Study Guide

Objectives (course unit)

The Student
- is able to describe the scientific research process in nursing research
- is able to distinguish between quantitative and qualitative research approaches
- is able to choose suitable data collection and analysis methods for the research approach
- be able to evaluate the ethical principles of scientific research
- knows the basic concepts of statistics

Content (course unit)

- recent nursing research
- research ethics
- the stages of the research process
- empirical research: quantitative and qualitative
- theoretical research
- the reliability of the study
- basics of statistics

Prerequisites (course unit)

Completed Structured Data Search

Assessment criteria, satisfactory (1-2) (course unit)

The Student
- can describe superficially the stages of the research process
- be able to look at the reliability of research and research ethics issues in a limited way
- is able to describe the theoretical, quantitative and qualitative research approach in a limited way

Assessment criteria, good (3-4) (course unit)

The Student
- can describe well the stages of the research process
- is able to describe the reliability of research and research ethics issues
- is familiar with the principles of theoretical, quantitative and qualitative research approach as a rule

Assessment criteria, excellent (5) (course unit)

The Student
- is able to describe the research process with various justifications and examples
- is able to describe issues related to research reliability and research ethics in a variety of ways
- clearly knows the principles of quantitative and qualitative research approach
- is able to consider and evaluate research methods suitable for different situations

Location and time

Course plan Date Time
The time table might change in an advance notice.

Topic
1 Definitions and research approaches 20.03.2023 8.30-11.45
2 Qualitative and quantitative methodologies 23.03.2023 08.30-11.45
3 Stages of research process and presentation of student’s idea 27.03.2023 08.30-11-45
4 Data collection methods and Ethical issues in research 28.03.2023 08.30-11.45
5 Data analysis and writing up the research plan 13.04.2023 0.30-11-45

Study round and group work
1 Developing a research question and research idea (individual and group work) 20.03.2023
2 Group work in class (role playing for the team of qualitative vs quantitative methods) 23.03.2023
3 Students presenting their research ideas and selected approaches 28.03.2023
4 Feedback of students to each other in the group 13.04.2023
5 Submitting individual’s research plan 28.04.2023

Exam schedules

The exam will be thorugh the assignments and course work during the course and final assigment as submitting a research plan

Assessment methods and criteria

Preliminary task completion prior contact teaching, active participation in learning (80% compulsory participation in teaching) and completion of course assignments. Peer and self-assessment, teacher assessment.
1. Conduct a critical review of published research
2. Identify an appropriate research question
3. Describe a range of quantitative and qualitative research designs, and identify the advantages and disadvantages associated with these designs.
4. Apply appropriate quantitative and/or qualitative methods to collect data to answer the identified question
5. Develop a research proposal for an empirical research study

Assessment scale

0-5

Teaching methods

Lectures will be as contact lectures, guided workindependently and in groups, learning by experience, group work project.
Familiarization with course literature, passing exams by submitting a preposal for conducting the research.

Learning output:
Students will understand research methodology in general. They will be able to compare and interpret the approaches and the nature of scientific research and to draw conclusions on common methodological issues describe different data collection and analysis methods organise and combine the stages of the research process to form a logical whole evaluate approaches in research related to the research topic and choose appropriate methods start developing of a research plan clearly and creatively present his/her preliminary research plan and respond to questions received regarding the project evaluate the preliminary research topics and plans of other students participating in the course and present constructive questions and give feedback to other students on their research plans communicate according to good scientific practice and principles utilise digital solutions in learning.

Learning materials

Books:
(online)
Fain, James. Reading, Understanding, and Applying Nursing Research, 5e. F. A. Davis Company, 2017.

Holzemer, William L. Improving Health through Nursing Research. 1st ed., Blackwell Pub., 2009.

Glasper, Edward Alan, and Colin Rees. Nursing and Healthcare Research at a Glance. Wiley Blackwell, 2017.
Extra readings
Curtis E, Drennan J (eds.) (2013) Quantitative health research: Issues and methods. Open University Press, Maidenhead. eBook.

Denzin NK & Lincoln YS (eds.) (2018) The SAGE handbook of qualitative research. SAGE, Los Angeles.

Kyngäs H, Mikkonen K, Kääriäinen M (eds.) (2020) The application of content analysis in nursing science research. © Springer Nature Switzerland AG.

Polit DF & Beck CT (2017) Nursing research: generating and assessing evidence for nursing practice. Wolters Kluwer Health, Philadelphia.

Student workload

Total student hours 54 h.
Includes lectures, and online studies, group work, Independent study throughout the course (includes, for example, e-learning, course literature studying, assignments as parts of exam during the course and final assinment).

Content scheduling

Familiarisation with different kinds of research methods and research process. Different study designs, the main stages of the research process, methods in data collection and data analysis. Practicing to design and plan a preliminary research plan according to select research topic, planning the different stages of the research process and presenting it to other students.

Further information

Participation in the course requires commitment and teamwork and independent work skills. The tasks and other parts of the course unit must be completed during the course within a pre-determined schedule. If the student is unable to perform the given assignments and other tasks according to the schedule, it is not possible to complete the course. In this case, the student must register for a new course in research method.

Students who do not attend the orientation will not be allowed on the course.

Attendence to the lectures is essential for learning. Presence at the lectures is highly recommended.
If student's absentee rate is equal to or greater than 20 percent they cannot participate in the final assessment.
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