13-04-2013, 02:25 PM
Research problems, Research Questions, Research Hypotheses
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Basic terminology
Researcher selects topic or a phenomenon on which to focus
Example of research topics:
Adolescent smoking
Patient compliance
Coping with disability
Pain management
Within each are many potential research problems
A research problem: is enigmatic (not clear to the understanding), perplexing (lacking clarity of meaning), or troubling condition
The purpose of research is to solve the problem or to contribute to its solution by accumulating relevant information
A problem statement: a problem statement articulates the problem to be addressed and indicates the need for a study
Please read table4-1 page 66 which represent a problem statement related to the topic of the side effects of chemotherapy
Research problems and paradigms
Quantitative study involves concepts that are fairly well developed
There is an existing body of literature
Reliable methods of measurement have been developed
E.g. a quantitative study might be undertaken to determine if postpartum depression is higher among women who are employed 6 months after delivery than among those who stay home with their babies
Source of research problems
Students are sometimes puzzled about the origins of research problems
Where do ideas for research problems come from
How do researchers select topic areas and develop research questions
At the most basic level, research topics originate researchers´interests
Explicit (precisely and clearly expressed or readily observable) sources that might fuel researchers curiosity include experience, the nursing literature, social issuess, theories and ideas from others with
Nursing litterature
Researchers wonder whether a study similar to one reported in a journal article would yield comparable results if applied in a different setting or with different population
Replications (A reply to an answer) are needed to establish the validity and generalizability of previous findings
the Significance of Problem
Its significance to nursing practice
Meaningfully to nursing knowledge
Researchers should pose the following kinds of questions:
Is the problem an important one?
Will patients, nurses or the broader health care community or society benefit from the evidence that will be produced?
Will the results lead to practical applications
Will the findings challenge untested asuumptions?
Will the study help to formulate or alter nursing practices or policies
If the answer to all these questions is ”no” then the problem should be abandoned (behind, left alone)