The research process differs from the nursing process on which of the following

If we really want to know where nursing is going and what it is aiming to achieve, research is crucial, argues Seamus Cowman
Stages of the research process 

• Defining the subject and purpose of the inquiry 
• Review of the literature 
• Planning the method of investigation 
• Pilot study 
• Data collection 
• Data analysis 
• Drawing conclusions and making recommendations 

Historically the idea of a nurse using a research approach to examine nursing problems was alien not alone to the profession itself, but to other professions, such as medicine, and indeed to patients.1 Now with a vast amount of literature available on almost all areas of nursing, it is accepted that the use of a research based approach to nursing is essential to sound professional judgement on nursing care practices. 

The merits of using a research based approach to nursing include: 
 

• Improvement in patient care 
• Reduced cost of care provision  
• Accountability and protection against litigation 
• Addition to the existing body of nursing knowledge 
• Enhancement of nursing as a profession. 

All nurses need to become more sophisticated users of research and some nurses need to become established researchers. 

The profession is now required to view aspects of nursing scientifically and to ensure that procedure, policies and standards of nursing care are based on objective methods. The research approach will take us away from opinions and towards established facts on best methods of nursing practice.

Definition of research

There is no shortage of definitions of research and this perhaps has contributed to the view that research is an academic activity by academics working at a distance from patients. This is not true and perhaps the most valid measure of research appreciation in nursing is the extent of its existence in patient care services. 

Nursing research is a planned attempt to increase nursing knowledge by the discovery of new facts through systematic enquiry.  

The research process 

Just as nursing practice follows a systematic approach through the nursing process, nursing research also presupposes a series of identifiable stages, which lead to a systematic and scientifically accepted approach (see clipboard). 

Defining the subject and purpose of the inquiry 

Research problems and questions about nursing can be sparked off by a variety of incidents:   

• A nurse's own experience 
• A particular event in the working environment 
• A particular interest in an area of practice nursing literature may trigger further research.2 

Once the research problem has been identified it is necessary to write down clearly what questions you are asking. At this stage determining the objectives of the study is essential since of necessity the research questions are closely related to the study's objectives. 

This stage is of fundamental importance, helping to clarify, refine and focus the area of inquiry. Many research novices do not pay enough attention to this stage and attempt to research a topic which is far too broad. Without a specific focus the study will lose direction and become unmanageable. 

Definition of purpose is one of the most difficult steps in the research process, but if it is done well the subsequent steps are less likely to cause difficulty. 

Review of the literature 

The literature should be looked at from the point of view of: the problem to be researched; the appropriate scientific background; and the methods and findings of previous research. The relevant literature may be available in a variety of forms, including CD ROM, databases such as CINAFIL (cumulative index of nursing and allied health literature), journals, books, conference papers, research papers, records and documents. 

To maximise the use of time and increase effectiveness it is essential to have good library skills and be able to use a computer. Much of the information technology is user-friendly and can be used effectively with a small amount of instruction. The use of the World Wide Web provides researchers with a further opportunity to explore related literature. It is essential that nurse education provides further access to the Internet, which is a great network of communication. 

While the literature review will often commence with general literature in the selected area, it is important for the research to focus in on the topic of interest. 

Planning the method of investigation 

Once the research questions are established, the most appropriate methods of investigation must be selected, taking a number of issues into consideration:   

• type of research ­ appropriate to the investigation, eg. descriptive, experimental, action 
• the data ­ details of the information to be collected and relevant variables 
• the samples ­ where the information can best be obtained 
• techniques ­ the methods used to collect data, eg. observation, questionnaires, interview. Aspects related to reliability and validity should also be considered. 

Ethical considerations: Seeking permission from relevant authorities ­ individuals, employment authorities, ethics committees ­ is important to ensuring successful research. Every individual has the right to be informed before becoming a subject in research. Consent may be verbal or written. 

Pilot study 

The purpose of a pilot study is to test the proposed methodology. This means using a small sample as similar as possible to the sample to be used in the main study. Following the pilot study the researcher may make alterations to some elements of the method. 

Often the researcher only requires to pre-test or pilot test a questionnaire. This procedure is distinguished from the more extensive pilot study procedure. A pilot test may be used to check for clarity and understanding of individual items of the questionnaire. 

Data collection 

When happy with the results of the pilot study, full scale data collection can be carried out, adhering strictly to the methods as planned. It is important that schedules and  timetables related to data collection are established and that adequate information and instruction is provided to respondents. 

Data analysis 

The approach to analysis of data is determined by the type of data collected. This must be kept in mind when planning the methods of investigation. Data analysis in the broader sense involves:   

• grouping, classifying and coding data, according to a pre-arranged system 
• counting data ­ determining how many times a particular response occurred or how often a particular event took place 
• subjecting data to analysis, eg. when questionnaires are used and multiple responses obtained statistical analysis should be considered such as SPSS (statistical package for the social sciences). Statistical analysis is a method for reducing large data sets to manageable summaries to permit easy understanding and interpretation. When data is obtained through interviews, the interview transcript will require a process of content analysis which promotes the identification of key themes or patterns of response. 

Drawing conclusions and making recommendations 

Conclusions can be drawn from the findings from the data analysis. It is important to consider the extent to which the research as undertaken reveals new information to the profession a

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