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Chapter 27

Disseminating Research Findings

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Disseminating Research Findings

Final step in research process If it isn’t communicated, nobody knows Ethical responsibility to research subjects not

to have wasted their time Developing a research report Disseminating report through

Presentations Publications

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Content of a Research Report

Article, conference podium presentation, conference poster presentation

Four major sections: Introduction Methods Results Discussion of the findings

Also includes title and abstract

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Title and Abstract

Title Tells reader what was studied Engages the reader Includes principal variables and hints at method;

may include population Abstract

Summarizes key aspects of study 100 to 300 words in length Problem, purpose, framework, methods, sample,

one or two results, conclusions

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Introduction

Discusses background/significance of problem

Identifies problem statement and purpose Reviews relevant empirical and theoretical

literature Describes study framework (variables may be

conceptually defined here) Identifies research purpose (aims, objectives,

questions, or hypotheses if applicable)

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Methods

How study was conducted Must provide sufficient detail for critical

appraisal or replication Design Sample and setting Methods of measurement Data collection process Plan for data analysis

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Design

Explicitly stated What type of quantitative research Must match title, purpose, type of variables,

and statistical tests used

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Sample and Setting

Describe Sampling method Criteria for selecting sample Sample size Sample characteristics Statistical power analysis used Details about subject recruitment Method for assigning subjects to groups

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Measurement Methods

How variables were operationalized and measured

Measure’s scaling and range of scores Frequency with which instrument was used Reliability and validity information Accuracy, precision, selectivity, sensitivity,

and sources of error of physiological measures

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Data Collection Process and Procedures

Who collected, and how they collected If more than one person collected, how they

were trained How data were recorded, if not apparent

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Analysis Plan

Pre-analysis preparation of the data Data analysis:

Statistics used Program used

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Results

What was learned from This study Results generated from statistical analyses Description of the sample

Narrative format Organized into figures and tables

Presentation of results Descriptive statistics first (mean, standard

deviation) (quantitative) Then results organized by hypotheses, questions,

or objectives (quantitative)

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Presentation of Results in Figures and Tables

Space-saving Use of APA guidelines Must be clear, accurate, complete

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Figures

Diagrams or pictures that illustrate the results Used only if they clarify, save space, and are

acceptable by journal editors Bar graph Line graph Pie chart

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Tables

More frequently used than figures Useful for display of complex statistical

relationships Used to identify correlations among variables Correlation matrices

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Discussion

Ties other sections of the research report together and interprets them

Includes Major findings Limitations of study Conclusions drawn from findings Implications of findings for nursing Recommendations for further research

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Reference Citations

All sources that were cited in the report APA (2010) format required by editors of

many nursing and psychology journals In alphabetical order by first author:

First author is the major contributor Don’t change order of authors for a publication

when citing them

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Qualitative Research Report

Title: clear, concise, identifies study focus Abstract: briefly summarizes key parts of

study and usually includes Aim of study Qualitative approach (e.g., phenomenology,

grounded theory, ethnography, or historical) Methods including sample, setting, and methods

of data collection Brief synopsis of findings Implications of findings

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Introduction

Principal concept to be studied Significance of study topic Type of qualitative study conducted Aim/purpose of study Why topic is important (gap) in relation to

existing literature Sometimes a brief literature review

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Methods

General method of inquiry Specific methods of inquiry used in study Data analysis plan/procedures

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Results

Presentation of findings Usually organized by themes/essences Presented in context, when possible

Ethnography Phenomenology Grounded

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Discussion

Conclusions Study limitations Implications for nursing Recommendations for further research

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Theses and Dissertations

Detailed reports that students develop as part of requirements for a degree

Most organized as chapters (more recently, some now organized as introduction, and two to five publishable papers)

Huge literature reviews, especially in dissertations

All written in accordance with requirements of their respective programs

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Audiences for Communication of Research Findings

Targeting the audience or readership General considerations:

Cui bono? Who will benefit by knowing this? Within nursing? Within another discipline? Limitations to generalization may increase with

geography

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Strategies for Communicating Research to Different Audiences

Nurses Health care professionals Policymakers Consumers

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Audience of Nurses

Most commonly selected by nurses In-person presentations at conferences of

organizations Conference abstracts in program proceedings

Journals Target by readership Target by professional interest Books—popular or professional

Textbook chapters

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Audience of Health Care Professionals and Policy Makers

Pan-disciplinary conferences Some specialty journals Most useful when

Topic applies to others outside nursing A substantial nursing interest group exists within

the organization

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Audience of Health Care Consumers

News releases Nursing research article in a local paper Online Popular press

Journals Books

Television and radio Patient and family teaching

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Purpose of Presenting Research Findings

Share preliminary findings Answer questions about their studies Interact with other interested researchers Receive immediate feedback on study Verbal presentations Poster presentations

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Verbal Presentations

Requires Receiving acceptance of your abstract as a

presenter Developing a research report Delivering the report Responding to questions

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Receiving Acceptance as a Presenter - Hints

Submit a good abstract (acceptance based on the quality of the abstract) Usually based on results from completed study,

not yet published Title of abstract must create interest, and

body of abstract “sells” the study to reviewers When writing abstract, know the audience

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Developing an Oral Research Presentation

Depends on focus and audience of conference, and on total time allotted

Aim: One slide per minute Focus: What is new in this area of research? Acknowledgment of funding sources and

declaration of conflict of interest

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Delivering a Research Report and Responding to Questions

Practice, practice, practice Time the presentation Attempt not to read the slides Attempt not to read from a script Try to anticipate questions that audience

might ask

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Poster Sessions

Usually last 1 to 2 hours Poster might be accepted while study is still

in progress, or might be an entire completed study

Much less threatening to present Individual conversations with passersby at

conference who look at the poster Networking Must be eyecatching

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Publishing Findings

Most theses are never published Even negative findings are important Very time-consuming Authorship credit: discussion best when a

paper is First considered First author: largest contribution and/or

conceptualized the research All authors: must have contributed Last author: sometimes a distant senior member

of a large research team

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Publishing a Journal Article

Steps in developing a manuscript for publication: Select a journal Develop a query letter Prepare a manuscript Submit a manuscript for review Revise the manuscript

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Selecting a Journal

Refereed journal: peer-reviewed; uses referees or expert reviewers to determine whether a manuscript is acceptable for publication

Nonrefereed journal: editor makes decisions to accept or reject manuscripts

Type of journal must match article

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Journal Impact Factor

May not be the principal concern for new authors

Measures the frequency of citation for average articles in that journal

Journal citation report (JCR) provides quantitative measures to evaluate scientific journals, including data on journal impact factors

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Develop a Query Letter

No more than one page Usually includes abstract and researcher’s

qualifications for writing article May mention length of manuscript (but first

check to see what length of article that journal accepts)

May mention number of tables or figures (but first check to see how many that journal accepts)

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Preparing a Manuscript

Written according to format outlined by journal -APA most common

Written according to journal’s guidelines Guidelines pertain to

Manuscript preparation Submission guidelines Discussion of copyright and conflict of interest

Read some of journal’s articles, and imitate the style of the better ones

Use an article from journal as a guide or template

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Submitting a Manuscript for Review

Submit to only one journal at a time With few exceptions, use electronic

submission only

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Peer Review

By two or more persons Usually standing reviewers for that journal Read, evaluate, identify strengths and

limitations, and make suggestions Like a critique

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Possible Results of Review

Accept as submitted (rare), with likely date for publication

Accept pending minor revisions, sometimes with likely data for publication

Tentatively accept, with major revisions Reject (less frequent, but sometimes because

topic is not suitable for that journal)

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Revisions as Requested

Address limitations identified by reviewers in revised manuscript

Write cover letter explaining exactly how each comment was addressed in rewrite

Usually results in an acceptance; sometimes results in a rejection

Quality manuscripts will display Knowledge of research evidence Timeliness/topic of current interest Newly emerging idea Generalizability across population or international boundaries contribution to theory

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Publication in Online Journals

Advantages: All applications and feedback online Faster communications Continuous publication (usually), so article

published promptly Fewer page limits More tables, figures, accepted Animations acceptable for some Links to other citations possible Real-time tracking of access for impact measures

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Publication in Online Journals (Cont’d)

Disadvantages Not as prestigious Not all refereed

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Publishing Research Findings in Books

Monographs, books, and chapters in books Rarer than journals for most studies Some qualitative, some complex quantitative Requires extensive commitment on the part

of the researcher

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Duplicate Publications and Self-Plagiarism

An article or major portions of an article concurrently published by two journals

Only acceptable if each represents a Different part of the same research

If intentional, self-plagiarism—scientific misconduct

Also applies to published conference proceedings When publishing, acknowledge previous

conference presentations with same material