Choosing Research Topic and Refining the Question · Introduction to Choosing Research Topics The purpose of formal inquiry (research) is to build knowledge in a discipline/profession

Choosing A Research Topic and Refining the Research Question

Dr. Angela Cooper Brathwaite, RN, PhD

Outline

1. Learning objectives 2. Introduction 3. Paths to Research 4. Definition of a Research Problem 5. Sources of Research Topics 6. Framing or Formulating the Question 7. Identifying the Research Question 8. Selecting and Refining the Question/Topic

Outline (continued)

9. Questions from Clinical Practice 10. Researcher & Peer Interaction Questions 11. Literature Reviews Questions 12. Questions from Theory 13. Research Priorities 14. Steps in formulating a Research, Problem &

Purpose 15. Examples of Case Scenarios

Learning Objectives:

Upon completion of this seminar students will: Identify researchable problems of relevance

to their professional practice. Formulate or frame researchable questions. Refine researchable questions

Introduction to Choosing Research Topics

The purpose of formal inquiry (research) is to build knowledge in a discipline/profession. Inquiry about clinical practice issues generally takes one of two paths.

One path tests hypothesis and leads to quantitative findings which are numerically presented for the purpose of generalizing to a population and making predictions

Paths to Research

The other path generates meaning or identifies patterns and leads to qualitative data for the purpose of describing phenomenon.

Both quantitative and qualitative data build nursing knowledge (DiCenso, Guyatt & Ciliska, 2005).

Definition of a Research Problem

A research problem is an area of concern where there is a gap in the knowledge base needed for nursing practice (Burns & Grove, 2009).

Sources of Research Topics

Topics for research can be identified from several sources:

Clinical practice, literature reviews, interactions with colleagues or students, funding priorities and theories.

Framing or Formulating the Question

The nature of the question will determine whether it is likely to be addressed by a qualitative or quantitative study.

Quantitative questions are most appropriate when answering questions of “how many” or “how much” or “how effective”?

Framing the Question

Qualitative studies are more appropriate when answering questions about how people ‘feel about” or “experience” certain situations and conditions.

Identifying the Research Question

A research question is identified by asking the following questions:

a) What is wrong or is of concern in this clinical situation?

b) What information do we need to improve this situation?

c) Will a particular intervention work in a clinical situation?

Identifying the Research Question (Continued)

d) Would another intervention be more effective in producing the desired result?

e) What are the outcomes of the intervention? f) What changes must we make to improve

this intervention based on the outcomes?

Identifying the Research Question (Continued)

By questioning and reviewing the literature, the researcher will begin to recognize a specific area of concern and the knowledge gap that surrounds it.

In other words, the literature provides information on what is known about the problem and the gaps that surrounds it.

Examples of Clinical Problems

A school health nurse (PHN) notices that many parents are refusing to immunize their children against infectious diseases (conscientious immunization exemptions) in many of the schools she visits. From the literature she learnt that there were recent outbreaks of mumps, measles, rubella and meningitis in different parts of the country.

Examples of Clinical Problems (continued)

A nurse who works in the prison system conducted an audit of prisoners’ charts and notices a significant increase in the number of prisoners who are recently diagnosed with HIV/AIDS. She also learnt from her peers that some prisoners are sharing injection needles on illicit drugs. She is concerned about this problem.


Another nurse who works in antenatal clinic notices that certain mothers from a specific cultural group is choosing not to breast feed their babies after birth. These babies are also prone to gastroenteritis and end up on the infectious disease ward.


A mental health nurse notices that many young women are admitted to the psychiatry unit for anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa. From a literature review she found that 3-10% of women between ages 15-29 have these conditions (Polivy, 2002), which are due to low self-esteem and disturbed body image.

Selecting & Refining the Question/Topic

The human ability to wonder and ask creative questions about behaviors and situations in the world provides a basis for identifying research topics and problems . Identifying a problem is the initial step, and one of the most significant in conducting both quantitative and qualitative research. The research purpose evolves from the problem and provides direction for subsequent steps of the research process.

Selecting & Refining the Question/Topic (continued)

Research topics are concepts or broad problem areas that indicate the foci of essential research knowledge needed to provide evidence-based nursing practice. Research topics contain numerous potential research problems and each problem provides the basis for developing several research purposes.

Questions from Clinical Practice

The majority of research questions have come from clinical practice and is an extremely importance source of research problems.

a) Problems can evolve from clinical observations such as watching the behavior of a patient and family in crisis and wondering what interventions a nurse might use to improve their coping skills. What kinds of questions have you wondered about in your clinical practice?

Questions from Clinical Practice (continued)

b) A review of the patient’s records treatment plans, and procedure manuals might reveal concerns or raise questions about practice that could be the basis for research problems.

E.g. What procedures should be followed in providing mouth care for cancer patients?

E.g. Why do patients frequently fail to follow their prescription plans provided by Nurse Practitioner or Physician?

Researcher & Peer Interaction Questions

Experienced researchers serve as mentors and share their knowledge with novice researchers in identifying research topics and formulating problems.

Nurse educators assist students in selecting research problems for theses and dissertations.

Interactions between an expert researcher and a nurse clinician can result in generating research problems.

Interactions with others enable researchers to uncover errors in research or information.

Literature Reviews Questions

Reviewing research articles from journals such as the Journal of Advance Nursing, Advances in Nursing Science, Applied Nursing Research, Image – Journal of Nursing Scholarship, Research in Nursing & Health, International Journal of Psychiatric Nursing Research etc., theses and dissertations will acquaint novice researchers with studies conducted in an area of interest.

Literature Reviews Questions (continued)

Reviewing research articles enables you to identify an area of interest and determine what is known and what is not known in this area. The gaps in the knowledge base provide direction for future research.

Recommendations for future studies provide opportunities to build on a researcher’s work and strengthen the knowledge in a selected area.

Reviewing the literature is a way to identify a study to replicate. Replication involves reproducing or repeating a study to determine whether similar findings will be obtained

Questions From Theories

Theories are an important source for generating research problems because they set forth ideas about events and situations in the real world that require testing.

When we examine a theory, one notices that it includes a number of propositions and that each proposition is a statement of the relationship of two or more concepts.

Questions From Theories (continued)

A research problem and purpose could be formulated to explore or describe a concept or to test a proposition from a theory.

Some researchers combine ideas from different theories to develop maps or models for testing through research.

Examples From Theories

Phillip and Wilbur (1998) developed the breast cancer screening model to examine the breast cancer screening practices of African American women. It was based on Beck’s Health Belief Model ( Beck, 1974).

Findings from this type of study either lend support to or do not support the relationships identified.

Examples From Theories (continued)

Phillips & Wibur (1995) found that the Breast Cancer Screening Model was useful in explaining 74% of the variance in monthly BSE,15% of the variance in age- related mammography, and 42% of the variance in yearly professional breast exam (PBE). Thus the relationships in this model were supported by this study.

Examples From Theories (continued)

I have used propositions from Purnell and Paulanka (1998) Cultural Competence Model to develop an ethnographic study.

We explored the connections between culture and expectations surrounding the childbirth experience for professional Chinese Canadian women.

Research Priorities Funding Agencies

Since 1975, expert researches specialty groups and funding agencies in Canada & U.S.A. have identified nursing priorities.

2010, Canadian Institute of Health Research has identified- to create knowledge and build capacity in understanding the causes and prevention of childhood obesity.

Childhood obesity Research; Mental Health Disorder ( Europe, Israel & Canada).

Research Priorities Funding Agencies (continued)

2010, Health Canada has identified areas such as Population Health Intervention Research to Promote Health & Equity.

World Health Organization (WHO) is encouraging the identification of priorities for a common nursing research agenda among countries.

WHO has at least six top priorities.

Research Priorities Funding Agencies (continued)

Neuro Sciences, Mental Health and Addition. Reproductive and Child Health. Mobility in Aging. Infection & Immunity e. g HIV/AIDS HIV/AIDS Vaccine Discovery and Social

Resource.

Steps in Formulating a Research Problem & Purpose

Intro: Potential nursing research problems often emerge from observation of real-world situation such as those in nursing practice.

A situation is a significant combination of circumstances that occur at a given time.

Multiple problems exist in a simple situation. So what are the steps researchers use to

formulate their study problems?

Steps in Formulating a Research Problem & Purpose (continued)

Step1: Examines the real- world situation (normally from nursing practice).

Step 2: Identifies research topics. 1a) Patient and family Relationships, Stress, Pain,

Coping Patterns, Falls, Obesity. – b) teaching and learning process; health

promotion, rehabilitation. – c) prevention of illness, disease management &

social support.


c) Topics focus on the health care system and providers: d) Cost- effective care; advance nursing practice roles (nurse practitioners, clinical nurse specialist, midwife and nurse anesthetist); and redesign of the health care system.


Outcome research is focused on topics of health status, quality of life, cost- effectiveness and quality of care that require examination in research.


Step 3: Generates questions. Questions fit into 3 categories:

– 1) Questions answered by existing knowledge. – 2) Questions answered by problem solving – 3) Research generating questions.


The first two types of questions are non-researchable and do not facilitate the formation of research problems that will generate knowledge for practice.

For e.g. questions nurses have about performing some basic nursing skills, such as protocol for taking a temperature, giving injections are answered in the research literature and procedure manuals.


However problems that focus on investigating new techniques to improve existing skills, patient responses to techniques or ways to educate patients and families to perform techniques could add to nursing knowledge base.

Some Researchable Questions

1) Is there a need to describe concepts, to know how they are related, or be able to predict or control some event within the situation?

2) What is known or not known about concepts?

3) What are the most urgent factors to know?

Some Researchable Questions

One well formulated question can lead to the generation of numerous research problems, a lifetime of research activities and significant contributions to body of knowledge.

Figure 1: Formulating a Research Problem & Purpose

Observation of real world situations ( Nursing practice, funding priorities) etc. Identifies research topics Generate Questions Non-researchable Questions Review of the literature Research PROBLEM Input from others Clarification & Refinement Research Purpose Objectives, Questions or hypotheses ( Burns & Grove, 2005)

Examples

You work on a Paeds Unit and notice many children are admitted to hospital for falls which result in fracture of limbs (upper & lower) or even unconsciousness. The number of falls in children has sparked your interest and curiosity.

Examples

Some questions you may ask are: a) What factors contribute to falls in children 0-6

years? b) What are the common causes of falls in

children? c) Is there a relationship between falls in children

and lack of parental supervision? d) How effective is a falls prevention program in

reducing falls in children 0-6 years?

Examples

You are a public health nurse who works with elementary school children and you notice that many children are obese. So obesity in children has sparked an interest.

Some questions you may ask yourself are: a) What factors contribute to obesity in children? b) Is there a relationship among screen-time (TV

viewing), lack of exercise and intake of high caloric or carbohydrate foods?

Examples

You may find that these screen time, lack of exercise and high caloric foods have a high/strong correlation, so you choose to develop a program to address obesity in children. Now your question becomes: c) How effective is an educational intervention

which increases physical activity, reduce the amount of screen- time and modify diet in reducing obesity in children?

Examples

On your Medical/surgical Unit you notice many nurses experience abuse by MDs, patients and their families or even peers. You are concerned about abuse against nurses. The problem is so widespread that you want to investigate.

Examples

Some questions that come to mind are: a) What factors contribute to verbal abuse against

nurses? b) What is the incidence of abuse (physical, verbal,

and sexual) among nurses? c) Who are the main perpetrators of abuse against

nurses? d) How effective is the ‘Code White’ policy in

reducing abuse against nurses?

Examples

You work in Public Health and you notice that a large number of parents are refusing to have their children immunized. In other words, parents are choosing conscientious immunization exemptions resulting in recent outbreaks of communicable diseases, such as mumps, rubella and meningitis.

Examples

Questions you may want answered are: a) What factors influence parents choosing

conscientious immunization exemptions for their children?

b) What are the risks to the children and the community if 20% of parents choose conscientious immunization exemptions?

c) How effective is an educational program for parents and children in reducing conscientious immunization exemptions?


Step 4: Clarifies and Refines Research Problem

In formulating a research problem one must use fantasy and creativity, so one must imagine prospective studies related to the situation.

Think about the difficulties likely to occur with each study.


Ask yourself the following questions: a) Which studies seem the most workable? b) Which problem is the most significant to nursing? c) Which problem has the greatest potential to provide a foundation for future research in the field?


The problem investigated need to have professional significance and potential or actual significance for society.

A research problem is significant when it has the potential to generate or refine knowledge or influence nursing practice or both.


Moody and colleagues (1989) identified the following criteria for significant research problems. They are:

i. Focused on real world concerns. ii. Methodologically sound. iii. Knowledge building. iv. Theory building. v. Focused on current or timely concerns.


It is important to choose a problem that has a personal interest for you.

REFERENCES

Burns, N. & Groves, S., (2009. The practice of nursing research: appraisal, synthesis and generation of evidence (6th Ed), St. Louis, Missouri : Elsevier.

Burns, N. & Groves, S., (2005).The practice of nursing

research: conduct, critique and utilization (5th Ed). Washington: Author.

Documents

Choosing Research Topic and Refining the Question · Introduction to Choosing Research Topics The purpose of formal inquiry (research) is to build knowledge in a discipline/profession