Master of Science in Nursing

Nursing Research and Statistics

Unit VIII
Implementation of Research Plan
Prepared by
Dr.S.Kanchana, RN RM, PhD(N),PDF®
Principal
&
Mrs.Sorna Daya Rani, RN RM, M.Sc(N)
Nurse Researcher 1
 INTRODUCTION

Implementation of research plan is a process of

promoting a research plan into action

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 Implementation of research plan includes:
1. Review Research Design
2. Planning for data collection and Collection of
data
3. Administration of tool

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 1. RESEARCH PLAN
After identifying and defining the problem as
also accomplishing the relating task, researcher
must arrange his ideas in order and write them
in the form of an experimental plan or what can
be described as ‘Research Plan’

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
It helps him to organize his ideas in a form whereby it
will be possible for him to look for flaws and
inadequacies, if any.

It provides an inventory of what must be done and
which materials have to be collected as a preliminary
step.

It is a document that can be given to others for
comment.
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 1.1 Research plan must contain the following items


Research objective

The problem to be studied

Major concepts should be defined

Plan should contain the method to be used

States the details of technique

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 Mention the population to be studied
 Methods to be used in processing data
 Results of pilot test
 Time and cost

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 2. RESEARCH DESIGN

The overall plan for addressing a research question,
including specifications for enhancing the study integrity.

It indicates how often data will be collected, what type of
comparisons will be made and where the study will be
conducted.

It includes strategies and methods for data collection
and analysis to meet the research purposes.

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 2.2 Need for review of research design

Because it facilitates the smooth sailing of the
various research operations.

Stands for advance planning of the methods to be
adopted for collecting the relevant data and the
techniques to be used in their analysis.

Helps the researcher to organize his ideas in a
form whereby it will be possible for him to look for
flaws and inadequacies.
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 3. PLANNING OF DATA COLLECTION

Data collection planning is a process to ensure

that the data you collect for performance
improvement are useful and reliable, without
being unnecessarily costly and time consuming
to obtain.

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 3.1 Plan the data collection procedures:
Time required to main IPR and get consent
Time to complete the questionnaire
How many subjects per day?
Individual or group data collection

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 3.2 Decision points:
Subjects meet the criteria?
Whether subjects understand the consent form?
Whether subjects provided adequate information
regarding the main study

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 3.3 Consistency:

Specific days for data collection

Hours of data collection per day
Who collects the data?
Whether co-investigators properly trained?

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 3.4 Time factors:

Times longer than pilot study anticipated

Eg., heavy staff workload, physician’s permission

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 3.5 Cost factors:

Using costly equipments

Typing and duplicating the questionnaire
Print out charges
Typist cost
Travel cost
Meals cost
Preparation of content for conference

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 3.6 Obtaining administrative information:

Any specific policy and procedures

Identification numbers for each one

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 3.7 Selecting types of measures:

Whether self- report, observation, or physiologic

measures in a single study
Ethical considerations, cost constraints must be
considered

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 3.8 Selecting and developing instruments:

Resources- cost, time, stipend, hired interviewers

Availability and familiarity-available and accessible
Norms and comparability-normal values
Population appropriateness-based on age,
intellectual level, cultural background
Administration issues-in case of children, ill clients
Reputation-measure the same construct
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 3.9 Pre testing the data collection package:

Whether instrument is difficult to read or understand or that may have

been misinterpreted
Whether sequence of instrument is sensible
Determine needs for training staff for data collection
Poorly worded Or ambiguous question?

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 3.10 Developing data collection form:

Whether collected in raw form or coded form

Using electronic devices: scantron sheets, tele
form
Computerized data collection: personal digital
assistants ( small hand- held computers), bio
instruments ( BP monitor, O2 saturation
monitor)
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 3.11 Developing a code book:
Code book identifies and defines each variable and
possible numerical value of every variable
entered in a computer file
Eg., Gender
 value Label
 1 Male
 2 Female

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 3.12 Selecting training of research personnel:

Experience: good verbal and social skills

Characteristics: match with samples such gender,
language
Appearance: not very formal or extremely casual
Personality: pleasant, sociable
Availability: during data collection
Training: For selected assistants same as main study
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4. COLLECTING DATA
Selecting subjects and gathering data from the
subjects
It includes 4 steps:
a. Selecting subjects
b. Collecting data in a consistent way
c. Maintaining research controls
d. Solving problems
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4.a. Selecting subjects:
Sampling involves selecting a group of people, events,
behaviors, or other elements with which to conduct a
study
Sampling plan defines the process of making the sample
selections.
Sample denotes the selected group of people or elements
included in a group
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It includes the following:
 Elements
 Populations- target and accessible
 Representative
 Sampling criteria-inclusive and exclusive
 Sampling errors
 Randomization-random sampling
 Sampling frames-list of members of the population
 Sampling plans-probability and non probability 25
4.b. Collecting data in a consistent way:
Administering written scales, asking subjects to
complete data collection forms, or recording data from
observations or patient record

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4.c. Maintaining research controls:
Minimize the influence of intervening forces on the
study. Find the extraneous variables and control it

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4.d. Solving problems:
Problems can be obtained through personal
discussions with researcher about the process of data
collection

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4.1 DATA COLLECTION PROBLEMS

4.1.1 People problems:

 Problems in selecting a sample
 Subject mortality
 Subject as an object
 External influences on subject responses
 Passive resistance

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Problems in selecting a sample
Lack of census in particular month or period
Lack of participation
Fear and anxiety
Change in institutional policies

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Subject mortality

Subject fail to follow up

Filling the questionnaire incorrectly
Not available during data collection
Solutions:
Increase the planned number of subjects
Continue the data collection till saturation

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Subject as an object:
Considering subject as a object. It is unethical and
affects patient’s satisfaction. Subjects must be
treated with care

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External influences on subject responses:
Family members, friends and relatives will affect
the subject responses.

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Passive resistance:
Health professional and institutional staff working
with the subject may affect data collection process

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4.1.2. Researcher problems:
 Researcher interactions- with other persons
 Lack of skill in data collection
 Researcher role conflict- as researcher or nurse
 Maintaining perspective-joy or frustration

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4.1.3. Institutional problems:
Institutions are in constant state of change. Unit or
records etc.
4.1.4.Event problems:
Unpredictable events can be a source of frustration
during a study. Eg., duplicating machine may break
down, tape recorder may become jammed.

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 4.2 Data collection methods
Self report
 participants response to questions posted by
researcher
Observation
 Researcher observes participants’ behaviour.
Characteristics
Bio-physiologic measures
 Measures physical and physiologic variables like lab
test, BP
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 4.3 Dimensions of data collection methods
Structures
Same information is gathered for all participants
Minimum structure revealed more naturalistic data
Quantifiability
Data are subject to statistical analysis
Obtrusiveness
Degree to which participants are aware of the study
Objectivity
Quantitative research seeks objective data and
objective data collection methods
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 4.4 Identifying data needs

Testing the hypothesis or addressing the research
questions

Describing sample characteristics.

Controlling extraneous variables.

Analyzing potential biases

Understanding subgroup effects

Interpreting results

Checking the manipulation

Obtaining administrative information
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 4.5 Data collection plan

Identify types Types of measurements

of data and variables Instruments
Research question scales
Research hypothesis
and
methods

Revise
1.Data collection
Implementation Forms Pilot testing
2.Operational Written
procedures permission

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 Steps in data collection plan

Identify type of data needed

Select data collection method

Determine available measurement

Assess for appropriateness of the measurement

Develop data collection protocols

Implement data collection plan

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 4.5.1 Selecting types of measures

Select data collection methods

Self report
Observations
Bio - Physiologic measures

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 4.5.2 Selecting and developing instruments


Identifying potential data collection instruments

Assess the appropriateness

Is it conceptually relevant?

Whether the instrument will yield data of
sufficiently high quality?

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 Other criteria in selecting an instrument
Resources:
Resources constraints sometimes prevent the use of the
high –quality measures( eg: Cost of instruments).
• Availability & Familiarity
• Norms & Comparability: Norms –Normal values and
distribution of values (standardized test and scales)
• Population appropriateness: Keep the characteristics of
the target population

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4.5.3 Pretesting the data collection package

To determine how much time it will take to
administer

Whether participants find any burdensome

Determine needs for training data collection staff.

Determine whether sequencing of instruments is
sensible.
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4.5.4 Developing data collection forms & procedures
Forms for screening potential participants to
determine their eligibility.

Informed consent forms

Records of attempted contacts with participants

Forms for recording the actual data.

Develop data collection protocol: spell out the
procedure to be used in the data collection.

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 4.5.5 Implementing data collection plan

Selecting research personnel.(who will collect
data?)

Training data collectors

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5. ADMINISTRATION OF TOOL/ INTERVENTION

How to administer the instrument by, distributed

questionnaires, mailed, over the internet
Points to remember:
 Must be attractive, professional looking and easy to
understand
 Must provide details for collecting the data, procedure
of data collection, information to participants
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 Friends, colleagues or family members should be asked
to evaluate the instruments before it is reproduced
 Clear, readability assessment
 No ambiguity questions
 Proper training for research assistants

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 INTERVENTION
Salient: Addressing a present problem
Efficient: leads to improved client outcomes
Safe: Avoids adverse outcomes or stress
Cost effective: Affordable
Feasible: Can be implemented in real world settings
Acceptable: Viewed positively by clients, stake holders,
family members, nurses, physicians
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Intervention
The intervention may be
1) strategy
2) a technique
3) a program
4) informational or training materials
5) environmental design variables
6) a motivational system or
7) a new or modified policy
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 5.1 Designing the Intervention
Designing of the intervention involves the following
activities:
1. Define target population
2. List acceptable strategies for selecting a sample
3. Identify subgroups that might show differential
effects of
the intervention
4. Specify essential characteristics of interventions
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5. Determine study variables
6. Indicate appropriate measures of variables
7. Specify the appropriate time or times to measure
outcomes
8. Indicate what analyses to perform and what
relationships to test on the basis of the relationships
among the treatment and the moderator, mediator, and
outcome variables specified by the intervention theory

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 5.2 Intervention fidelity
• Intervention fidelity occurs when the interventionist
reliably and competently delivers the experimental
treatment (Stein et al., 2007).
• An interventionist is a person who has been formally
prepared to provide a particular intervention and is
accountable for the fidelity of the intervention.
• Methods to adhere to the intervention protocol are
critical to the success of an intervention study
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 5.3 Strategies to improve intervention
 Fidelity may include intervention manuals, formal training and
clinical supervision.

 To evaluate intervention fidelity before and during the study an

observation system has to be created to observe the
intervention materials and the interventionist.

 They are implemented during the study to test for drift.

 Drift is a gradual change in consistency in treatment delivery

over the course of the study
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 5.4 Observation system
The use of observation system in research is a novel idea
which is not used widely. It is designed and implemented
before and changes are made in the patient care situation.
An observation system allows you and other researchers to
 observe events related to the phenomenon naturalistically
 discover the extent of the problem
 observe the intervention being implemented
 detect effects of the intervention

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 5.4.1 Elements of the observation system
Before the Intervention:
• Characteristics of the problem
• Patient characteristics
• Characteristics of patients with whom the problem
who receive the intervention
• Characteristics of patients with the problem who do
not receive the treatment

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• Intervention characteristics
• Elements of intervention
• Intensity of intervention
• Duration of intervention
• Use of the intervention
• Intervener characteristics
• Professional and personal characteristics
• Setting characteristics

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• Resources used (eg., equipments and supplies)
• Physical layout
• Staff
• Organizational support
• Events occurring during the study that affected the
intervention
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 5.4.2 During the Intervention

• Problem characteristics?
• Patient characteristics
• Who were the target population?
• How many participants were recruited?
• How many who were approached refused to
participate?
• What reasons did they give for refusal?
• What were the characteristics of the participants?
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• What were the characteristics of the participants
who refused to participate?
• How to those who accepted and those who
refused compare with the target population?
• Intervention characteristics
• Elements of intervention
• Intensity of intervention
• Duration of intervention
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 5.4.2 Intervener intervention

• Professional and personal characteristics

• Were training sessions provide?
• Content of training sessions
• What interveners relate to participants?
• How did interveners relate to participants?
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• Did more than one intervener care for a
participant?
• Setting characteristics.
• Administrative arrangements made
• Events occurring during intervention that might
affect implementation
• Type of equipment used was the same type of
equipment used for all participants?

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 5.4.3 Testing the Intervention
The intervention is tested in stages, revised and
retested until a satisfactorily designed
intervention emerges

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5.5 Factors affecting the integrity of intervention
• Inadequate training of interveners
• Poorly defined intervention
• Variation in strength of intervention provided
• Variation in elements of intervention provided
• Ease in implementing intervention activities

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• Intervention’s level of complexity
• Inadequate planning
• Inadequate guidance during study
• Level of interveners’ skill
• Level of staff commitment to the intervention
• Number of interveners
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• Number of sites involved in implementing the
intervention
• Level of compliance of staff with treatment protocol
• Interactional style of interveners
• Changes in organization policies after initiation of study
• Changes in brand of equipment used

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 Summary
Implementation of research plan is a process of
promoting a research plan into action. It includes
Review of Research Design, Planning for data collection
and Collection of data and Administration of tool. Each
and every stage of it is important before proceeding for
pilot study.

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 References
• Burns, N., & Grove, K. S. (2005). The practice of nursing
research: Conduct, critique and utilization (5th ed.). Missouri:
Elsevier Publication.
• Munshall, P. L. (2001). Nursing Research: A qualitative
perspective. Sudbury, MA: Jones & Bartlett
• Polit, F. D., & Beck, T. C. (2011). Nursing research
generating and assessing evidence fir nursing practice (8th
ed.). New Delhi: Wolters Kluwer (India) Pvt. Ltd.
• Taylor, T. (2011). The literature review: A few tips on
conducting it. Retrieved June 6, 2011 from http://wwwwriting
utoronto ca/advice/specific – types-of-listing/literature-
review.