Research Methods in Nursing and Midwifery: Pathways to Evidence-based

Sansnee Jirojwong has previously taught nursing and midwifery students at Australian universities including the University of Western Sydney and currently assists junior researchers with projects in her native Thailand.Maree Johnson is the Director of the Centre for Applied Nursing Research, University of Western Sydney and the South Western Sydney Local Health District.Anthony Welch is an Associate Professor in the School of Nursing and Midwifery, Central Queensland University.

• PART 1: GETTING STARTED IN RESEARCH Chapter 1. The Importance of Research in Nursing and Midwifery Sansnee Jirojwong and Anthony Welch The place of research in generating knowledge The importance of evidence-based nursing and midwifery practices The purposes of research Inductive and deductive reasoning in research Paradigms for nursing and midwifery research The role of theory in nursing and midwifery research What is the purpose of theory for research and evidence-based practice? The future use of nursing and midwifery theories and frameworks in research Developments in Australian nursing and midwifery research Looking ahead: Research and its application in nursing and midwifery care Summary Chapter 2. Evidence-based Practice for Nurses and Midwives Maree Johnson and Ritin Fernandez  Skills required for evidence-based practice Why evidence-based practice? Do nurses participate in evidence-based practice? Working together works well in EBP Where do you find the evidence? Barriers to EBP Developing an evidence-based profession Chapter 3. Introducing the Research Process Maree Johnson and Cecily Hengstberger-Sims  Planning the Research Step 1: Select the topic and the research question Step 2: Review and synthesise the literature Step 3: Identify a frame of reference and/or define the terms Step 4: Develop aims, objectives, research questions and hypotheses Step 5: Choose appropriate methods to address the research questions or hypotheses Step 6: Defining the significance and outcomes of the research Step 7: Consider the feasibility and ethical issues Step 8: Finalise the research proposal plan Appendix 3.1 Example of a Quantitative Research Proposal Appendix 3.2 Example of a Qualitative Research Proposal Chapter 4. Ethical and Legal Considerations in Research Keri Chater History of ethics committees Roles of research councils and the conduct of health research Ethical principles and research conduct Data management throughout the research study and beyond Vulnerable groups and power relationships between researcher and participant Appendix 4.1: Example of a Plain Language Statement and Consent Form PART 2: QUALITATIVE RESEARCH METHODS Chapter 5. Sampling in Qualitative Research Anthony Welch What is sampling? Sampling methods in qualitative research Bias in sampling Chapter 6. Qualitative Research Design Anthony Welch What is qualitative research? The types of qualitative research Chapter 7. Data Collection: Qualitative Research Anthony Welch and Sansnee Jirojwong Preparing for the process of data collection Choosing a mode(s) for data collection Triangulation in data collection Rigour and trustworthiness Chapter 8. Qualitative Data Analysis Lisa Whitehead The stages of qualitative analysis Theories and methods Analysing visual data Building trustworthiness in qualitative data analysis Computer software packages for qualitative analysis Coding Data searching and retrieval Developing and testing theory Appendix 8.1 Example of data analysis PART 3: QUANTITATIVE AND MIXED METHODS RESEARCH Chapter 9. Sampling in Quantitative Research Maree Johnson and Sungwon Chang Populations and samples Probability sampling and non-probability sampling Different sampling approaches in quantitative studies Bias in sampling Sample size Appendix 9.1: A Random Numbers Table Chapter 10. Quantitative Research Design Sansnee Jirojwong and Karen Pepper  What is quantitative research design? Quantitative research and causality Choosing a quantitative research design Types of quantitative research designs Appendix 10.1 CONSORT 2010 checklist of information to include when reporting a randomised trial Chapter 11. Data Collection: Quantitative Research Jan Taylor and Jamie Ranse Data collection methods Surveys Interviews Observation Choosing an existing instrument or scale Chapter 12. Quantitative Data Analysis Petra Buettner, Reinhold Muller and Monika Buhrer-Skinner Why statistics? Descriptive versus comparative statistics Descriptive statistics Inferential statistics Use of computer programs for data analysis Appendix 12.1: Read and understand statistics in a published article Appendix 12.2: Analyse a small data set using GraphPad’s QuickCalcs online Chapter 13. Mixed Methods Research Janice Lewis Why conduct mixed methods research? Differences between quantitative and qualitative research methods Views of mixed methods research Incompatibility thesis Pragmatism and mixed methods Status of quantitative and qualitative elements Mixed methods as a continuum Mixed methods design Sampling techniques for mixed methods studies Analysis of mixed methods data Issues of validity in mixed methods research The future of mixed methods research PART 4: PATHWAYS TO EVIDENCE-BASED PRACTICE Chapter 14. Critical Review of Research Jane Warland and Phil Maude Selection and effective reading of the literature Critical appraisal and consideration of the level of available evidence Becoming familiar with the process of critical review Read reviewers’ comments from open-access published journals Read critical reviews posted on the internet Critique methods Chapter 15. Undertaking a Systematic Review Ritin Fernandez, Maree Johnson and Rhonda Griffiths Introduction The process of a systematic review Planning the review Developing the protocol Conducting the systematic review Data analysis Meta-analysis: The synthesis of quantitative data Meta-synthesis: The synthesis of qualitative data New approaches: Overview of Reviews (umbrella reviews) Where to publish the completed systematic review Appendix 15.1: JBI Critical Appraisal Checklist for Experimental Studies Appendix 15.2: Data Extraction Form (Quantitative Data) Chapter 16. Disseminating Research Penny Paliadelis, Glenda Parmenter and Jackie Lea Avenues for research dissemination and how to target the right one Conference papers and posters Preparing manuscripts for scholarly journals Books and book chapters Policies, guidelines and reports Media releases Barriers to publishing and strategies for overcoming them Strategies for overcoming cultural barriers Strategies for overcoming knowledge barriers Strategies for addressing a lack of time and resources Strategies for overcoming personal barriers Appendix 16.1: Key elements/guidelines for developing an effective conference poster to disseminate research