Professional Research Resources

How to read a paper: Papers that go beyond numbers (qualitative research)

See Modules 4 & 5 -

• Tutorial: Sampling Techniques
• Tool: Pareto Tool (from the IHI website)
• Tool: Sampling Tool (from the IHI website)
• Tool: Histogram Tool (from the IHI website)
• Website: IHI General Improvement Methods -- Content and Tools
• Tutorial: Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) Cycle
• Tutorial: How to Improve (from the IHI website)
• Tool: Simple Data Collection Planning Tool (from the IHI Website)

• Tutorial: Operational Definition
• Tutorial: Confounding Variable
• Tutorial: How to Determine if Data Is Skewed
• Tool: Spreadsheet Template for Generating Control Charts
• Tutorial: Introductory Overview on Control Charts (Powerpoint presentation)
• Tutorial: Reading XmR Control Charts
• Tutorial: Control Chart Interpretation Rules

http://www.improvementskills.org/cou...TOKEN=49039419

An ideal research design provides assurance to both the investigator and those who use the information that the study results mean what they say, i.e., that the treatment or intervention employed either did or did not have the intended effect. To achieve this end, the design must first be conducted prospectively, i.e., the treatment must be applied and the effect(s) observed after subjects are selected and assigned (as opposed to retrospective or ex post facto designs, which are all nonexperimental). Additionally, all prospective research aims to provide the following:

1. Manipulation of the independent variable (usually by group assignment)
2. Observation and measurement of the changes, if any, in the dependent variable
3. Control of all other variables except for the dependent (outcome) variable

http://www.umdnj.edu/idsweb/shared/design_validity.htm

Statistical significance only tells the researcher how likely it is that an observed finding could have occurred by chance. It does not say anything about magnitude of the effect observed. Effect size is a name given to a group of statistics that measure the magnitude of a treatment effect. In many cases, effect size is a better measure of research outcomes than the significance level. This is because with large samples, one can observe statistically significant group differences even when only a tiny effect is present. Unlike significance tests, effect size indices are independent of sample size.

Effect Size Statistics. The most commonly used effect size estimate is Cohen's d. Cohen's d is computed by dividing the mean difference between groups by the pooled standard deviation. Cohen's d can also be computed from the value of the t-test of the differences between groups means. An alternative measure of effect size is the point-biserial correlation between the dichotomous independent variable and the continuous dependent variable. This coefficient is called the effect size correlation or effect size r.

http://www.umdnj.edu/idsweb/shared/effect_size.htm

Adapted from Davis, G.B., Parker, C.A. (1997). Writing the Doctoral Dissertation: A Systematic Approach. Hauppauge, NY: Barron's.

• Research in topic area is needed
• Research has professional significance or importance, i.e., it will results in one or more of the following:
  • New or improved evidence
  • New or improved methodology
  • New or improved analysis
  • New or improved concepts or theories
• The research area has or needs a theory base
• The topic is amenable to being research
• The research is achievable in a reasonable time
• The research matches the candidate's capabilities and interests
• The topic area is attractive for funding
• The topical area can serve as a foundation for subsequent career development

http://www.umdnj.edu/idsweb/shared/g...tion_topic.htm

Internal validity refers both to how well a study was run (research design, operational definitions used, how variables were measured, what was/wasn't measured, etc.), and how confidently one can conclude that the observed effect(s) were produced solely by the independent variable and not extraneous ones. In experimental research, internal validity answers the question, "Was it really the treatment that caused the difference between the subjects in the control and experimental groups?" In descriptive studies (correlational, etc.) internal validity refers only to the accuracy/quality of the study (e.g., how well the study was run)...

External validity represents the extent to which a study's results can be generalized or applied to other people or settings. Campbell and Stanley (cited in Isaac & Michael, 1971) have identified 4 factors that can adversely affect a study's external validity...

http://www.umdnj.edu/idsweb/shared/i...al_validty.htm

I would really appreciate anyone who could do a 12 question interview with me who is doing evidenced based research in a clinical setting or a full time research nurse. There may be a possiblity that it may not be that many.If you are unable to answer the question we just go onto the next. I am just having a horrid time finding anyone who fits the bill or is willing to do it. It is for my Nursing Roles and Values course at WGU. There is no one locally and I have contacted 4 different universities who have not responded or their rep is out of town. My time is running out for this taskstream assignment.

Note: ALL titles (blue underline) link to Amazon.com book orders. Titles listed in alphabetical order. Click on the individual title to get more information about the text or order it from Amazon.com

Balian, E. S. (1994). The graduate research guidebook. Lanham, MD: University Press of America.

Bolker, J. (1998). Writing your dissertation in fifteen minutes a day: A guide to starting, revising, and finishing your doctoral thesis. New York: H. Holt.

Booth, W. C., Colomb, G. C., & Williams, J. M. (1995). The craft of research. Chicago, IL: University of Chicago Press.

Brause, R. S. (2000). Writing your doctoral dissertation: Invisible rules for success. London, New York: Falmer Press.

Cone, J. D., & Foster. S.L. (1993). Dissertations and theses from start to finish: Psychology and related fields. Chicago: American Psychological Association.

Cryer, P. (2000). The research student's guide to success. Buckingham, England: Open University Press.

Davis, G. B., & Parker, C. A. (1997). Writing the doctoral dissertation: A systematic approach. Hauppauge, NY: Barron's....

And many more!
http://www.umdnj.edu/idsweb/shared/d...tion_books.htm

What is Field Research?

Field Research - sometimes regarded as synonymous with the more comprehensive term of Ethnography, sometimes with its essential constituent part of Participant Observation - may be described as -"…the process in which an investigator establishes a many sided and relatively long term relationship with a human association in its natural setting for the purpose of developing a scientific understanding of that association." (Lofland & Lofland, 1984)....

http://www.umdnj.edu/idsweb/shared/field_research.pdf

Discusses prevalence versus incidence, risk versus odds.

http://www.umdnj.edu/idsweb/shared/r...nce_ratios.htm