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Developing the Researchable Problem © Jones & Bartlett Learning, LLC © Jones & Bartlett Learning, LLC NOT FOR SALE OR DISTRIBUTION NOT FOR SALE OR DISTRIBUTION © Jones & Bartlett Learning, LLC © Jones & Bartlett Learning, LLC NOT FOR SALE OR DISTRIBUTION NOT FOR SALE OR DISTRIBUTION CHAPTER © Jones & Bartlett Learning, LLC © Jones & Bartlett2 Learning, LLC NOT FOR SALE OR DISTRIBUTION NOT FOR SALE OR DISTRIBUTION Developing the © Jones & Bartlett Learning, LLC © Jones & Bartlett Learning, LLC NOT FOR SALE OR DISTRIBUTIONResearchableNOT Problem FOR SALE OR DISTRIBUTION © echo3005/ShutterStock, Inc. © echo3005/ShutterStock, © Jones & Bartlett Learning, LLC © Jones & Bartlett Learning, LLC NOT FOR SALE OR DISTRIBUTION NOT FOR SALE OR DISTRIBUTION Objectives © Jones & BartlettUpon completion Learning, of thisLLC chapter, the reader should© Jonesbe prepared & Bartlett to: Learning, LLC NOT FOR SALE 1.OR Discuss DISTRIBUTION the elements needed to formulateNOT aFOR research SALE ques- OR DISTRIBUTION tion, specifi cally discussing the PICOT process of developing a research question. 2. Utilize sample scenarios to formulate suitable research questions. © Jones & Bartlett Learning, 3.LLC Discuss the development© of Jones a testable & hypothesis.Bartlett Learning, LLC NOT FOR SALE OR DISTRIBUTION4. Describe the diff erent categoriesNOT FOR of hypotheses:SALE OR research DISTRIBUTION vs. sta- tistical, directional vs. nondirectional. 5. Determine when it would be most appropriate to utilize a research question and when it would be most appropriate to uti- © Joneslize a& hypothesis. Bartlett Learning, LLC © Jones & Bartlett Learning, LLC NOT6. FORDiscuss SALE the diff OR erence DISTRIBUTION between a directional hypothesisNOT and FORa SALE OR DISTRIBUTION nondirectional hypothesis. 7. Discuss the diff erence between a research hypothesis and a sta- tistical hypothesis. © Jones & Bartlett8. DiscussLearning, the LLCrelationship of a hypothesis© Jones to the & theoretical Bartlett Learning, LLC NOT FOR SALE ORframework. DISTRIBUTION NOT FOR SALE OR DISTRIBUTION 27 © Jones & Bartlett Learning, LLC. NOT FOR SALE OR DISTRIBUTION. © Jones & Bartlett Learning, LLC © Jones & Bartlett Learning, LLC NOT FOR SALE OR DISTRIBUTION NOT FOR SALE OR DISTRIBUTION 9781284045932_CH02_027_046.indd 27 12/07/14 10:14 AM © Jones & Bartlett Learning, LLC © Jones & Bartlett Learning, LLC NOT FOR SALE OR DISTRIBUTION NOT FOR SALE OR DISTRIBUTION 28 | Chapter 2 Developing the Researchable Problem © Jones & Bartlett Learning, LLC © Jones & Bartlett Learning, LLC NOT9. FORDistinguish SALE between OR DISTRIBUTION the conceptual framework and the theoretiNOT FOR- SALE OR DISTRIBUTION cal framework. 10. Describe the different categories of nursing theories: grand, mid- range, and microrange. © Jones & Bartlett11. DeLearning,scribe the differenceLLC between inductive© reasoningJones & andBartlett deduc- Learning, LLC NOT FOR SALE ORtive DISTRIBUTION reasoning. NOT FOR SALE OR DISTRIBUTION 12. Discuss the process of selecting an appropriate theoretical framework. © Jones & Bartlett Learning, LLC © Jones & Bartlett Learning, LLC NOT FOR SALE OR DISTRIBUTIONSelection of the Research ProblemNOT FOR and SALE OR DISTRIBUTION Development of the Research Question The selection of the research problem is arguably the most important step in the research process, for if the problem is not viable and therefore © Jones & Bartlett Learning, LLC © Jones & Bartlett Learning, LLC testable, the entire process may be implemented in vain, wasting valuable NOT FOR SALE OR DISTRIBUTION NOT FOR SALE OR DISTRIBUTION man-hours and financial resources while generating nothing more than frustration for the researcher. For the DNP clinician, the research prob- lem must above all relate to some area of practice. The germ of the idea can come directly from patients or colleagues or more indirectly from the © Jones & Bartlettauditing Learning,process if the LLC clinician functions in quality© managementJones & Bartlett or nurs- Learning, LLC NOT FOR SALEing administration OR DISTRIBUTION (Fitzpatrick, 2007). NOT FOR SALE OR DISTRIBUTION The DNP clinician must select a research problem that will contribute to evidence-based practice and to the development of either a hypothesis or a research question. The development of hypotheses and their proper © Jones & Bartlett Learning,usage LLC will be discussed in the ©next Jones sections. & Bartlett According Learning, to Stillwell, LLC NOT FOR SALE OR DISTRIBUTIONFineout-Overhold, Melnyk, and WilliamsonNOT FOR (2010), SALE five OR components DISTRIBUTION will indicate that the researcher has developed a research question that is rooted in an evidence-based practice problem: © 1.Jones The &patien Bartlettt group Learning,or patient condition LLC is clearly identified.© Jones & Bartlett Learning, LLC NOT2. ThereFOR isSALE an issue OR or interventionDISTRIBUTION that is being investigated, NOTsuch as FOR SALE OR DISTRIBUTION a method of patient care or a specific diagnostic test. 3. There is a specified way for a baseline measurement to be made as well as a method for comparison. © Jones & Bartlett4. An Learning, outcome or LLC result is indicated. © Jones & Bartlett Learning, LLC NOT FOR SALE5. OR There DISTRIBUTION is a time frame required for the interventionNOT FOR to achieveSALE theOR DISTRIBUTION outcome. © Jones & Bartlett Learning, LLC. NOT FOR SALE OR DISTRIBUTION. © Jones & Bartlett Learning, LLC © Jones & Bartlett Learning, LLC NOT FOR SALE OR DISTRIBUTION NOT FOR SALE OR DISTRIBUTION 9781284045932_CH02_027_046.indd 28 12/07/14 10:14 AM © Jones & Bartlett Learning, LLC © Jones & Bartlett Learning, LLC NOT FOR SALE OR DISTRIBUTION NOT FOR SALE OR DISTRIBUTION Selection of the Research Problem and Development of the Research Question | 29 © Jones & Bartlett Learning, LLC © Jones & Bartlett Learning, LLC NOTIn orderFOR SALEfor the ORresearcher DISTRIBUTION to keep these elements in mindNOT while FOR SALE OR DISTRIBUTION developing the research question, the acronym PICOT frequently is utilized: ■ © Jones & BartlettP =Learning, the specified LLC patient or target population© Jones & Bartlett Learning, LLC ■ NOT FOR SALE ORI = theDISTRIBUTION issue or intervention being investigatedNOT FOR SALE OR DISTRIBUTION ■ C = the comparison being made ■ O = the outcome that may be the result ■ T = time frame required to achieve the outcome (Stillwell, Fineout- © Jones & Bartlett Learning, LLCOverhold, Melnyk, and Williamson,© Jones 2010).& Bartlett Learning, LLC NOT FOR SALE OR DISTRIBUTION NOT FOR SALE OR DISTRIBUTION An example of an acceptable evidence-based practice question would be: Does use of a pain scale reduce the patient’s experience of pain post- operatively? In this case: © Jones & Bartlett Learning, LLC © Jones & Bartlett Learning, LLC ■ P = Patient is undergoing a surgical procedure. NOT FOR SALE OR DISTRIBUTION NOT FOR SALE OR DISTRIBUTION ■ I = Patient is taught how to measure pain using a pain scale. ■ C = The pain level without using a pain scale is compared to the pain level when using a pain scale. ■ O = The patient has verbalized or indicated experience of postop- © Jones & Bartletterative Learning, pain. LLC © Jones & Bartlett Learning, LLC NOT FOR SALE■ ORT = DISTRIBUTION The time frame is the postoperative timeNOT period. FOR SALE OR DISTRIBUTION The impetus for a researchable problem frequently may arise from a clinical situation the researcher notes. In addition, the DNP clinician may © Jones & Bartlett Learning,make LLCan observation in his or her© daily Jones practice & Bartlett and wonder Learning, whether theLLC NOT FOR SALE OR DISTRIBUTIONclinical issue is coincidental or factNOT based. FOR A SALEresearchable OR DISTRIBUTIONproblem may arise from reading journal articles in the DNP graduate’s field of practice. Research articles typically state areas for further study that have arisen from that particular manuscript. Often an article will state that a recom- mendation© Jones is& made Bartlett for replication Learning, of LLCthe original study with a different© Jones & Bartlett Learning, LLC populationNOT FOR of SALEpatients OR or usingDISTRIBUTION a different type of methodology NOT(Beyea, FOR SALE OR DISTRIBUTION 2000). As potential researchable problems arise during the course of a typical practice-oriented day, the researcher should maintain a pocket- sized notebook specifically to jot down such thoughts. At the end of the © Jones & Bartlettday, additional Learning, details LLC can be recorded, and then ©Internet Jones search & Bartlett engines Learning, LLC NOT FOR SALEcan be OR used DISTRIBUTION to review the literature that is readilyNOT available FOR on SALE the topic. OR DISTRIBUTION This will aid in the decision of whether the problem is manageable for the © Jones & Bartlett Learning, LLC. NOT FOR SALE OR DISTRIBUTION. © Jones & Bartlett Learning, LLC © Jones & Bartlett Learning, LLC NOT FOR SALE OR DISTRIBUTION NOT FOR SALE OR DISTRIBUTION 9781284045932_CH02_027_046.indd 29 12/07/14 10:14 AM © Jones & Bartlett Learning, LLC © Jones & Bartlett Learning, LLC NOT FOR SALE OR DISTRIBUTION NOT FOR SALE OR DISTRIBUTION 30 | Chapter 2 Developing the Researchable Problem © Jones & Bartlett Learning, LLC © Jones & Bartlett Learning, LLC researcher,NOT FOR practical SALE toOR implement DISTRIBUTION in the form of research, and ofNOT suffi FOR - SALE OR DISTRIBUTION cient interest to the researcher to be the focus of a lengthy project (Van Cott & Smith, 2009). Th e researcher should also consider several practical concerns while © Jones & Bartlettformulating Learning,
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