSING RESEARCH 6

SOURCES OF KNOWLEDGE
• Customs and tradition - “we’ve always done it that way”.
• Assembled information (e.g., quality improvement data)
• Scientific research – the most objective and the source of nursing
knowledge.
• Trial and error – “if it works, we’ll use it”.
• Logical reasoning (inductive & deductive)
• Experts or authorities
INTRODUCTION TO NURSING RESEARCH 7

SCIENTIFIC METHOD

• Scientific methods are defined as controlled, systematic investigations that are

rooted in objective reality and that aim to develop general knowledge about
natural phenomena.
INTRODUCTION TO NURSING RESEARCH 8

CHARACTERISTICS OF THE
SCIENTIFIC METHOD
THEY ARE ORDERLY SCIENTISTS ATTEMPT TO THEIR FINDINGS ARE FINDINGS OF SCIENTIFIC
CONTROL EXTERNAL METHODS CAN BE GENERALIZED,
AND SYSTEMATIC FACTORS THAT ARE NOT
BASED ON THE EMPIRICAL WHICH MEANS THAT THEY CAN BE
PROCESSES. UNDER DIRECT EVIDENCE. USED IN SITUATIONS OTHER THAN
INVESTIGATION. THE ONE UNDER STUDY.

THEY ARE BASED ON THEY ARE BASICALLY

ASSUMPTIONS OR CONDUCTED TO DEVELOP
HYPOTHESES. OR TEST THEORIES.
INTRODUCTION TO NURSING RESEARCH 9

STEPS OF SCIENTIFIC METHOD

• The steps of scientific methods depend on the type of the study, which follows either a qualitative or a
quantitative approach. However, the main steps used in any scientific method or approach are as follows:

Selecting the Determining the Describing the Communicating

Defining the
topic and ethical research design findings of the
objectives of the
identifying the implication of the and methods for study.
study.
problem. proposed study. data collection.

Reviewing the Defining study

Identifying Analysing and
literature from population and
assumptions and interpreting data.
theory and other sample
implications.
related studies

Defining Stating hypothesis

about expected Planning the data
concepts and Collecting data
observations or analysis and
variables to be phenomenon to be from subjects
discussion.
studied studied
INTRODUCTION TO NURSING RESEARCH

NEED FOR NURSING RESEARCH

10

​TO DEVELOP, REFINE,

AND EXTEND THE
BUILD AND EXPAND VALIDATE AND MAKE HEALTH CARE SCIENTIFIC BASE OF TO PROVIDE
THE BODY OF REFINE THE EXISTING EFFICIENT AND COST- KNOWLEDGE, WHICH FOUNDATION FOR
NURSING NURSING PRACTICE EFFECTIVE. IS REQUIRED FOR EVIDENCE-BASED
KNOWLEDGE QUALITY NURSING NURSING PRACTICES
CARE, EDUCATION,
AND ADMINISTRATION

TO DEFINE THE REFINE AND ELIMINATE

OLD KNOWLEDGE SO
TO ENHANCE THEIR TO HELP IN PARAMETERS OF
THAT IT HELPS IN THE
TO ENHANCE THE PROFESSIONAL EXPANSION OF NURSING, WHICH ELIMINATION OF
BODY OF IDENTITY AS KNOWLEDGE, WHICH WILL HELP NURSES NURSING ACTIONS THAT
PROFESSIONAL RESEARCH IS AN IS ESSENTIAL FOR TO IDENTIFY HAVE NO EFFECT ON THE
KNOWLEDGE IN ESSENTIAL CONTINUED GROWTH BOUNDARIES OF ACHIEVEMENT OF
NURSING. COMPONENT OF ANY OF NURSING NURSING DESIRED CLIENT
OUTCOMES.
PROFESSION. PROFESSION. PROFESSION.
INTRODUCTION TO NURSING RESEARCH 11

ACADEMIC WRITING (RESEARCH

PROPOSAL & REPORT

DISCUSSION
INTRODUCTION LITERATURE RESEARCH RESULT &
REVIEW METHODOLOGY CONCLUSION
 “CHAPTER 1:
INTRODUCTION TO NURSING RESEARCH 12

INTRODUCTION ”
➢ The introduction section is the first section in your proposal.
➢ It includes background information
➢ information about the topic of the thesis.
➢ It should draw readers in and make them want to read more It
has several functions such as:
➢ Preparing information on the overall background of study
➢ Presenting the preview of the whole written report
➢ Help the reader to focus on the issue or problem addressed in
the study
INTRODUCTION TO NURSING RESEARCH 13

HOW TO WRITE A GOOD

THESIS INTRODUCTION
The five elements of the Introduction can be seen as
answering the questions:
➢ What is the research about? [Background]
➢ What is the problem that is currently faced? [Problem
Statement]
➢ What is the aim of the study? [Objective]
➢ What do you want to study? [Research Question &
Research Hypothesis]
➢ What are the limits or boundaries of the study? [Scope &
Delimitation]
INTRODUCTION TO NURSING RESEARCH
14

BACKGROUND OF STUDY
THE BACKGROUND INFORMATION PROVIDES AN UNDERSTANDING OF THE ISSUE OR PROBLEM STUDIED AND
YOUR REASON FOR CONDUCTING THE STUDY

GENERALLY, THERE ARE 3 IMPORTANT STEPS IN WRITING THE BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY:

BEGIN WITH GENERAL CONTEXT.

THEN, GRADUALLY NARROW DOWN YOUR WRITING TO INCLUDE SPECIFIC STATEMENTS MADE BY OTHER
RESEARCHERS IN THEIR STUDIES IN RELATION TO THE ISSUE OR PROBLEM THAT YOUR HIGHLIGHTING IN
YOUR STUDY.

YOU COULD INCLUDE STATEMENTS THAT INDICATE THE NEED TO FURTHER EXPLORE THE ISSUE OR TO DO A
THOROUGH INVESTIGATION ON THE PROBLEMS.
INTRODUCTION TO NURSING RESEARCH 15

BACKGROUND
You can choose how to start your background writing style There are several backgrounds writing
styles, you can choose or combine these elements:

BACKGROUND
BACKGROUND COMPARING THE
BACKGROUND USING DESCRIBING THE
USING METHODS OR
USING STATISTIC HISTORICAL PROBLEM
DEFINITION IDEAS
DEVELOPMENT
 PROBLEM STATEMENT
INTRODUCTION TO NURSING RESEARCH 16

➢ PROBLEM STATEMENT IS A SINGLE STATEMENT THAT

DEFINES THE ISSUE OR PROBLEM INVESTIGATED IN THE
STUDY.

➢ IT IS USUALLY ACCOMPANIED BY SEVERAL OTHER

PARAGRAPHS THAT FURTHER DESCRIBE THE SEVERITY
AND COMPLEXITY OF THE ISSUE OR PROBLEM.

➢ WHEN WRITING A RESEARCH REPORT, IT IS IMPORTANT

TO CAREFULLY DEFINE AND DESCRIBE THE ISSUE OR
PROBLEM EXAMINED IN ORDER TO JUSTIFY THE
RELEVANCE OF THE STUDY YOU NEED TO EXPLAIN
CURRENT SITUATION THAT NEEDS FOR AN
IMPROVEMENT/NEW SOLUTION.
INTRODUCTION TO NURSING RESEARCH 17

WHEN DO YOU HAVE A PROBLEM

➢ When there is a GAP between the current situation and the ideal situation.

IDEAL
SITUATION

QUESTIONS
GAP • WHAT? (WHAT
• KNOWLEDGE DIDN’T WE
• UNDERSTANDING KNOW?)
• SOLUTION • WHY? (WHY IT
HAPPEN?)
• HOW? (HOW TO
SOLVE)

CURRENT
SITUATION
INTRODUCTION TO NURSING RESEARCH 18

HOW TO PROVE A PROBLEM

EXIST?
.
SINCE A PROBLEM IS A GAP BETWEEN CURRENT AND IDEAL
SITUATIONS, YOU NEED TO PROVIDE:

Justification of why we need the IDEAL

situation!

Hard facts (e.g. data, reports, etc.) as

evidence to the CURRENT situation.
INTRODUCTION TO NURSING RESEARCH 19

FORMULATION OF RESEARCH
PROBLEM STEPS
IDENTIFY A BROAD DISSECT THE BROAD SELECT WHAT IS OF PERFORM
FIELD OR SUBJECT AREA INTO SUB MOST INTEREST TO PRELIMINARY
AREA OF INTEREST AREAS YOU LITERATURE SURVEY

COME UP WITH RAISE RESEARCH IDENTIFY THE AIM OF

GENERAL PROBLEM QUESTIONS THE STUDY
STATEMENT

SEPARATE THE RESEARCH PROBLEM

▪ MAKE PROBLEM MORE SPECIFIC BY RESOLVING AMBIGUITIES
▪ THINK AND REPHRASE INTO OPERATIONAL TERMS
▪ FEASIBILITY OF THE CORRESPONDING SOLUTION MUST BE CONSIDERED
▪ CONCISE CLEAR AND MANAGEABLE STATEMENT
▪ DISCUSSIONS AND BRAIN STORMING WITH THE SUPERVISOR
INTRODUCTION TO NURSING RESEARCH 20

OBJECTIVES.
What is the aim of the work you are reporting?

Consist of:

➢ The purpose of the study

➢ Objectives of the study

INTRODUCTION TO NURSING RESEARCH 21

• The reason why your study was conducted

• Alert the readers’ interests towards the issue or problem explored
The purpose of • Eg: The purpose of the study is/was to……………………, This
the study research aims to investigate………………, The overall goal of this
research is to………………………..

• This part should state clearly and explicitly the specific aims or goals of the
research.
Objectives of the • An explicit and concise objective may be able to:
• Show the extend of your study
study • Prompt the reader to the possible information or data that will be
included in the findings section (Chapter 4)
• Provide insight potential recommendations or rewards of the study

The purpose of the study Objectives of the study The purpose of the study explain the reason why the
study was carried out, while the objectives of the study shows the expected results or outcome of the
study.
INTRODUCTION TO NURSING RESEARCH 22

POINTS OF LANGUAGE
FOR OBJECTIVES
➢ The use of the infinitive of the verb “to…” is a key language
feature of a well-formed objectives section.

➢ The project has the following aims: to measure … to

investigate, …to compare…, to test …, to study …

➢ Should have bloom taxonomy verbs

INTRODUCTION TO NURSING RESEARCH 23
INTRODUCTION TO NURSING RESEARCH

RESEARCH QUESTION:WHAT YOU 24

WANT TO STUDY?
WHEN THE
THE PRIMARY
RESEARCH IS
RESEARCH THESE
FINISHED, THE
QUESTION IS QUESTIONS
CONTRIBUTION
THE BASIS FOR ARE
TO THE
DATA IMPORTANT
KNOWLEDGE
COLLECTION SINCE THEY
WILL BE THE
AND ARISES ARE THE FOCUS
ANSWERING ANSWER TO
FROM THE A RESEARCH OF YOUR
YOUR THESE THUS, THE
PURPOSE OF QUESTION IS A RESEARCH
QUESTIONS IS QUESTIONS. RESEARCH
THE STUDY QUESTION THAT
THE MAIN AIM QUESTIONS
YOUR MUST BE
OF YOUR STUDY
RESEARCH ACCURATELY
OR THESIS AND
STUDY/PROJEC AND CLEARLY
“EVERYTHING
T SETS OUT TO DEFINED
ELSE FOLLOWS
ANSWER. .
FROM THEM”.
INTRODUCTION TO NURSING RESEARCH
25

TO FORMULATE YOUR RESEARCH QUESTIONS, YOU COULD

BEGIN BY ASKING YOURSELF THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS:
What have been researched Has a great deal of
What do I know about and what needs further research been
the topic of my exploration Could my study
conducted in this topic
research and its fill a gap or lead to greater
understanding of the area Has this study
literature?
problem/issue? been done before?

Is the timing right for

If so, is there room for Is it a hot topic, or is it
this question to be
improvement? becoming obsolete?
answered?

Most importantly, will

my study have
significant impact on
the field?
INTRODUCTION TO NURSING RESEARCH
26

The next step is to refer to the objectives of your study.

You need to turn the objectives of your study into your research questions.
Example:

THE OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY ARE:

➢ TO DESCRIBE THE CURRENT TRENDS IN CONSUMER DECISION MAKING, ATTITUDES AND
BEHAVIOR IN RELATION TO HAND PHONE USAGE
➢ TO INVESTIGATE THE EXTEND OF KNOWLEDGE AND ANXIETY LEVEL OF PUBLIC ABOUT
POTENTIAL HEALTH RISKS OF THE HAND PHONE USAGE.
➢ TO IDENTIFY THERE ANY HEALTH RELATED EFFECT THAT HAND PHONE USERS MAY HAVE
EXPERIENCE

THE STUDY WILL PROVIDE ANSWERS TO THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS:

➢ WHAT ARE THE CURRENT TRENDS IN CONSUMER DECISION MAKING, ATTITUDES AND
BEHAVIOURS IN RELATION TO HAND PHONE USAGE
➢ WHAT DOES THE PUBLIC KNOWLEDGE ABOUT POTENTIAL HEALTH RISKS OF THE HAND
PHONE USAGE AND HOW DO THEY FEEL ABOUT IT?
➢ ARE THERE ANY EXISTING HEALTH RELATED EFFECTS ON HAND PHONE USAGE BY LOCAL
CONSUMERS
INTRODUCTION TO NURSING RESEARCH
27

RESEARCH HYPOTHESIS

HYPOTHESES ARE TENTATIVE STATEMENTS ABOUT THE GIVEN POPULATION

➢ NULL HYPOTHESIS (STATISTICAL HYPOTHESIS, HO) = STATES THAT THERE IS NO

RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE INDEPENDENT AND DEPENDENT VARIABLES –

➢ ALTERNATIVE HYPOTHESIS (HA) = SHOWS THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN

INDEPENDENT AND DEPENDENT VARIABLES
INTRODUCTION TO NURSING RESEARCH
28

RESEARCH OBJECTIVES RESEARCH QUESTIONS RESEARCH HYPOTHESIS

To determine adherence level What is the adherence level to There is a significant difference in adherence level to
to lifestyle modification lifestyle modification among lifestyle between patients in the control group and
among patients with coronary patients with coronary artery the intervention group.
artery disease. disease?

To determine adherence level What is the adherence level to There is a significant difference in adherence level to
to dual antiplatelet therapy dual antiplatelet therapy among dual antiplatelet therapy between patients in the
among patients with coronary patients with coronary artery control group and the intervention group.
artery disease. disease?

To identify the association What is the association between There is a significant association between
between sociodemographic sociodemographic data and sociodemographic data and adherence level to
data and clinical data on clinical data on adherence to lifestyle modification and dual antiplatelet therapy
adherence to lifestyle lifestyle modification and dual among patients with coronary artery disease.
modification and dual antiplatelet therapy among
antiplatelet therapy among patients with coronary artery
patients with coronary artery disease?
disease.
INTRODUCTION TO NURSING RESEARCH 29

SCOPE & DELIMITATION

➢ This portion should be able ➢ This is achieved by putting

to identify the breadth and a limit to the number of
intensiveness of the study factors or conditions being
considered in the study
INTRODUCTION TO NURSING RESEARCH 30

SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

PATIENT ORGANIZATION NURSING PROFESSION

• IMPROVE PATIENT
• REDUCE THE COST • IMPROVE QUALITY OF
KNOWLEDGE
• PROFIT TO THE CARE
• IMPROVE THE
ORGANIZATION • EVIDENCE BASED
AWARENESS LEVEL
PRACTICE
• INCREASED THE SELF-
• IMPROVED THE
CARE MANAGEMENT
KNOWLEDGE AND
• IMPROVE QUALITY OF SKILLS
LIFE
• REDUCE ADMISSION
THANK YOU
NOR MASITA ESA
Clinical Nurse U41
Hospital Slim River, Perak
Ministry of Health, Malaysia
[email protected]