Nursing Research Essay Assignment Papers

Nursing Research Essay Assignment Papers

Nursing Research Essay Assignment Papers
Nursing Research
Hill, W., Weinert, C., Cudney, S.(2006). Influence of a computer intervention on the psychological status of chronically ill rural women. Nursing Research, 55(1), 34-42.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1484522/
 Assignment # 1 
Read the abstract and background (pp.34-38 up to results) of the report by Hill and Colleagues (2006) PROVIDED ABOVE and answer the following questions: Nursing Research Essay Assignment Papers

Is this a qualitative or quantitative study?
What is the purpose of this study?
Does the report specify hypotheses? If there are hypotheses, were they appropriately worded?
If no hypotheses were stated, what would one be?
Did the report present conceptual definitions of key concepts? What are they?

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QUESTION 1: IS THIS A QUALITATIVE OR QUANTITATIVE STUDY
Qualitative research design is used for exploratory purposes to gain an understanding into a particular issue, problem or topic. It deals primarily the personal opinions and underlying reasons behind a problem. Data collection for qualitative research is done through the use of largely open ended and unstructured collection instruments to provide the respondents with an unconstrained platform to air the views and opinions (Cresswell, 2013). Data collection instruments utilized in qualitative research include: focus groups, interviews and observation. The sample size required for qualitative research is also relatively small. Results gathered from qualitative research can be used to form hypotheses for further quantitative research in the topic. Nursing Research Essay Assignment Papers.
Quantitative research differs from qualitative in that it deals with numerical data. Quantitative research relies on measurable data that is then subjected to mathematical statistical analysis to uncover fact based patterns and/or trends that offer insight into the research topic. Quantitative research utilizes more structured data collection tools that ensure the respondents’ feedback is standard (Neuman and Robson, 2012). Data collection instruments utilized in quantitative research includes questionnaires, structured interviews surveys, polls and structured observation.
This study utilizes a quantitative research design due to two main reasons. Firstly, the data collection utilized is a structured questionnaire that is designed to collect standardized responses from the responses. Secondly, the study utilizes mathematical statistical analysis to identify patterns for the discussion. Nursing Research Essay Assignment Papers.
 
QUESTION 2: WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF THIS STUDY
Every research study aims to achieve a certain goal at its conclusion; this is what is referred to as the purpose of the study. As stated in the paper’s introductory chapters (Hill, Winert and Cudney, 2006), participation in support groups has been shown to improve the overall mental health status of chronically ill patients. However, patients in rural areas are geographically isolated from the institution/centres that host these support groups. Mobility issues caused by the chronic illness, whether financially or due to their health statuses, further reduce their access to support group. The purpose of this research study is to identify whether computer delivered support groups platforms could have a positive impact on geographically isolated, chronically ill patients. Nursing Research Essay Assignment Papers.
 
QUESTION 3: DOES THE REPORT HAVE A HYPOTHESIS? IF NOT, WHAT WOULD ONE BE?
A hypothesis is a prediction statement that is provided in the research design phase that will either be supported or disproved by the research findings (Pickard, 2012). Hypotheses can only be applied to quantitative studies as qualitative studies are exploratory in nature and lack the mathematical analysis to test the hypothesis. The opposite outcome of a hypothesis is known as the null hypothesis (Ary et al., 2013).
This research study does not have a specified hypothesis. In the introductory paragraphs establish that support groups have a positive impact on the mental health of chronically ill patients. Therefore, it would be reasonable to expect the computer delivered intervention to also have a positive impact on the mental well being of the rural patients. An appropriate hypothesis for this study would be “computer delivered interventions have a positive impact on the mental health of the intervention group” with the null hypothesis being that “there will be no significant difference between the metal health status of the control group and the intervention group after the research study”. Nursing Research Essay Assignment Papers.
QUESTION 4: DID THE REPORT PRESENT CONCEPTUAL DEFINITIONS OF KEY CONCEPTS? WHAT ARE THEY?
This research study has three conceptual terms that are specifically listed, with their definitions contained in the text’s body. These are:-

Chronic illness: This is defined in comparison with acute illnesses. Chronic illnesses are lifelong, incurable diseases while acute illness is potentially curable. Nursing Research Essay Assignment Papers.
Computer Based Intervention: This is defined as an online provided platform that can act as a substitute for a support group. The research utilizes a computer based intervention that incorporates the functions of a support group as well as simultaneously providing health education. This intervention has a platform for group discussions as well as an inbox feature for private messaging and is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Psychological outcomes: these are the results from the seven psychological indicators being measured in the study which are: social support, self esteem, empowerment, self efficacy, stress, depression and loneliness. Nursing Research Essay Assignment Papers. 

References
Ary, D., Jacobs, L. C., Sorensen, C. K., & Walker, D. (2013). Introduction to research in education. Cengage Learning.
Creswell, J. W. (2013). Research design: Qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods approaches. Sage publications.
Hill, W., Weinert, C., & Cudney, S. (2006). Influence of a computer intervention on the psychological status of chronically iII rural women: Preliminary results. Nursing research, 55(1), 34.
Neuman, W. L., & Robson, K. (2012). Basics of social research: Qualitative and quantitative approaches.
Pickard, A. (2012). Research methods in information. Facet publishing.
 Chapter 1: The Role of Research in Nursing
The challenges associated with nursing’s rapid pace of growth can best be met by integrating evidence-informed knowledge into nursing practice. Nursing research provides specialized scientific knowledge that empowers nurses to anticipate and meet these constantly shifting challenges and maintain the profession’s societal relevance. Through the conducting of research, they produce knowledge that is reliable and useful for clinical practice. The methods and findings of studies provide evidence that is evaluated, and their applicability to practice is used to inform clinical decisions. Nursing Research Essay Assignment Papers.

Research is the systematic, rigourous, logical investigation that aims to answer questions about nursing phenomena.
Phenomena can be defined as occurrences, circumstances, or facts that are perceptible by the senses. Phenomena, such as the expression of pain or loss, are the circumstances of interest to nurses.

Much of the evidence used as a basis for practice is from research that has been completed, written about in papers, and then published. Published research studies are assessed so that decisions about application to clinical practice can be made, which results in practice that is evidence based.
Evidence – informed practice; building upon the foundation of evidence-based practice, evidence-informed practice also involves acknowledging and considering the myriad factors beyond such evidence as local indigenous knowledge, cultural and religious norms, and clinical judgement. With evidence-informed practice, the methods for gathering evidence (use of published research studies) are the same as the processes used for evidence-based practice; however, the evidence also incorporates expert opinion, clinical expertise, patient preference, and other resources. It is important to remember that evidence-informed practice focuses on a more inclusive and interactive process:
Evidence-informed decision-making is a continuous interactive process involving the explicit, conscientious and judicious consideration of the best available evidence to provide care. It is essential to optimize outcomes for individual clients, promote healthy communities and populations, improve clinical practice, achieve cost-effective nursing care and ensure accountability and transparency in decision-making within the health-care system.
Research and the evidence-informed practice processes, both begin with a question. The difference is that in a research study, the question is tested with a design appropriate for the question and with specific methods (sample, instruments, procedures, and data analysis). In the evidence-informed practice process, a question is used to search the literature for studies already completed that you will critically appraise in order to answer your clinical question.
All nurses share a commitment to the advancement of nursing science by conducting research and using research evidence in practice. Scientific investigation promotes accountability, which is one of the hallmarks of the nursing profession and a fundamental competency for all registered nurses. Nursing Research Essay Assignment Papers.

Research links theory, education, and practice.

How education in nursing research links theory and practice? First, learning about nursing research will provide you with an appreciation and understanding of the research process so that you can more easily become a participant in research activities. Second, learning the value of nursing research helps you to become an intelligent consumer of research → Nurses must understand all steps of the research process and their interrelationships. The registered nurse interprets, evaluates, and determines the credibility of research findings. The nurse discriminates between interesting findings for which further investigation is required and those that are sufficiently supported by evidence before applying findings to practice. The nurse should then use these competencies to advance the nursing or interdisciplinary evidence-informed practice.
As a professional, you must take time to read research studies and evaluate them, using the standards congruent with scientific research. Also, you will need to use the critiquing process in order to identify the strengths and weaknesses of each study. Bearing in mind that each study has its limitations, you should consider whether sound and relevant evidence from one particular study can be used in other settings as well.
 
Historical Perspective:
Nineteenth Century; nursing as a formal discipline began to take root with the ideas and practices of Florence Nightingale. Her concepts have contributed to, and are congruent with, the current priorities of nursing research. Promotion of health, prevention of disease, and care of the sick were central ideas of her practice and publications. Nightingale believed that systematic collection and exploration of data were necessary for nursing. Her collection and analysis of data on the health status of British soldiers during the Crimean War led to a variety of reforms in health care.
Twentieth Century; research focused mainly on nursing education, but some patient- and technique-oriented research was also evident. Nursing Research Essay Assignment Papers.
Changes in the educational system for nurses were crucial for the development of nursing research. In Canada, the establishment of university nursing courses in 1918, followed by master’s degree programs in the 1950s and 1960s and by doctoral programs in the 1990s and 2000s, was key to the development of nursing research.

The two major factors in the development of nursing research have been the establishment of research training through doctoral programs and the establishment of funding to support nursing research.
Growing awareness of the importance of nursing research gradually led to the availability of research funds.
Nursing research has focused progressively on evidence-informed practice in response to demands to justify care practices and systems by improving patient outcomes and controlling costs. Nursing Research Essay Assignment Papers.

The existence of the many nursing journals shows the growth in the variety, quality, and depth of research available for potential use in practice. In a report funded by the CHSRF, an analysis of the CIHR database revealed a wide diversity of nursing research topics in Canada. Of the studies, 67% were conducted in the areas of health issues, health service organizations, and health promotion. Not surprisingly, the research on health issues was dominant; the majority of studies focused on (1) chronic illness; (2) reproductive health; (3) pain; and (4) end-of-life/palliative care.
Future Directions: the continuing expansion of nursing research provides numerous opportunities for nurses to study important research questions, promote health care, and ameliorate the side effects of illness and the consequences of treatment while also optimizing the health outcomes of patients and their families.
Major shifts in the delivery of health care include the following:

An emphasis on community-based care
An emphasis on reducing disparities in health care
A focus on health promotion and risk reduction
An increase in severity of illness in inpatient settings
An increased incidence of chronic illness
An expanding population of older people
An emphasis on provider accountability through a focus on quality and cost outcomes
The use of technology to serve human needs

In accordance with these trends, nurse researchers are beginning to focus on the development of quantitative and qualitative research programs and clinically based outcome studies.
Depth in nursing science becomes evident when research is replicated (research programs that include a series of studies in a similar area, each of which builds on a prior investigation). Moreover, to maximize use of resources and to prevent duplication, researchers must develop intradisciplinary and interdisciplinary networks in similar areas of study (researchers from a variety of professions can come together to delineate common and unique aspects of patient care.
Nurse researchers should also be committed to developing publicly and privately funded research programs and to subscribing to a life of periodic education and retraining supported by awards, grants, and fellowships. Research programs facilitate growth in the depth and breadth of research expertise and recognize that some researchers must be retrained as they develop or shift the emphasis of their research, seek to broaden their scientific background, and acquire new research capabilities. Nursing Research Essay Assignment Papers.

Because of nursing’s emphasis on the cultural aspects of care and the influence of such factors on practice, international research is likely to increase. Access to multiple populations as a function of globalization allows the testing of nursing science from various perspectives. Interaction with colleagues from other countries provides a rich context for the generation and dissemination of research.

Funding agencies often determine research priorities on the basis of their particular needs and interests. These are established after consultation with health sector administrators, policymakers, and researchers across Canada.
Key Points

Nursing research expands the unique body of scientific knowledge that forms the foundation of evidence-informed nursing practice. Research is the component that links education, theory, and practice.
Nurses become knowledgeable consumers of research through educational processes and practical experience. As consumers of research, nurses must have a basic understanding of the research process and must demonstrate critical appraisal skills to evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of research before applying the research to clinical practice. Nursing Research Essay Assignment Papers.
Nursing research blossomed in the second half of the twentieth century: Graduate programs in nursing expanded, research journals began to be published, and funding for graduate education and nursing research increased dramatically.
All nurses, whether they possess baccalaureate, master’s, or doctoral degrees, have a responsibility to participate in the research process.
The role of the baccalaureate graduate is to be a knowledgeable consumer of research. Nurses with master’s and doctoral degrees are obliged to be researchers and sophisticated consumers of research studies.
A collaborative research relationship within the nursing profession will extend and refine the scientific body of knowledge that provides the grounding for theory-informed practice.
The future of nursing research will focus on the extension of scientific knowledge. Collaborative research relationships between education and practice will multiply. Programs of research studies and replication of studies will become increasingly valuable. Nursing Research Essay Assignment Papers.
Research studies will emphasize clinical issues, problems, and outcomes. Priority will be given to research studies that focus on health promotion, care for the health needs of vulnerable groups, and the development of cost-effective health care systems.
Both consumers of research and nurse researchers will engage in a collaborative effort to further the growth of nursing research and accomplish the profession’s research objectives.

Chapter 2 Theoretical Framework
On a daily basis, nurses devise clinical questions that, if answered, improve upon the care they provide to individuals, families, and communities. Each question requires that clinicians/nurse researchers engage in a knowledge development process. Nursing Research Essay Assignment Papers.
 

The process begins with the identification of knowledge gaps: the absence of theoretical or scientific knowledge relevant to the phenomenon of interest.
Knowledge generation next occurs, with the conduct of research that provides answers to well-thought-out research questions.
This knowledge is then distributed through journal articles, textbooks, and public presentations to nurses.
Next, the knowledge is adopted, as nurses alter their practice on the basis of published information or as health care organizations develop policies and protocols that are informed by newly generated knowledge.
Finally, knowledge is reviewed and revised as new health issues arise, advances in clinical practice occur, or knowledge becomes outdated. In this chapter, we focus specifically on theoretical frameworks and how they guide and inform knowledge generation. Nursing Research Essay Assignment Papers.

Theoretical/empirical knowledge is most commonly referred to as scientific knowledge (currently serves as the guide for evidence-informed practice). Theoretical knowing is concerned with developing or testing theories or ideas that nurse researchers have about how the world operates. Theoretical knowing is informed by empirical knowing, which involves observations of reality. Observations may include the following:

Speaking with people about their life experiences (e.g., living with Alzheimer’s disease) and using their responses to specific and general questions to understand the phenomenon
Observing social or cultural interactions (e.g., homeless individuals interacting with service providers) as they naturally occur, interpreting what the interactions might mean for both parties, and using those interpretations to develop theories about health service delivery for that population Nursing Research Essay Assignment Papers
Delivering an intervention (e.g., a school health program for obese children) and assessing changes in health care–related behaviours (e.g., type of foods consumed, amount of daily exercise) after the delivery of the intervention
Using surveys or a questionnaire to ask a large group of men and women questions about experiences of violence and their current symptom levels with regard to pain, digestive problems, or depression.

All research is based on philosophical beliefs about the world; these beliefs are the motivating values, concepts, principles, and the nature of human knowledge of an individual, group, or culture, and they are the basis of a worldview, or paradigm. Nursing Research Essay Assignment Papers.
Paradigms (patterns) represent a “sets of beliefs and practices, shared by communities of researchers” that guide the knowledge development process. Therefore, knowing and comprehending these beliefs and practices is important in understanding and using research findings. These beliefs are not right or wrong; rather, they represent different views of the world, and their use the goals of the research.

Nursing research is guided by three research paradigms: post-positivism, constructivism, and social critical theory.

Post – positivism is a philosophical orientation that suggests that a material world exists; that is, things can be sensed (i.e., seen, touched, heard, tasted). Furthermore, it is governed by the expressed belief that although not all things can be understood or explained, many things can be. In fact, our world can be observed, events and phenomena can be categorized, and we can create theories to explain why some things like illness and health occur or do not occur. Post-positivism emphasizes the proving/disproving of theories for the purpose of explaining, predicting, and controlling specific outcomes. Post-positivism values objectivity (e.g., observations from a neutral rather than a subjective position) and encourages the intense scrutiny of research findings for the purpose of excluding knowledge that was not developed through a rigorous process. Nursing Research Essay Assignment Papers
Constructivism is a philosophical orientation that suggests reality and the way in which we understand our world are largely dependent on our perception. Truth, as viewed by post-positivists, is flawed because truth is never absolute. Truth and our understanding of the world are determined by our life experiences, which in turn inform how we view the world. Knowledge development, from the perspective of the constructivists, is not valuable if it is used simply to prove or disprove theories. Rather, the value of knowledge development lies in the ability to understand how people perceive their world. Knowledge development occurs through observation or dialogue with people, or both, and as a result of paying attention to the language people use to describe life experiences. Constructivists value subjectivity (personal knowing) versus objectivity (quantified knowing), inasmuch as the aim of this form of research is to create an understanding of people and their life experiences from their point of view.
Critical social thought is a philosophical orientation that suggests that reality and our understanding of reality is constructed by people with the most power at a particular point in history. Reality, and our understanding of the world, is always changing, and at all times we have an imperfect understanding of our world. Critical social thought places a strong emphasis on understanding health and illness within the context of history. Nursing Research Essay Assignment Papers This perspective supports the understanding that health and other aspects of reality are shaped by numerous social, political, economic, and cultural factors (gender, social and economic status, minority versus majority status, and even a country’s status as a developed versus developing nation). A strong emphasis is placed on understanding how power imbalances associated with these factors influence health and well-being. As in constructivism, objectivity is not a goal. Rather, understanding people’s experiences from their perspective is highly valued. In addition, the goal of knowledge development is to provide evidence that will support change or the transformation of reality. Critical social thought incorporates feminist theory and what has come to be known as action research. These approaches to research examine how an individual’s or a group’s position in society shapes that individual’s or group’s experiences and causes differential or unequal access to resources, power, autonomy, and privilege.
The post – positivist paradigm is the basis of most quantitative research and, to a smaller extent, qualitative research. Grounded theory, as originally developed by Barney Glaser and Anselm Strauss  ( 1967 ), is very much based on the cause-and-effect philosophy of the post-positivist paradigm. The constructivist paradigm is the basis of most qualitative research that grants importance to hermeneutics, which is the interpretation of written, oral, and visual communication. In critical social theory, both qualitative and quantitative researches are used to highlight historical and current experiences of suffering, conflict, and collective struggles.
Research Methods: Qualitative and Quantitative
If a researcher wishes to test a cause-and-effect relationship, such as how social support (cause) leads to high blood pressure (effect), quantitative methods are most appropriate. If, however, a researcher wishes to discover and understand the meaning of an experience or process such as death and dying, a qualitative approach would be appropriate.
Qualitative research is a systematic, interactive, and subjective research method used to describe and give meaning to life experiences. A researcher would choose to conduct a qualitative research study if the question to be answered concerns understanding the meaning of a human experience, such as grief, hope, or loss. Although the methods of qualitative research are systematic, a subjective approach is used; that is, the emphasis is on capturing the personal perceptions of the study participants. Thus, data from qualitative studies help nurses understand experiences or phenomena that affect patients, and this information in turn leads to improved care and stimulates further research.
Quantitative research systematically describes a phenomenon. A researcher would choose to conduct a quantitative research study if the question to be answered concerned testing for the presence of specific relationships, assessing for group differences, clarifying cause-and-effect interactions, or explaining how effective a nursing intervention was. Quantitative methods entail the use of objective, precise, and highly controlled measurement techniques to gather information that can be analyzed and summarized statistically.
The determinant of health framework guides the researcher in addressing the relationship between health and any of the following factors:

Socio-economic environment including income, income distribution, and social status; social support networks; education; employment and working conditions; and social environments
Physical environment
Healthy child development
Personal health practices
Individual capacity and coping skills
Biology and genetic endowment
Health and social services
Gender
Culture/ethnicity

Inductive and deductive reasoning are basic in frameworks for research.  Inductive reasoning: a process of starting with the details of experience and moving to a general picture, involves the observation of a particular set of instances that belong to and can be identified as part of a larger set. It is the pattern of “figuring out what is there” from the details of the nursing practice experience and is the foundation for most qualitative inquiry. Research questions related to the issue of the meaning of experience for the patient (can be addressed with the inductive reasoning of qualitative inquiry). Nursing Research Essay Assignment Papers.
Deductive reasoning: a process of starting with the general picture (ex, the theory of attentively embracing story) and moving to a specific direction for practice and research. In deductive reasoning, the researcher uses two or more related concepts that, when combined, enable the researcher to suggest relationships between the concepts. Deductive reasoning begins with a structure that guides searching for “what is there.” (would be addressed with the deductive reasoning of quantitative inquiry).
Frameworks, Theories, and Concepts
A theory is a set of interrelated concepts that serves the purpose of explaining or predicting phenomena. A theory is like a blueprint, a guide for modelling a structure. A blueprint depicts the elements of a structure and the relationship of each element to the other, just as a theory depicts both the concepts that compose it and how they are related.
A concept is an image or symbolic representation of an abstract idea. Each concept creates a mental image that is explained further through the conceptual definition.
A hypothesis is a best guess or prediction about what one expects to find about the variable outlined in the study. The variables represent the most concrete components of the ladder of abstraction and are derived from the identified concepts of a theory. They represent the measurable properties (what can be observed, measured, or both) of a quantitative study.

A mismatch between what is known or commonly accepted as fact and what we experience creates a hypothesis-generating moment.

A conceptual framework is a structure of concepts, theories, or both that is used to construct a map for the study. It presents a theory, which explains why the phenomenon being studied exists. Generally, a conceptual framework is constructed from a review of the literature or is developed as part of a qualitative research project.
A theoretical framework may also be defined as a structure of concepts, theories, or both that is used to construct a map for the study. However, it is based on a philosophical or theorized belief or understanding of why the phenomenon under study exists.
Appraising the evidence: throughout the entire critiquing process, from worldview to operational definitions, you are evaluating whether the theoretical framework is appropriate. At the end of a research article, you can expect to find a discussion of the findings as they relate to the model. This final point enables readers to evaluate the framework for use in further research. The discussion may suggest necessary changes to enhance the relevance of the framework for continuing study and thus focus the direction of future research. Evaluating frameworks for research requires skill that can be acquired only through repeated critique and discussion with other nurses who have critiqued the same publication. The novice reader of research must be patient while these skills are developed. With continuing education and a broader knowledge of potential frameworks, you will build a repertoire of knowledge to enable you to judge the foundation of a research study, the framework for research.
Key Points

The scientific approaches used to generate nursing knowledge reflect both inductive and deductive reasoning.
The interaction among theory, practice, and research is central to knowledge development in the discipline of nursing.
Conceptual frameworks are created by the researcher, whereas theoretical frameworks are identified in the literature.
The use of a framework for research is important as a guide to systematically identify concepts and to link appropriate study variables with each concept.
Conceptual and operational definitions are critical in the evolution of a study, regardless of whether they are explicitly stated.
In developing or selecting a framework for research, knowledge may be acquired from other disciplines or directly from nursing. In either case, that knowledge is used to answer specific nursing questions.
Theory is distinguished by its scope. Grand theories are the broadest in scope and at the highest level of abstraction, whereas microrange theories are the most narrow in scope and at the lowest level of abstraction. Midrange theories are in the middle.
Midrange theories are at a level of abstraction that enhances their usefulness for guiding practice and research.
When you critique a framework for research, examine the logical, consistent link between

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