Introduction to Nursing Research
RESEARCH PROBLEM, PURPOSE, OBJECTIVES,
SIGNIFICANCE AND SCOPE unit#04
Muhammad Rehan
Lecture
DIONAM, DUHS
Acknowledge Sir Amjad Ali
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Objectives
By the end of today’s session learners will be able to
Identify the interest area of research
Discuss the problem statement and research
purpose
Develop objectives of research
Elaborate on significance and scope of the research
Differentiate between significance and scope of the
research
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Research Problem
A research problem is a statement
about any concern, a condition to be
improved( refined)upon, a difficulty to
be eliminated, or a troubling question
that exists in literature
The purpose of research is to “solve”
the problem – or to contribute to its
solution- by generating relevant
evidence.
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A researcher spends a great deal of time refining a
research idea into a testable research problem
The process of defining a research problem:
1. Define a specific problem area
2. Review relevant scientific literature
3. Examine the problem’s potential significance
to nursing
4. Pragmatically examine the feasibility of
studying the research problem
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• Researchers generally
begin with an interest in
some broad topic area.
• Usually the research
focuses on the dependent
variable of the study, the
variable that will be
predicted or explained
through its relationship to
the independent variable.
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Before proceeding to a final
formulation of the problem
statement, it is crucial for
the researcher to examine
the problem’s potential
significance to nursing.
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The problem should have the following
criteria:
• Patients, nurses, the medical
community in general, and
society will potentially benefit
from the knowledge derived
from this study.
• Results will be applicable for
nursing practice, education, or
administration.
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• Results will be theoretically
relevant.
• Findings will lend support to
untested theoretical assumptions,
extend or challenge an existing
theory, or clarify a conflict in the
literature.
• Findings will potentially formulate
or alter nursing practice or
policies.
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• Feasibility of a research
problem includes considerations
such as time, availability of
subjects, facilities, equipment
and money.
• The experience of the
researcher, and any ethical
considerations may cause the
researcher to decide that the
problem in inappropriate
because it lack feasibility.
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Availability of Study Cooperation of
Participants. Others.
Time: It may be insufficient to
In any study involving
humans, researchers get the cooperation of
need to consider prospective
Most studies have participants alone. It
whether people with the
deadlines or goals may be necessary to
desired characteristics
for completion, so gain entrée into an
will be available and
the problem must appropriate community
willing to cooperate.
be one that can be or setting, and to
Securing people’s
studied in the develop the trust of
cooperation is
given time. The gatekeepers. In
sometimes easy (e.g.,
scope of the institutional settings
getting nursing students
problem should be (e.g., hospitals), access
to complete a
sufficiently to clients, personnel, or
questionnaire), but other
restricted so that records requires
situations pose more
there will be authorization. Most
difficulties. Some people
enough time for healthcare
may not have the time
the various other organizations require
or interest, and others
steps. approval of proposed
may not feel well
enough to participate. studies.
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Researcher
Facilities and Experience.
Equipment Money The problem should be
All studies have Monetary needs for chosen from a field about
resource studies vary widely, which you have some
requirements, for small student prior knowledge or
although needs are projects to large experience. Researchers
sometimes modest. It scale research. If you may struggle with a topic
is prudent to consider are on a limited that is new and unfamiliar
what facilities and budget, you should —although
equipment will be think carefully about upfront clinical fieldwork
needed and whether projected expenses may make up for certain
they will be available before selecting a deficiencies. The issue of
before embarking on a problem. Major technical expertise also
study. For example, if categories of should be considered.
technical equipment is research-related Beginning researchers
needed, can it be expenditures include: with limited methodologic
secured, and is it Personnel cost, skills should avoid
functioning properly? participants cost, research problems that
Availability of space, supplies, printing might require the
office equipment, and cost, equipment, development of
research support staff laboratory fee and sophisticated measuring
may also need to be transportation cost instruments or that
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considered. involve complex analyses.
Why/How Research Problem
arises?
Clinical experience
Quality improvement efforts
Nursing literature
Social issues
Theories
Ideas from external sources
(funding agencies)
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Problem Statement
It describes the need for a study
Or
A problem statement is a brief piece
of writing that usually comes at the
beginning of a report or proposal to
explain the problem or issue the
document is addressing to the reader.
In general, a problem statement will
outline the basic facts of the problem,
explain why the problem matters, and
pinpoint a solution as quickly and
directly as possible.
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Problem Statements
Problem statement states that what ‘needs fixing’ or what
is poorly understood.
Problem statement includes following components
especially in quantitative studies
– Problem identification-what is wrong with current
situation?
– Background-What is the context of the problem?
– Scope of the problem-How big is the problem? How
many people are getting affected?
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Cont…
– Consequences-What is the cost of not fixing the
problem?
– Knowledge gaps-What information about the
problem is lacking?
– Proposed solution- the proposed study would
contribute to the solution of problem.
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Statement of Purpose
Statement of purpose (or
purpose statement)
summarizes the study goals.
Researchers might also
identify several research
aims or objectives – the
specific accomplishments
they hope to achieve by
conducting the study.
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Statement of Purpose
In quantitative study, a statement of purpose
identifies the key study variables and their possible
interrelationships, as well as the population .
In qualitative studies, the statement of purpose
indicates the key concept or phenomenon, and the
group, community, or setting under study.
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Term Example
Topic/Focus Side effects of chemotherapy
Research Nausea and vomiting are common side effects among patients on
Problem chemotherapy, and interventions to date have been only moderately
(Problem successful in reducing these effects. New interventions that can reduce
statement) or prevent these side effects need to be identified.
Statement of The purpose of the study is to test an intervention to reduce
purpose chemotherapy induced side effects- specifically, to compare the
effectiveness of patient controlled and nurse-administered antiemetic
therapy .
Research What is the relative effectiveness of patient-controlled antiemtic therapy
question versus nurse-controlled antiemetic therapy
Aims/ 1. To develop & implement two alternative procedures for administering
Objectives antiemetic therapy for patients receiving chemotherapy
2. To use the findings to develop recommendations for possible changes
to clinical procedures.
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Selecting and Refining Research
Problems
1. Selecting a Topic:
Jot down areas of interest
Sort down in terms of interest, knowledge, and
feasibility
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Selecting and Refining Research
Problems
2. Narrowing the Topic
Ask broad questions that can lead to researchable
problem.
Move from general topics to specific problem.
Research question provide idea about research
methodology to follow.
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Selecting and Refining Research Problems
3. Evaluating Research Problems
Significance of the problem
Researchability of the problem
Researcher interest
Feasibility of addressing the problem
Time
Availability of participants
Cooperation of others
Facilities and equipments
Money
Research experience
Ethical considerations
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Significance of the Problem
Evidence from the study should have potential to
contribute meaningfully to nursing practice.
The following questions should be considered:
Is the problem important to nursing and its clients?
Will patient care benefit from the evidence?
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Researchability of the Problem
Questions of a moral or ethical nature, although
provocative cannot be researched.
e.g. Should assisted suicide be legalized?
There is no right or wrong answers to this question,
only point of view.
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The Variables
• A variable is something that varies. Researchers
attempt to understand how and why differences in one
variable are related to differences in another variable.
• The researcher is asking a question about the
relationship between one or more independent
variables and a dependent variable.
• Independent variable is the variable that has the
presumed effect on the dependent variable is
manipulated by the researcher.
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• In non-experimental research the
independent variable is not manipulated
and is assumed to have occurred
naturally before or during the study.
• Dependent variable is the consequence
or the presumed effect that varies with a
change in the independent variable.
• The dependent variable is not
manipulated, it is observed and
assumed to vary with changes in the
independent variable.
• Predictions are made from the
independent variable to the dependent
variable.
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Scope and Significant of
Research
Scope:
The opportunity or possibility to do or
deal with something.
Significance:
The quality of being worthy of
attention; importance.
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Reference
Burns, N.& Grove, S.K. (2007). Understanding
nursing research.(4th edition).Phidilphia:W.B.
Saunders.
Polit, D. F. & Beck, C. T. (2011). Nursing Research:
Generating and assessing evidence for nursing
practice. New Delhi: Wolters Kluwer
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Thank You
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