RESEARCH IN
MIDWIFERY BY NR.
OFISA ISAAC
Introduction
• Research is a systematic search for knowledge to find solution to an
existing problem.
• It can also be said to be a search for a new knowledge to add to an
existing body of knowledge.
• Therefore, research can said to be an original contribution to an
existing stock of knowledge, adding to its advancement (Kothari &
Garg, 2019).
HISTORY OF NURSING RESEARCH
• The history of research in nursing dates back to the founder of modern
nursing, Florence Nightengale.
• During the Crimean war, the death rate of wounded soldiers were high
because of the deplorable environmental condition they were living.
• She observed this and took care of the environment by ensuring sanitation
and ventilation while caring for their wound.
• This resulted in low death rate and high recovery rate.
• This her findings has led to the concept of infection control in hospitals today.
OBJECTIVES
At the end of this presentation, participants will be able to :
• Understand the concept of research
• Appreciate the importance of research in nursing.
• Discuss terms commonly used in research
• Explain steps used in research process
• Discuss methods of data collection and analysis.
OBJECTIVES CONTD.
• Highlight the basic types of statistics used in
research
• Highlight ethical considerations in the research
process
DEFINITION
• Research is a process in which an investigator carryout an activity
within his field of interest in-order to provide solutions to existing
problems.
FORMS/ TYPES/ APPROACHES/ STRATEGIES OF
RESEARCH
• These include;
• Qualitative research: this deals with less mathematical aspect but more
of words in describing their process and findings.
• Quantitative research: this involves more mathematical description and
less words.
• Mixed method : this method combines the two above to give a more
detailed description of their findings. Mixed method is also called
triangulation system of research
PURPOSE / IMPORTANCE OF RESEARCH
IN NURSING
• Provide evidence based for nursing practice
• Development of body of knowledge, technique and tools
• Evaluation of current practice
• Ensure users satisfaction
• To eliminate waste and unwholesome practices
• Help determine the area of need in nursing
• Prepare one to be diligent in research
SIGNIFICANCE OF RESEARCH IN NURSING
This highlights the following:
• The relevance of the study in the society
• The relevance of the study to nursing
practice and
• Its relevance to the body of knowledge
(research) in nursing
TERMINOLOGIES IN RESEARCH
The following are some terms used in the research process;
Variable
• This is any object that has the value or quality to change from one form to another.
Variables can be described in various dimensions including the following:
• Qualitative variable; they are described by words, in categories and are discrete in
nature e.g. gender, religion, political parties
• Quantitative variable; they are described by numbers e.g. weight, height,
temperature, amount of money, e.t.c.
TERMS CONTD.
• Independent variable: they act on, or manipulate another variable to
effect a positive or negative change.
• Dependent variable: rely on the action of the independent variable on it.
It is therefore inactive if there is no action on it from the independent
variable.
• Example; motivational indices and nurses job performance in…..
• for easy identification of an independent and the dependent, variable, the
words before and at the left side is the independent variable. Those after
“and” are the dependent variable.
TERMS CONTD.
Sample
• this is a fraction of the population to be studied
• sampling technique: the method or process used to choose subject
(sample) for the study.
• population: the total of the subjects in the field of study utilized by
the investigator.
STEPS IN THE RESEARCH PROCESS
• formulating the research problem
• extensive literature survey
• development of working hypothesis
• preparing the research design
• determining the sample /sampling technique
STEPS CONTD.
• collection of data
• analysis of data
• hypothesis testing
• generalization and interpretation (could lead to formation of theory if
hypothesis is upheld).
• Discussion of the report or the thesis.
• Summary and conclusion
STEPS CONTD
• Recommendation
• Suggestion for further studies
• References
• appendices
STUDY DESIGN
• This is the blue print with which an investigator works with
so as to answer the research questions
• study designs can be broadly divided into two which are;
qualitative and quantitative research design.
• Quantitative designs are further classified as
experimental and non experimental designs.
STUDY DESIGN CONTD.
• Experimental designs are able to establish cause and effect relationship
• Non experimental designs cannot establish a cause and effect
relationship
• Non experimental design are further broken down into two major
groups these are:
• Ex-post factor (or causal comparative): this is used when the
investigator is interested in the past experience of the population
based on the factor. Eg. Motor bike victims of RTA.
DESIGN CONTD.
• The other form of non experimental design is:
• Survey design : here we have the following;
Descriptive survey
Developmental survey ; such as cross-sectional
and longitudinal survey design.
DESIGN CONTD.
The forms of qualitative design include:
• Case study design
• Historical design
• grounded theory
• Phenomenology
• Ethnography
INSTRUMENT/METHOD OF DATA COLLECTION
• Test
• Observation
• Interview
• Questionnaire
• Focus group
• Secondary data.
BIOSTATISTICS IN RESEARCH ANALYSIS
There are two types of statistical approaches used in the analysis of data
in the research process, these are ;
• Descriptive statistics this uses measures of central tendency such as:
mean, mode and median, variance, standard, deviation, range, histogram,
bar graph, pie chart and simple percentage.
• Inferential statistics ; this is the method of data analysis for testing
hypothesis (the existence of a relationship between two or more variables).
These tools include t-test analysis, z test analysis, chi square analysis,
Pearson product moment correlative coefficient (PPMC), etc.
ETHICAL CONSIDERATION IN RESEARCH
• Consent
• Confidentiality
• Right of respondents to refuse to participate at any point in
the process
•THANK YOU
