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- Sources of research problems:-

1. Experience

2. Nursing literature.

3. Theories: Through a process of

deduction.

4. Ideas from external sources.

- Researchers often begin with an interest in

some broad topic area.

- Once a broad topic is identified, the researcher

poses questions to transform the topic into

more specific researchable problems.

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Question stems such as, what causes…?

What characteristics are associated

with…?

How effective is …? And what

conditions prevail before…? Can lead

the researcher to a study question.

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The general problem area is discrepancy in complaints from pts regarding pain medications administered by different nurses.

The nurse might ask, what accounts for this discrepancy? Or, how could this situation be improved?

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They may lead the nurse to other questions, such as,

how do the two groups of nurses differ? Or what

characteristics do the complaining pt share?

At this point, the nurse may observe that the cultural

background of the pts and nurses appears to be a

relevant factor.

This may direct you to a review of the literature for

studies concerning ethnic subcultures and their

effect on nursing interventions or it may provoke you

to discuss the observations with peers.

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Is there a relationship between the ethic

background of nurses and the frequency with

which they dispense pain medication?

Is there a relationship between the ethnic

background of pts and their complaints of

having to wait for pain medication?

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Does the number of pt complaints increase

when the pts are of dissimilar ethnic

backgrounds as opposed to when they are of

the same ethnic background as the nurse?

Do nurses’ dispensing behaviors change as a

function of the similarity between their own

ethnic background and that of the pts?

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“ No two studies are ever identical so that

every study has the potential of making

some contribution to knowledge”.

-We must narrowing the scope of the

problem and sharpening and defining the

concepts.

Example:-

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Formulation of a research problem: processExample:-

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Idea emerges

Family relationships change as elderly

relatives frail and infirm

Brainstorming

Do relationships change positively or

negatively?

What factors contribute to the nature of

the relationships in either a positive or

negative direction?

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Review of the literature

The literature suggests that whether the

relationship is positive or negative,

stress is experienced by adult caregivers

of the elderly.

Although factors such as financial

status, length of time in caregiver role,

and cognitive status have been

identified as stressors, none have been

empirically tested.

Identify variables

potential variables:

Amount of stress.

Financial status.

Cognitive status of elderly.

Age of caregiver.

Length of time in caregiver role.

Caretaker health status.

Amount and type of social support

Psychological distress.

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Research problem is formulated

What is the effect of perceived care- giver stress and

social support on the psychological distress of family

care- givers of the elderly?

1. Significance of the problem.

Is the problem an important one? Are there practical applications?

Does the possibility exist that patients, nurses, or the broader health care community will benefit by the knowledge produced?

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Can the findings potentially help to

improve nursing practice?

Will the findings contribute to nursing

theory?

If the answer to all these questions is no, the

worth of the research problem is probably

low.

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2. Feasibility of the study.

Factors of feasibility:-

A. Time

B. Availability of subjects

C. Cooperation of others

D. Facilities, equipment, cost, and other

resources

E. Experience of the researcher

F. Ethical considerations

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3. Researchability

Statement of the research problem The problem should includes the population

Should includes the variable ()and their possible interrelationships.

The problem should be empirically testable. Always state a research problem in a

complete and grammatically correct sentence.

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Declarative:

The problem of this study is to determine the relationship

between anxiety level of nursing students before a

mid term examination and the numbers of hours

they have studied for the examination.

Interrogative :

Example :Is there a relationship between the anxiety

levels of baccalaureate nursing students before a

midterm examination and the number of hours they

have studied for the examination?

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The interrogative form has the advantage of

simplicity and directness.

1. It invite an answer.

2. Help to focus the researcher’s and the reader’s

attention on the kings of data that would have

to be collected to provide that answer

- there fore, recommend the interrogative form for

the statement of the problem.

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The transition from the broad topic to the

final statement usually requires many

attempts,

Examples of problem statement for nursing

Research.

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General TopicFormal problem statement

Early dischargeIs early discharge for hemorrhoidectomy pts related to potop. Problems?

Bladder catheterization Is there a relationship between bladder catheterization and urinary tract infection in pts?

Decubitus ulcersIs there a relationship between the incidence of decubitus ulcers in comatose pts and frequency of turning?

Bp variationsAre month – to- month Bp variations predictive of cerebral vascular accidents in the elderly?

Effects of visitorsDo hospitalized pts who have daily visitors express fewer somatic complaints than pts without daily visitors?

Attitudes toward the mentally ill

Are nurses attitudes toward the mentally ill related to the nurses length of experience in working with them?

Children's hospital adjustment

Do children who are instructed about pain manifest better adjustment to hospitalization than those who are not?

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Guidelines of Critiquing problem

statements.

1. Does the research report clearly

present the research problem, or does

the problem have to be inferred?

2. Was the problem statement

introduced promptly? Was it placed in

a logical and easy to find location?

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3. Is the problem statement clearly and

concisely articulated?

4. Is the problem statement worded

objectively?

5. Has the researcher appropriately delimited

the scope of the problem, or is the problem

too big or complex for a singlc

investigation?

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6. Dose the problem statement clearly identify

the research variables and the nature of the

population being studied?

7. Does the justifiable? Does it flow from prior

scientific information or relevant theory?

8. Does the problem have significance to the

nursing profession, and does the researcher

describe that significance?

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9. Can the research problem be adequately

addressed through the collection of

empirical data, or is it more suitable to a

debate?

10. Did the researcher appear to give

appropriate consideration to such practical

issues as time, facilities, resources, and

securing appropriate permissions?

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What are the influences, of age, coping behavior, and self-care on psychological, social, and physiological adaptation in preadolescents and adolescents with insulin- dependent diabetes mellitus?

What role does spiritual health play in the coping responses of pts to devastating physical illness?

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This study investigates the effect of relation

on anxiety and dyspnea in pts with COPD.

What is the optimum frequency of changing

urinary drainage bags in pts with bladder

dysfunction to reduce the incidence of

urinary tract infection?

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Is there a relationship between the nurse’s

attitude toward AIDS and the emotional

status of the AIDS pt?

Does the amount of touching nurses give to

pts speed the pts, recovery?

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