Table of Contents
Preface ix
Introduction xi
What is research? xii
Being a researcher xiii
Who's who in the world of healthcare research? xvi
The importance of research to healthcare xxi
How to use this book and the accompanying web program xxiii
The web program xxvi
Summary xxx
1 Research and Allied Concepts 1
Introduction 1
What is research? 2
What is clinical audit? 6
Service evaluation 10
Issues to consider when undertaking research, audit and service evaluation 13
Evidence-based practice 13
Clinical effectiveness 14
Summary 18
2 Philosophical Assumptions 21
Introduction 21
Philosophical assumptions of qualitative research 22
Some major characteristics of qualitative research 24
Philosophical assumptions of quantitative research 27
Some major characteristics of quantitative research 29
Using mixed methods in research 31
Summary 33
3 The Research Proposal: Developing the Research Question 37
Introduction 37
Developing the research question 37
Questions arising from the patient's condition 38
Finding the answers to your questions 42
Types of research questions 47
Clarification of the research question 49
Summary 52
4 The Research Proposal: Searching and Reviewing the Literature 54
Introduction 54
Steps in searching the literature 55
How to undertake a literature search 56
Hierarchy of evidence 58
Reviewing the literature 61
Scenario 69
Summary 72
5 The Research Proposal: Research Design 74
Introduction 74
The focus of a research study 75
Research paradigms 79
Samples 80
Quantitative research 80
Qualitative research 86
Summary 105
6 The Research Proposal: Ethics in Research 108
Introduction 108
Introduction to ethics 108
Research governance 127
Summary 128
7 The Research Proposal: Selecting Participants 131
Introduction 131
What is a sample? 131
Why use a sample? 132
Probability and non-probability 133
Types of probability sample 135
Types of non-probability sample 137
The size of samples 140
Eligibility criteria 147
Summary 148
8 The Research Proposal: Collecting Data 152
Introduction 152
Collecting data 153
Quantitative research - data collection 154
Qualitative research - data collection 163
Summary 175
9 The Research Proposal: Analysing Data 178
Introduction 178
Quantitative data analysis 179
Data analysis 189
Statistical tests 191
Qualitative data analysis 197
Summary 208
10 The Research Proposal: Communicating Research Findings 211
Introduction 211
Writing a research report 212
Writing for publication 216
Issues associated with healthcare professionals and publication 222
Presenting at conferences 224
Summary 233
11 The Research Proposal: Current Research Issues in Healthcare 235
Introduction 235
Ethics 237
Funding issues 244
Vested interests regarding the process and the reporting of research 246
The politicisation of research 247
The implementation of research findings 247
Problem-solving 250
Summary 252
Index 255
