Research in Nursing: Reasons, Sources, Principles, Models, and Considerations

This article discusses the reasons for undertaking research in nursing, credible sources of information, trilateral principles of evidence-based practice, models of evidence-based practice, and ethical and cultural considerations for research. It also outlines the steps involved in a research process and provides examples of how to support analysis of information gathered during research.

1. Different reasons for undertaking research are provided below. Provide an example for each of
the following reasons for undertaking research in a nursing context.
a. Comparison:
The comparison is mainly undertaken to analyse and evaluate the findings which enables the
researchers to understand whether significant variance has taken place within the data in
course of time. This plays a very important role in helping the researchers to evaluate the
accuracy of the data and information that has been obtained from past research studies. For
example with advances in the fields of medical science, there has been an increase in the
positive health outcomes for the patients in recent times (Kazdin, 2008). Many diseases
which were previously considered to be life threatening are easily treatable with modern
advancements in medicine.
b. Hypothesis testing:
The hypothesis testing is a crucial component of any deductive research which helps the
researchers to evaluate the accuracy of the theories and postulates that have been considered
by past researchers for their research. The main objective of the hypothesis test is to
understand the correlation between the independent and dependent variable that have been
considered in the research (DeMaris & Selman, 2013). For example in a previous research if
researchers have tried to establish a link between smoking and lung cancer, the hypothesis
testing would help us to establish whether there is really a relationship between smoking and
lung cancer.
c. Trend identification:
The trend identification process helps the researchers to understand the latest trends about the
particular chosen research topic. The process of trend identification invariably involves
analysing and examining the current and existing data and information about a selected event
or subject which is to be studied in the research and this plays a vital role in creating the
groundwork for the entire research process (Taylor et al., 2015).
d. Own knowledge extension:

Own knowledge extension process is really crucial as this would enable us to approach the
research with an open mind which is crucial for ensuring the highest levels of ethical
approach during the research process. Our knowledge extension process is a crucial
prerequisite which would enable us to ensure an unbiased and impartial approach during the
entire research process (Blessing & Chakrabarti, 2009).
e. Strengthen quality of own practice:
This can be accomplished by understanding the ethical aspects of a research and ensuring
that all those practices are strictly followed and implemented during the entire research
process (Fook, 2011).
2. Identify any three (3) credible sources of information you could access during the research
process.
There are various sources of information that could be utilised during a research process and
some among them include:
1) Books and journals obtained from the library.’
2) Online Medical Journals obtained from online databases such as PubMed, CINAHL, etc.
3) Science magazines and journals which are published and are available upon monthly
subscription (McMillan & Schumacher, 2010).
3. Identify the trilateral principles underpinning evidence based practice.
According to Dr. David Sackett, the evidence based practice is considered to be the
conscientious, explicit and judicious use of existing best evidences in the process of making
decisions about the care of the individual patients (Melnyk & Fineout-Overholt, 2011). The
three main principles which underpin the Evidence based research are as follow:
1) Utilising the clinical expertise/expert opinions
2) Utilising the external scientific evidence,
3) Utilising the client/patient/caregiver perspectives while providing the highest quality of
services that would reflect the interests, values, needs, and choices of the patients that are
being served (Kazdin, 2008).

4. Identify any three (3) models of evidence-based practice.
There are various models of Evidence-based practices which could be utilised in a health and
social care setting and these are mentioned below:
1) PICO (Population, Intervention, Control and Outcome) Framework (Dang & Dearholt,
2017).
2) Research Evidence Appraisal Tool.
3) PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) model
(Melnyk & Fineout-Overholt, 2011).
5. In your own words, briefly describe the ACE Star Model of Knowledge Transformation (in 40 - 70
words).
The ACE Star Model of Knowledge Transformation is an effective model that enables us to
understand the cycles, natures and characteristics of knowledge which could be utilised for
satisfying the principles of evidence based practice. The main advantage of this model is that
it makes use of both old and new concepts of care and treatment provisions which eventually
enables the care providers to further improve the quality of care by incorporating the diverse
processes and approaches of evidence based practices (Norcross & Wampold, 2011). This
plays a vital role in improving the health outcomes for their service users. It is often
configured as a five point star which represents the five main stages of knowledge
transformation and these include knowledge discovery, evidence synthesis, translation into
practice recommendations, integration into practice and evaluation (Kazdin, 2008).
6. Identify four (4) key rules of evidence in research process.
The four main rules of an evidence based research are as follows:
1) Asking the Right Questions.
2) Searching for the Evidence.
3) Appraising the Evidence.
4) Acting on the Evidence.
7. Briefly describe your duty of care requirements associated with evidence-based practice (in 50 -
80 words).
The duty of care is a vital component of the evidence based practice which helps in ensuring
that the individual rights of the patients are never violated and the care providers along with

the medical practitioners could be held accountable to the patients for their actions. Under the
provisions of duty of care, it is the moral responsibility of the care providers to always act in
the best interests of their patients and take necessary actions for ensuring their personal safety
and wellbeing (Norcross & Wampold, 2011). Furthermore, the care providers must take the
verbal consent from the patient or their family members (in case the patient is not capable of
giving their consent) before beginning any medical treatment procedure and they have to
clearly explain the long term consequences that could arise from the treatment process.
8. In your own words, briefly describe the key differences between evidence-based practice,
continuous quality improvement and research (in 150 – 180 words).
The main difference between evidence based practice and continuous quality improvement is
that while the evidence based practice is a scientifically approved practice that is aimed at
producing better health outcomes for the service users of healthcare establishment while the
continuous quality improvement is a quality control approach that deals with a constant
improvement of the service quality that is eventually being delivered by the healthcare
establishment to their patients. The evidence based practice is already considered to be a
good practice that is widely approved by modern medical research establishments which
helps in ensuring that the patients are always provided with the best care and treatment
provisions that are presently available in the market (Melnyk & Fineout-Overholt, 2011). On
the other hand the continuous quality improvement mainly emphasis on the aspect of
ensuring the highest levels of priority towards the individual patient safety and well being
while making sure that the care providers always act in the best interests of their patients
(Cartwright, 2018).
9. In your own words, briefly describe three (3) ways a researcher could use to evaluate the validity
of information sources (in 120 – 150 words).
1) Authors evaluate internet information resources since it is a significant part of the research.
Not all the internet or other mode of information are authentic, nor will all the resources are
suitable for research or project. The print and internet resources vary in their accuracy,
coverage and objective. Author needs to critically evaluate the authenticity and
appropriateness of all kind of resources before applying the information. The authenticity and
quality of internet information could be ensured by obtaining data and information from
reliable sources only such as CINAHL and PubMed (McMillan & Schumacher, 2010).

2) Moreover importance should be provided to the use of specific keywords for the research
process. This would help the researcher to filter down the searching process while enabling
them to gather reliable information pertaining to the research topic (Oliver, 2010).
3) Emphasis should be given to the use of peer reviewed articles which have been already
been established and validated as accurate and reliable sources of information.
10. Outline the steps involved in a research process.
There are various steps in the research process and these are mentioned below:
1) Introduction to the Research topic or event which is going to be studied.
2) Obtaining the available literature pertaining to the research.
3) Explaining the methodology adopted for conducting the entire research process.
4) Collecting the data and information pertaining to the research (data can include either
primary data or secondary data or both)
5) Analysing the collected data and information to arrive at effective outcomes.
6) Concluding the research by providing the recommendations (Taylor et al., 2015).
11. In your own words, briefly describe three (3) cultural considerations for research (in 40-70
words).
The cultural considerations that need to be taken into account while developing any research
include the following:
1) Evaluating and understanding the culture and diversity of a population on whom the
research is going to be undertaken (Simonsen et al., 2008).
2) Protecting the privacy of the research respondents who have participated in the research
process.
3) Ensuring that the findings and outcomes obtained from the research could be eventually
utilised to benefit the local communities and the larger society as a whole (Gjersing et al.,
2010).

12. In your own words, briefly describe three (3) ethical considerations for research.
1) Ensuring that the contributions of the previous authors are clearly acknowledged (in the
Reference/Bibliography section) whose work has been utilised in the research process
(Oliver, 2010).
2) Taking the permission and approval from the researchers before incorporating their
findings and explanation into the existing research process.
3) In case of academic research, the researcher has the moral responsibility of ensuring that
their research is going to be utilised only for academic purpose and not for commercial
purpose (Miller et al., 2012).
13. Provide an example for how you would use each of the following processes to support analysis of
information you gathered as part of your research.
a. Comparing and contrasting:
The process of comparing and contrasting could be done by utilising a wide variety of
academic sources for the process of information gathering. This would help the researcher to
ensure that only accurate and reliable information are being utilised for the research process
(McMillan & Schumacher, 2010).
b. Challenging:
The challenging aspect of the research occurs when the researcher is unable to find out any
reliable data or information pertaining to any research topic that he/she has chosen for
evaluation. This usually occurs when the researcher has chosen a relatively unusual topic
which has not be adequately researched before by previous scholars (Noor, 2008).
c. Reflecting:
This aspect would help the researcher in their self learning and development process. The
researcher would be able to gather new knowledge and information from the research which
would eventually help them to enhance their understanding about the research topic (Fook,
2011).
d. Distinguishing relevant from irrelevant:
Use of specific keywords during the information searching process is a must as it would help
the researcher to filter the entire searching process thereby getting access to only accurate and
reliable information pertaining to their chosen research topic. This would help them to

eliminate the possibility of utilising any kind of irrelevant information about the research
topic (Oliver, 2010).
e. Drawing interdisciplinary connections:
The researcher would draw interdisciplinary connections by making use of a wide variety of
information from various sources and medical disciplines and this would enable them to
conduct a thorough and accurate research from their end (McMillan & Schumacher, 2010).
14. Briefly describe how you will assess the strength, relevance, reliability and currency of the
information you gathered during a research process.
a. Assessing the strength of information:
The strength of the information can be assessed by evaluating the sources from where the
information has been gathered. Searching important keywords in a research article would also
provide the researcher with a better understanding about the strength of information (DuBois,
2008).
b. Assessing the relevance of information:
The relevance of information could be evaluated by searching for specific keywords which
are associated with the chosen research topic.
c. Assessing the reliability of information:
Reliability of the information could be accessed by searching up the chosen information
source such as research articles and journals in medical databases such as PubMed and
CINAHL (Polit & Beck, 2008).
d. Assessing the currency of information:
The currency of information can be evaluated by examining the time period (year of
publishing) in which the research has been conducted by the researcher. Notably, the
researcher could utilise sources of information that are no more than 10 years old as they are
still considered to be appropriate and reliable (Taylor et al., 2015).
15. Briefly describe how you will assess the feasibility, benefits and risks associated with the
information you gathered during a research process.
a. Assessing the feasibility of information:
The feasibility of information could be gathered by evaluating whether any previous research
on a similar research topic has been undertaken by the previous researchers. If there are few

information available about a chosen research topic due to the lack of accurate data and
information from past researches, the feasibility of getting information would become
extremely tough and challenging for the researcher (Oliver, 2010).
b. Assessing the benefits of information:
Information helps us to back up our explanation and understanding about a particular event
or research subject with hard core evidence and fact. This helps in validating the findings
from the research.
c. Assessing the risks associated with information:
Information misuse is a major risk which must be strictly dealt with by the researcher. The
researcher should always strive to maintain the confidentiality of the data and information
that have been collected for the research (Noor, 2008).

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