Identifying a Researchable Problem

1. Created by Heather Beanlands, PhD, RN There is no conflict of interest in the creation of this education program. How to Turn a Problem Identifying aResearchable Problem Into a Research Project Research Committee Module #4 1 CNE Available

2. Objectives • Describe the phases of the research process. • Identify sources of research problems. • Describe the process of formulating a research problem. • Describe the elements of a “researchable” problem.

3. What is research? • A systematic process of inquiry • Goal directed • Focused on uncovering new knowledge to help understand phenomena, answer questions, or address problems

4. What makes researchnursing research? Nursing research is“a scientific process that validates and refines existing knowledge and generates new knowledge, which directly and indirectly influences nursing practice” (Burns & Grove, 2005, p. 3)

5. Approaches toresearch in nursing Quantitative Research • Used to describe or test relationships among variables or to evaluate the effect of one variable on another • Variables are “measured” using standard data collection tools and data are numerical (numbers) Qualitative Research • Used when little is known about a phenomenon • Focused on developing a rich, holistic description of phenomena • Data are non numerical (i.e., dialogue, observation, etc.)

6. Thinking -identifying problem & purpose -reviewing literature Planning -Choosing study design & planning approach to sample, data collection etc. Informing -disseminating results (journal articles, presentations etc.) Analyzing - analyze data and interpret findings Implementing - Recruiting participants & collecting data Phases of the research process (Norwood, 2000)

7. Identifyingthe research problem • Critical first step in research process • Directs the entire research process and decisions you will make • Being clear about the problem you wish to address will assist in focusing your study • Start with a broad area of interest/concern which is gradually refined until you have a research problem

8. 1. Outline areas of interest Read about your interests Observe your environment Be curious 2. Choose a topic Talk to your Colleagues Find out what others are doing Ask questions 3. Narrow your topic 4. Identify a research problem 5. Identify the purpose for your study Steps in identifyinga research problem

9. 1 Areas of Interest • Start with an area you are familiar with • Begin broadly and think of things that interest you in your practice • What do you find frustrating?Perplexing? • What do you think works well?What could be improved? • Be creative and try to “think outside the box” • Brainstorm about general areas of interest • Write down all your thoughts and ideas

10. Potential topics:Some examples • Quality of life after kidney transplant • Body image concerns for adolescents with CKD • Role of the multidisciplinary team in managing stages 1-3 CKD • Experiences of people with early CKD • Foot care interventions for people with diabetes on dialysis • Safety issues for elderly dialysis patients

11. 2 Choosing your topic • Choose one area of interestas a topic you will focus on • To help you select a topic consider: • Significance/relevance: Is this an important problem for nurses/nursing practice? Is it timely? • Gaps: What is already known about the topic? Have others already examined this issue? Is more research needed? • Interest: Is this something you would like to explore further?

12. 3 Narrowing your topic • Refine your topic by becoming more specific about what you are interested in • Pose some questions about your topic to help you narrow your focus • Polit & Beck (2008) suggest some question stems to use to assist in refining your topic • What is going on with…. • What is the meaning of… • What influences or causes… • What is the process by which…. • What factors contribute to…. • How effective is…..

13. Narrowing your topic:Choosing a researchable question • Narrow down the questions you have posed by eliminating those that are not researchable • According to Brink & Wood (2001) researchable questions are • Focused on fact not opinion – answers will help to describe or explain a phenomenon • “Now” questions - deal with current, significant issues • Relevant - Generate useable information • Action oriented - usually require you to do something and provide direction for the rest of the research process.

14. 4 Identifyingthe research problem • To decide on your research problem consider the potentially researchable questions about your topic you identified earlier • Select one that you would like to explore in more depth • In choosing your focus consider • Your interests • The literature • Feasibility of studying the problem

15. Identifying the research problem To finalize the research problem consider: • Significance • “Researchability” • Nature of the problem • Ethical considerations • Feasibility • Time • Funding for the study • Researcher expertise • Availability of participants • Availability of facility and equipment (Polit & Beck 2008))

16. 5 Identifying the study purpose • Clear, concise statement of the goal, aim, focus, or objective of the study (Burns & Grove, 2005) • Should include a description of • “what” = variables or phenomena of interest • “who” = sample or participants • “where” = setting

17. Moving from the problem to a research project: Next steps • Reviewing and critiquing the literature related to your problem • Find out what is known • Identify approaches to studying the problem • Consider theoretical approaches to studying the problem • Further refine your problem & purpose • Move to the planning phase of your study

18. Summary • Identifying a researchable problem is the first step in the research process and ultimately guides the remaining steps. • Research problems describe knowledge gaps that need to be addressed in order to understand or improve practice. • Research problems can be derived from observations, dialogue with others, and/or the literature.

19. Summary (cont.) • A good research problem is relevant, current and “researchable.” • Choose a problem that is of interest to you. • Identifying a “researchable” problem is a creative process that requires time for reflection. • Seeking input from others and referring to the literature will help to narrow your problem down. • A clear and focused problem statement provides direction for the next steps of the research process - the planning phase.

20. Example:Identifying a research problem

21. Area of interest • The number of adults over 65 on dialysis is growing • Aging is often associated with physical and mental changes that may put older persons’ safety at risk • Physiological and psychosocial stressors associated with dialysis may also place people at risk for safety concerns • Elderly people on dialysis may therefore be particularly vulnerable to safety issues.

22. Narrowing the topic • Consider the potential topic “Safety issues among elderly on dialysis” • Take a minute and brainstorm questions about this topic • What do you think needs to be known about this topic? • Write down everything that comes to mind - don’t rule anything out at this point

23. Safety issues for elderly on dialysis: Example Questions • Is safety an important concern for elderly on dialysis? • What are the common safety issues for elderly on dialysis? • Are there different safety issues for elderly on peritoneal versus hemodialysis? • How common are falls in elderly dialysis patients? What factors contribute to falls? • Should nurses assess safety issues among elderly dialysis patients?

24. Identifying researchable problems In reviewing the questions from the previous slide • Question # 2 “ What are the common safety issues for elderly on dialysis?” was selected as the focus. • Questions # 3 & 4 have potential but may require us to answer question 2 first. • Questions # 1 and 5 were excluded because they elicit “yes/no” answers or opinion and therefore are not researchable.

25. What are the safety concerns among elderly on dialysis? A brief review of the literature focusingon “safety” “dialysis” and “elderly” uncovered • Research focusing on safety of various medications and dialysis delivery methods among all age groups • No literature was found that examined safety concerns unique to older people on dialysis • Therefore, this was identified as a potential gap in the literature and a decision was made to continue to focus on this problem

26. What are the safety concerns among elderly on dialysis? To focus your topic further pose additional questions to help you be clear on what you are interested in. For example: • What is meant by safety concerns? • How do you define “elderly”? • Whose perspective are you interested in the patient? Family? Nurses? Other health care professionals? • Are you interested in safety issues in the dialysis unit? At home? • Are you interested in safety concerns for elderly on all forms of dialysis?

27. Problem statement & purpose • Elderly patients on dialysis may be at increased risk for physical injury while at home as result of the aging process and the consequences of CKD and dialysis. • However, little is known about safety concerns for elderly individuals on dialysis who live at home • Therefore, the purpose of this study is to explore concerns that individuals over 65 on all forms of dialysis have about their safety while at home.

28. References Burns, N., & Grove, S. (2005).  The practice of nursing research: Conduct, critique and utilization (5th ed.).  St. Louis: Elsevier Saunders. Leedy, P., & Ormrod, J.E. (2005). Practical research: Planning and design (8th ed.). New Jersey: Pearson Prentice Hall. Norwood, S. (2000). Research strategies for advanced practice nurses. New Jersey: Prentice Hall

29. References Polit, D., & Beck, C.T. (2008). Nursing Research: Generating and asssessing evidence for practice (8th ed.). Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams and Wilkins. Wood, M., & Ross-Kerr, J. (2006). Basic steps in planning nursing research: From question to proposal (6th ed.). Boston: Jones and Bartlett.