Nursing Research (NURS 3104) Final Exam Review
Research A systematic inquiry that uses rigorous (structured) methods to answer questions
or solve problems
Nursing research A systematic inquiry designed to develop trustworthy knowledge about
issues of importance to the nursing profession
Clinical nursing research Research designed to guide nursing practice
Evidence informed practice Looks not only at the research evidence but other forms of
evidence
Paradigm Based upon world views; explains complexities
Positivist paradigm Fundamental assumption - there is a reality "out there" that can be studied
and known
Constructivist/naturalistic paradigm Reality is not considered a fixed entity; construction of the
people - there is no one truth
Research methods The techniques researchers use to design a study and to gather and analyze
relevant information
Quantitative research A formal, objective, systematic process used to describe, test relationships,
and examine cause-and-effect interactions among variables
Qualitative research A systematic, subjective approach used to describe life experiences and
give them meaning
Mixed methods research The planned collection and integration of quantitative and
qualitative within a single study or coordinated clusters of studies
Critique An objective assessment of a study's strengths and weaknesses
Discussion An interpretation of the results
Unethical behaviour Violation of subject rights
Autonomy Self determination - people can choose for themselves
Beneficence Freedom from harm and maximum benefits
Justice Fair treatment
Research ethics board (REB) Read proposals carefully, thinks about procedures, considers how
data is collected, determines if subjects are put at undue risk or rights are violated and ensures
that consent contains all necessary elements and is understandable
Research problem A situation in need of solution improvement, or alteration; arises from a
condition, issue of subject area that is poorly understood
Problem statement Articulates the problem and an argument in a sentence that explains the
need for the study
Purpose statement A summary of the overall goal; establishes the direction of inquiry
Variables Qualities, properties, or characteristics of persons, things, or situations that are
manipulated or measured in research
, Independent variable Manipulated variable
Dependent variable Measured variable
Extraneous variable In an experiment, a variable other than the IV that might cause unwanted
changes in the DV.
Conceptual definition The abstract meaning of a variable that is usually based on theory
Operational definition A way of defining a variable that makes it measurable in the real world
Demographic variableVariables that describe the population of interest e.g., age, sex, gender,
income
Research objectives Declarative statements which focus on the identification and description of
variables or concepts and sometimes on relationships between/among variables
Research questions Interrogative statements that focus on what variables or concepts are to be
described and what relationships might exist among them
Hypothesis Formal statements of the expected relationships among variables
Simple hypothesis A hypothesis describing the relationship among two variables
Complex hypothesis A hypothesis describing the relationships among three or more variables
Directional hypothesis Predicts the nature of relationships between variables
Non-directional hypothesis Does not predict the nature of relationships
Causal hypothesis A cause and effect relationship between variables
Associative hypothesis Predicts a relationship between variables, but no cause is specified
Research hypothesis States what the researcher thinks is true
Null/statistical hypothesis States no difference or relationship exists
Literature review A summary of current empirical and theoretical knowledge about a
particular problem that provides the basis for the study conducted
Empirical/data based research studies Sees how data is collected and analyzed
Theoretical/conceptual literature Concept analyses, theories and models, and literature
reviews
Grey literature Anecdotal reports, opinion articles, case reports; secondary sources
Primary sources Written by the person(s) who conducted the study or developed the theory
Secondary sources Written by someone other than the person(s) who conducted the study or
developed the theory
Nursing research journal Peer reviewed or refereed articles that are reviewed by experts in
the field who make recommendations to accept, reject, or revise
Replication studies Repetition of previous studies to confirm findings
Framework A brief explanation of a theory or those portions of a theory to be tested in a study
Conceptual model Highly abstract related constructs that broadly explain a phenomenon
Theory Highly abstract related constructs that broadly explain a phenomenon
Conceptual map A graphic expression of the framework
Theoretical framework Theory which exists in literature
Conceptual framework Concepts or theories pulled together by the researchers to guide the
study; used when dealing with complex phenomena
Inductive reasoning From specific to general; more common in qualitative research
Deductive reasoning From theory to practice or research; more common in quantitative research
Grand theory Theory based on a big conceptual model
Micro-range theory Small, specific theories
Proposition Clarify the type of relationship that exists between or among concepts or variables
Explicit framework A framework that is clearly stated and discussed in the article
Research A systematic inquiry that uses rigorous (structured) methods to answer questions
or solve problems
Nursing research A systematic inquiry designed to develop trustworthy knowledge about
issues of importance to the nursing profession
Clinical nursing research Research designed to guide nursing practice
Evidence informed practice Looks not only at the research evidence but other forms of
evidence
Paradigm Based upon world views; explains complexities
Positivist paradigm Fundamental assumption - there is a reality "out there" that can be studied
and known
Constructivist/naturalistic paradigm Reality is not considered a fixed entity; construction of the
people - there is no one truth
Research methods The techniques researchers use to design a study and to gather and analyze
relevant information
Quantitative research A formal, objective, systematic process used to describe, test relationships,
and examine cause-and-effect interactions among variables
Qualitative research A systematic, subjective approach used to describe life experiences and
give them meaning
Mixed methods research The planned collection and integration of quantitative and
qualitative within a single study or coordinated clusters of studies
Critique An objective assessment of a study's strengths and weaknesses
Discussion An interpretation of the results
Unethical behaviour Violation of subject rights
Autonomy Self determination - people can choose for themselves
Beneficence Freedom from harm and maximum benefits
Justice Fair treatment
Research ethics board (REB) Read proposals carefully, thinks about procedures, considers how
data is collected, determines if subjects are put at undue risk or rights are violated and ensures
that consent contains all necessary elements and is understandable
Research problem A situation in need of solution improvement, or alteration; arises from a
condition, issue of subject area that is poorly understood
Problem statement Articulates the problem and an argument in a sentence that explains the
need for the study
Purpose statement A summary of the overall goal; establishes the direction of inquiry
Variables Qualities, properties, or characteristics of persons, things, or situations that are
manipulated or measured in research
, Independent variable Manipulated variable
Dependent variable Measured variable
Extraneous variable In an experiment, a variable other than the IV that might cause unwanted
changes in the DV.
Conceptual definition The abstract meaning of a variable that is usually based on theory
Operational definition A way of defining a variable that makes it measurable in the real world
Demographic variableVariables that describe the population of interest e.g., age, sex, gender,
income
Research objectives Declarative statements which focus on the identification and description of
variables or concepts and sometimes on relationships between/among variables
Research questions Interrogative statements that focus on what variables or concepts are to be
described and what relationships might exist among them
Hypothesis Formal statements of the expected relationships among variables
Simple hypothesis A hypothesis describing the relationship among two variables
Complex hypothesis A hypothesis describing the relationships among three or more variables
Directional hypothesis Predicts the nature of relationships between variables
Non-directional hypothesis Does not predict the nature of relationships
Causal hypothesis A cause and effect relationship between variables
Associative hypothesis Predicts a relationship between variables, but no cause is specified
Research hypothesis States what the researcher thinks is true
Null/statistical hypothesis States no difference or relationship exists
Literature review A summary of current empirical and theoretical knowledge about a
particular problem that provides the basis for the study conducted
Empirical/data based research studies Sees how data is collected and analyzed
Theoretical/conceptual literature Concept analyses, theories and models, and literature
reviews
Grey literature Anecdotal reports, opinion articles, case reports; secondary sources
Primary sources Written by the person(s) who conducted the study or developed the theory
Secondary sources Written by someone other than the person(s) who conducted the study or
developed the theory
Nursing research journal Peer reviewed or refereed articles that are reviewed by experts in
the field who make recommendations to accept, reject, or revise
Replication studies Repetition of previous studies to confirm findings
Framework A brief explanation of a theory or those portions of a theory to be tested in a study
Conceptual model Highly abstract related constructs that broadly explain a phenomenon
Theory Highly abstract related constructs that broadly explain a phenomenon
Conceptual map A graphic expression of the framework
Theoretical framework Theory which exists in literature
Conceptual framework Concepts or theories pulled together by the researchers to guide the
study; used when dealing with complex phenomena
Inductive reasoning From specific to general; more common in qualitative research
Deductive reasoning From theory to practice or research; more common in quantitative research
Grand theory Theory based on a big conceptual model
Micro-range theory Small, specific theories
Proposition Clarify the type of relationship that exists between or among concepts or variables
Explicit framework A framework that is clearly stated and discussed in the article
