N508 Theory and Research Module 3: Research Design and Ethics

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This module focuses on the planning phase of research, beginning with an overview of ethics in research. Principles of ethics and the history of ethics are covered. The focus of this module then turns to descriptive research design, mixed methods, meta-analysis, epidemiological and longitudinal designs. Topics covered include simple and complex descriptive design, mixed design methods, epidemiological and longitudinal design methods.

A research design is “the logical sequence that connects the empirical data to a study’s initial research questions and, ultimately, to its conclusions”. The real test of the appropriateness of a research design selection is if it matches the purpose of the study and the research questions or hypotheses that are posed. The second question is whether or not the selected design suits the situation or context of the study. In descriptive research, the investigator does not provide a treatment of any kind and there is no manipulation by the researcher.A mixed method design combines the richness of qualitative data with the precision of quantitative data, often producing a more comprehensive understanding than one or the other could do alone. Meta-analyses not only capitalize on research that has already been done, but they also enable us to answer questions in a more definitive way than most individual studies can do.

Epidemiology is the study of the distribution and determinants of health-related states and events in human populations. The emphasis is on populations rather than on individual clients. In this module, we examined case studies, field trials, cohort studies, and several variations of longitudinal studies. The basic longitudinal study design is one in which participants are enrolled at the beginning of the study and followed through a planned number of successive waves of data collection. 

The rights of people who participate in research studies and the responsibilities of those who conduct research were also addressed in this module. We began with a brief description of some of the troubling events that led to the formal procedures now in place to protect study participants and to guide researchers’ behavior. Special procedures for those who are considered vulnerable populations were discussed as well as the process for obtaining approval for a study, obtaining consent from study participants, and other issues related to the responsible conduct of research.

Discussion Question:

How has history defined and shaped modern ethics in nursing research? What are some additional issues or personal examples you can think of that can further our understanding of ethics in research? Explain.

Your initial posting should be 250 to 350 words in length and utilize at least one scholarly source other than the textbook. 

PEER RESPONSE: please respond to the following discussion post

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Literature Review

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Erika Mcgrath posted Mar 28, 2023 8:11 PM

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A literature review is the research of the literature on a topic of interest before a study begins and is essential every step of the way in completing a research article (Maggio et al., 2016). After completing a literature review, one should be adept and proficient in that field (Tappen, 2016). The literature review helps to guide the researcher in their investigation.

 Maggio et al. (2016) explain that a literature review equips one with knowledge and understanding of a specific topic to produce a thorough understanding. By performing a literature review during the research planning phase, the researcher can build upon their knowledge of the subject. The literature review allows seeing what research ideas worked well and which did not go well. During the literature review, the researcher will learn what work has already been completed on the subject to avoid copies of someone’s original work. Lastly, a literature review enables the researcher to analyze their topic before their research critically. 

The literature review should not just be an inventory of previous articles and research on the topic of interest (Winchester & Saljii, 2016). The literature review must be a collection of thoughts and critical analysis and offer multiple points of view about the subject. The researcher must review the literature through well-known search engines, books, and databases (Tappen, 2016). The research should be studied as far back as twenty years to gain as much insight as possible. 

The literature gained in a literature review should unbiasedly impact current research (Winchester & Saljii, 2016). As science constantly evolves, old research helps to move new research to guide what is already known. The literature shows what is already identified in a field and what is unfamiliar in the field of study to be completed (Tappen, 2016).

In conclusion, a literature review gathers information to prepare a future research article (Maggio et al., 2016). It helps the researcher gain knowledge of the subject they plan to study from multiple points of view to help make them competent and experienced in the issue.

 

References

Maggio, L. A., Sewell, J. L., & Artino, A. R. (2016). The literature review: A foundation for high-quality medical education research. Journal of Graduate Medical Education, 8(3), 297–303. https://doi.org/10.4300/jgme-d-16-00175.1

Tappen, R. (2016). Advanced nursing research (2nd ed.). Jones & Bartlett Learning.

Winchester, C. L., & Salji, M. (2016). Writing a literature review. Journal of Clinical Urology, 9(5), 308–312. https://doi.org/10.1177/2051415816650133

Peer Response: please respond to the following discussion post

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literature review

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Elysha Van Schip posted Mar 29, 2023 10:27 AM

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Creating a research study relies on many different stages in order to be thorough and accurate with the information that is being discussed, reviewed, and discovered. The first stage of a research study is known as the planning phase. Within this phase the concept or topic is chosen. This topic can be based on many different ideas that the author is working with. Knowing how to create a topic that will provide insight related to the specific field of interest is essential. After this is completed, the author will be doing a literature review on the created topic. This literature review is designed to bring insight to the author from past and current understanding of the topic. It is important for the author to know how to perform a thorough and appropriate literature review in order to gather the more accurate, up-to-date, and factual data. A literature review is essential to the planning phase, as it is within this review that the author gains insight to the amount or lack thereof research that is already available for this topic. It is within a literature review that you are able to summarize information that has been published pertaining to your specific topic. A successful literature review will justify why your topic is important to the professional practice. There are parameters put in place within a literature review that will target success for the author, however depending on the created topic some of these parameters will be irrelevant. 

            There is a correlation between a literature review and the current research related to a specific topic. As a researcher who is looking to engage the healthcare industry with a new topic pertaining to a healthcare need, through the use of a proper and effective literature search, you will be able to assess if there is current or relevant research already out there pertaining to your topic. In learning this you are able to assess whether or not you should alter your topic in order to capture a different perspective, or completely change you topic all together if there is already a surplus of current and relevant data out there. Learning where there are knowledge gaps in current research allows a researcher to better support the need for their pursuit of data. I did however find it interesting that throughout all my schooling and personal research related to my career, I have always been under the impression that a five-year span of collecting data was appropriate and anything farther than that would be irrelevant or outdated. Yet our textbook has outlined that during a literature review it is important for all publications related to your topic be turned over. It is important and relevant for your topic to know fully what information has been the backbone of this field of interest prior to you doing your own data collection. I would assume then that for evidence-based practice this information or research, would also be held as relevant for personal understanding of concepts. However, old research should be double checked as new research might have brought to light new concepts related to the topic at hand that would deem old research irrelevant or incorrect given the ever evolving and changing healthcare field.

 

Kowalczyk, N., & Truluck, C. (2013). Literature reviews and systematic reviews: what is the difference? Radiologic Technology, 85(2), 219-222. https://content.ebscohost.com/cds/retrieve?content=AQICAHjIloLM_J-oCzt

Saint Mary’s University. (2023). Literature review. https://www.smu.ca/academics/literature-review.html

Tappen, R. (2016). Advanced nursing research: From theory to practice (2nd ed.). Jones and Bartlett. ISBN: 978-1284048308.