UNDERSTANDING THE ROLE OF EMPIRICAL RESEARCHCochrane Collaboration Produces the largest collection of clinical guidelines International non-profit organization to develop and disseminate systematic reviews of health care interventionsU.S. Preventive Services Task Force Primary responsible for developing evidence-based guidelines for health care (e.g. bed rest for back pain Hagen, Jamtvedt, Hilde, Hinnem)One response to the nursing shortage has resulted in the recruitment of nurses with various educational levels. The results of one research study found that the level of nursing education is critical in caring for certain patients. Therefore, we can conclude that increasing the number of nurses without concern for educational level has serious implications for critically ill patients.

TYPES OF RESEARCH STUDIES AND STATISTICS4 Main Purposes of Empirical Research Description Exploration Explanation Prediction2 General Categories of Statistics Descriptive statistics numerical or graphical summaries of data charts, graphs, and simple summary statistics (means and standard deviation) Inferential Statistics Allow conclusions to be drawn about the relationship found among different variables Chi-square test, t-test, one way ANOVADESCRIPTIVE STUDIES AND DESCRIPTIVE STATISTICSDescriptive Studies simply describe situations and eventsDescriptive Statistics typically used to analyze data in order to answer questionsEXPLANATORY STUDIES AND INFERENTIAL STATISTICSExplanatory Studies Elucidate the relationships among variables Data collected through observational studies Questions usually more complex often based on established theories from the research literature Depend on inferential questions Does not necessarily attempt to establish causality Often attempt to understand how variables are related to each otherInferential Statistics Used to examine how one variable is related to other variables/relationship among variablesCross-tabulation table / cross-tab A way to display the relationship between two variablesChi-square test Indicates they are numbers are not statistically differentPREDICTION AND CONTROL STUDIES AND INFERENTIAL STATISTICSPrediction and Control Studies Determine which variables are predictive of other variables Determine causality Typically collected using quasi-experimental or experimental study designs (introducing intervention to have better validity, making the causal inference more solid than with purely observational study designs) Use inferential statistics to analyze the data and answer research questions about the relationship among variables True Experimental Designs Involves random selection and random assignment of study participants to either the intervention group or to one or more control groups that do not receive the interventionQuasi-experimental designs Lack one or more of the following: Random assignment to the intervention or control group True control group Often used in health-related research but validity may not be better than of observational studiesRandomized control trials (RTC) Study participants are randomly assigned to an intervention group or a control group and followed forward in time to determine if the intervention impacts on a specific health outcome Have strict eligibility criteria that those interested in participating in the study must meet before they are allowed to participate (limiting the external validity of the study) Study result may not be generalized to the general population Experimental Studies Gold standard for causal inferenceTEN STEP STUDY PLANStudy Plan written presentation of how the researcher is going to obtain and analyze the numerical data needed to answer the research questions basis for the parts of the research paper good study plan keeps the analysis focused and relevant1. Statement of the problem and its significance Statement of research questions that the study is trying to answer Reasons why the study is important and how the study fits into the existing body of research Orients researchers and interested readers to the study No more the 2 or 3 sentences Should clearly articulate what the study is seeking2. Theoretical or conceptual framework Presents a structured way of thinking about the interrelationships of the variables.3. Research question to be answered by the study Either very specific or broadly conceptual4. List of the hypotheses to be tested Hypotheses must be very specific provide the guide for the analysis of data5. Definitions of key terms and variables6. Description of the research design7. Description of the sample and how it was obtained Statistical techniques that will be used to test the hypotheses8. Description of the planned statistical analysis9. Statement of assumptions and limitations10. Dissemination plan