Reading Research Literature—Implementing the Study, Data Collection Methods

We continue our review of the steps of the research process. Earlier in the course, we discussed the following.

• Why the researcher believes the topic to be significant enough to warrant further investigation. The why is found in the Introduction and Literature review.
• What the researcher chooses to research. The what is identified in the research problem, research purpose, and research question.
• Who the researcher decides to study. Who is explained in the sampling strategy.
• Where the researcher opts to conduct the study. The where is described in the setting section.
• How is the theme this week as we concentrate on how the research data are measured and collected on the sample of the population. This information is usually found in the methods section of the research report.

ORDER A PLAGIARISM-FREE PAPER

In general, the researcher wishes to learn more about the characteristics of a population. Research questions may include the following.

• Are the characteristics of interest present in the population?
• Are there discernible relationships among the characteristics?
• Can predictions be made about one characteristic based on another? Data collected about the characteristics are usually represented by numbers.

Why use numbers? According to Houser (2018), numbers are objective, standardized, consistent, precise, statistically testable, and an accurate representation of attributes.

The researcher may work with numbers that can be calculated and have numerical value—for example, body temperature. At other times, the researcher assigns numbers to traits simply to classify them. These numbers are not quantifiable but, rather, serve to sort, organize, or group subjects according to traits. An example would be a rating based on perception, such as self-esteem. Reading Research Literature—Implementing the Study, Data Collection Methods

As you can see, not all numbers possess the same properties. The researcher must set up rules regarding how numbers are determined, collected, recorded, and analyzed. These rules are called the measurement strategy.

Part of the measurement strategy is to define the research variables.

• The conceptual definition may be offered in the conceptual or theoretical framework. This is understood, but is vague, and, therefore, does not lend itself to direct measurement.
• The researcher must translate the conceptual definition into an operational definition that spells out in specific, concrete terms how variables will be measured.

Example: The researcher may wish to study anxiety. The researcher offers a conceptual definition of anxiety as the emotional response to a perceived threat. The operational definition describes the emotional responses in concrete, measureable terms, such as sweating and rapid heart rate.

• Physiologic measures involve instruments that measure physiologic dimensions, such as blood gases, pulmonary function, and other diagnostic tests.
• Psychometric instruments include scales or surveys. The survey is the most common method to collect research data.
• Interviews and questionnaires collect subjective data, such as attitudes or descriptions of experiences provided by individuals or focus groups.
• Observation obtains objective data related to behavior that the subject may not be able to describe, such as activity during sleep or agitation in the person withdrawing from alcohol. Reading Research Literature—Implementing the Study, Data Collection Methods.

Secondary data may be collected from sources that were not created for the current research study. Typically, the researcher looks through records or “mines” the relevant data that pertains to the variables. Examples include but are not limited to

• patient charts;
• census reports; and
• public health records.

Interactive Research Report

The implementation of the research study is a crucial step of the research process. The way the researcher defines characteristics in the population leads to the selection of instruments to measure and collect data on the subjects that represent that population. The key terms that you choose to search for, research-based evidence, should try to match the way in which the researcher operationalizes the definitions of the variables. Reading Research Literature—Implementing the Study, Data Collection Methods.

It is important to remember that not all numbers have the same attributes. Some are merely for classification, whereas others can be quantified and analyzed statistically. Be sure that any instruments are reliable and valid and that they accurately collect data that will help the researcher to close the knowledge gap.

Garbage-in, garbage-out. (2010). Business Dictionary.com. Retrieved from http://www.businessdictionary.com/definition/garbage-in-garbage-out-GIGO.html

Houser, J. (2018). Nursing research: Reading, using, and creating evidence (4th ed.). Sudbury, MA: Jones and Bartlett. Reading Research Literature—Implementing the Study, Data Collection Methods.