The Research Problem, Purpose and Question

Definition of a Research Problem

A situation in need of a solution, improvement, or alteration; or a discrepancy between
the way things are and the way they ought to be.

Sources of Research Problems

 Nursing Practice
 Researcher and Peer Interaction
 Literature Review
 Theory
 Research Priorities

Example of a Research Problem

“Current policy at most hospitals requires the use of routine flushing of heparin locks
after administration of medication or flushing heparin locks every 8 hours when not
being used for medication administration. However, there is disagreement on whether
flushes of low doses of heparin are necessary to maintain the patency of heparin locks.
Heparin is known to be incompatible with many drugs. The interaction potential of
heparin is said to be avoided by flushing the lock with normal saline injection before
and after administration of the medication…Saline flush is a safe, time-saving
procedure for nursing staff to perform. Additionally, the use of normal saline would
save the cost of a heparin flush.”

Definition of Research Purpose

A purpose is a concise , clear statement of the specific goal or aim of the study. The
purpose includes the variables, population, and setting for a study.

Examples of a Research Purpose

“The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of normal saline versus
normal saline containing 10 U/mL of heparin for maintaining heparin-lock sites.”

Research Question
 Definition
--Research questions are interrogative statements that focus on what variables or
concepts are to be described and what relationships might exist among them.

Research Questions Examples

 What is the influence of depressive symptoms at 4 weeks after cardiac surgery on
self-reported recovery of general activities at 8 weeks?
 What is the influence of anxiety measured at 4 weeks after cardiac surgery on
self-reported recovery of general activities at 8 weeks?
Determining the Feasibility of a Study
 Money Commitment
 Time Commitment
 Researcher’s Expertise
 Availability of Subjects, Facility, and Equipment
 Cooperation of Others
 Ethical Considerations

EXAMPLE OF A STUDY
(Burns, N. and Grove, S. (1995) Understanding nursing research.
Philadelphia:W.B. Sunders.)

RESEARCH PROBLEM
 Aggressive behavior in cognitively impaired elderly is often problematic for
family and professional caregivers who attempt to provide compassionately for their
needs. If caregivers view aggression as meaningful behavior to be explored and
understood rather that as disruptive behavior to be controlled, they may find it more of a
challenge and less of a threat. In the future, behavioral problems in the cognitively
impaired are likely to have an even greater impact on individuals, families and society,
since the prevalence of dementia is known to increase with age(Kern, 1998) and the
number of the old-old in this country is projected to continue to rise sharply (Longino,
1998). Both family and professional caregivers will need to understand dementia and
develop skills in the prevention and management of behavioral problems in this
population (Ryden et al., 1991, p.87).

RESEARCH PURPOSE
The purpose of the study is to determine the nature, frequency of occurrence, and
context of aggressive behavior in a nursing home sample of cognitively impaired
residents.
RESEARCH QUESTIONS
The study is designed to answer the following questions:
 What proportion of cognitively impaired nursing home residents demonstrate
aggressive behavior?
 Which types of aggressive behavior occur most frequently?

Examples of Problem Statements

What is the relationship between job satisfaction of
nurses in a mid-western state and their direct
involvement in current nursing information?

What is the relationship between maternal depression

and a child's behavior?

What is the difference between an experienced nurse's

knowledge and practice regarding the use of side rails
in the geriatric population?

What is relationship of social support to prenatal care

and health behaviors of low-income women?

What is the effect of experience on pharmacological

knowledge?

What is the difference between self-efficacy scores in

older adults who exercise and the scores of those who do
not?
To what extent does the age of a client influence how
nurses perceive and respond to the client's perception of
pain?

What is the difference in attitudes of men and women

college students toward condoms?

To what extent does patient control in decision-making

processes affect stress in hospitalized patients?

What are the psychometric properties of the

Measurement of Presence Scale (MOPS) when testing
RNs in Oklahoma?

What dimensions of presence will emerge through

instrumentation testing?

What are the relationships among presence, self-esteem,

and demographic variables in a sample of RNs
practicing in Oklahoma?