Nursing Research: Principles and Methods, 3d ed.

Nursing Research: Principles and Methods, ed 3 Students in clinical professions who wish to develop research skills will benefit most from this text, and instructors and research advisors will find clear examples and explanations for effective teaching of basic research principles and practices. The authors achieve their stated goals of making research enticing and attainable. The text is extremely well organized, and each chapter contains explanation, real or fictitious examples, study questions, references, and supplemental readings that contain applications of the topics discussed.

Organized into six parts, the 27 chapters address all the steps in basic research in sufficient detail to be practical for the beginning researcher. Topics include the standard components of research design: selecting a topic, researching the literature, stating the problem, controlling the variables, collecting the data, analyzing data, and writing up the results. How to compile and write a literature review is a particular strength in this section. The authors go well beyond the basic ingredients of research methods. A fruitful discussion of the need for theoretical contexts for hypothesis formation is one example of the breadth of this text. The authors' concern for research that is meaningful to basic knowledge and to clinical decision making is evident throughout the text.

Within the framework of research methods discussed earlier, the authors address qualitative and quantitative analyses, reliability and validity, descriptive and inferential statistics, single case designs and multifactorial designs, use of computers, and writing a grant proposal. More information is provided on basic concepts; advanced concepts are described and enhanced with supplemental references to guide the reader.

Nursing professionals should not be the only ones to benefit from this text. It is very well written, well organized, and easy to use and would be beneficial for learning about all aspects of research, including experimental, quasi-experimental, and nonexperimental designs.

Compared with earlier editions, the type is easier to read. Double columns facilitate reading. But the changes in this third edition are not just cosmetic. New material, new references, and much rewriting and reorganization make this third edition most useful for the student, the instructor, and the practitioner interested in research.