Midwife Licensure Exam Research & Evidence-Based Practice — Nursing Research Process & Evidence-Based PracticeConcept Map

Concept

Nature and Purpose of Nursing Research

Sub Concepts

• Systematic inquiry
• Knowledge development and refinement
• Improve care quality
• Support clinical decisions
• Inform policy
• Strengthen professional autonomy
• RA 9173 compliance

Relationship To Central

Foundational understanding of why research matters in nursing

Concept

Research Process Steps

Sub Concepts

• Problem identification and statement
• Literature review
• Theoretical/conceptual framework
• Research questions and hypotheses
• Design and methodology selection
• Population and sampling
• Data collection
• Data analysis
• Interpretation and conclusions
• Dissemination and application

Relationship To Central

Orderly sequence for conducting quantitative research

Concept

Variables and Hypotheses

Sub Concepts

• Independent variable (IV) - cause/intervention
• Dependent variable (DV) - outcome/effect
• Null hypothesis (H0) - no relationship
• Alternative hypothesis (H1) - expected relationship
• Directional vs non-directional hypotheses

Relationship To Central

Core components for research design and hypothesis testing

Concept

Research Approaches and Designs

Sub Concepts

• Quantitative research - numerical measurement
• Qualitative research - meaning and experience
• True experimental design - RCT
• Quasi-experimental design
• Non-experimental/observational designs
• Descriptive studies
• Correlational studies
• Cohort studies
• Case-control studies
• Cross-sectional studies

Relationship To Central

Methods for conducting systematic inquiry

Concept

Population and Sampling

Sub Concepts

• Target population
• Accessible population
• Simple random sampling
• Systematic sampling
• Stratified random sampling
• Cluster sampling
• Convenience sampling
• Quota sampling
• Purposive sampling
• Snowball sampling

Relationship To Central

Selection methods affecting generalizability of findings

Concept

Data Collection and Instrument Quality

Sub Concepts

• Data collection methods
• Questionnaires
• Interviews
• Observation
• Biophysiologic measures
• Existing records
• Validity - content, construct, criterion
• Reliability - test-retest, internal consistency, interrater
• Cronbach's alpha

Relationship To Central

Methods and tools for gathering reliable, valid data

Concept

Ethics in Nursing Research

Sub Concepts

• Belmont Report principles
• Respect for persons and autonomy
• Beneficence
• Justice
• Nonmaleficence
• Fidelity
• Informed consent
• Confidentiality and anonymity
• RA 10173 Data Privacy Act
• Protection from harm
• Vulnerable populations
• IRB/Ethics Review Committee
• PHREB guidelines

Relationship To Central

Protection of human participants aligned with professional principles

Concept

Basic Statistics Interpretation

Sub Concepts

• Levels of measurement - nominal, ordinal, interval, ratio
• Descriptive statistics
• Mean, median, mode
• Range, variance, standard deviation
• Normal distribution
• Inferential statistics
• p-value and statistical significance
• Type I and Type II errors
• t-test, ANOVA, chi-square
• Correlation coefficient

Relationship To Central

Understanding data analysis for clinical application

Concept

Evidence-Based Practice (EBP)

Sub Concepts

• Five A's framework - Ask, Acquire, Appraise, Apply, Assess
• PICO(T) question formulation
• Evidence hierarchy
• Systematic reviews and meta-analyses
• RCTs
• Qualitative studies
• Expert opinion
• Clinical significance vs statistical significance
• Quality improvement distinction

Relationship To Central

Integration of research evidence with clinical expertise and patient values

Concept

Nursing Application and Professional Competency

Sub Concepts

• Evidence consumer role
• Literature reading and critical appraisal
• Questioning unsupported routines
• Research protocol adherence
• Ethics protection
• Journal clubs
• Unit-based EBP projects
• Clinical guideline adherence
• Patient safety advocacy

Relationship To Central

Role of nurses as evidence consumers in clinical practice

To

Nursing Application and Professional Competency

From

Nature and Purpose of Nursing Research

Strength

strong

Relationship

Understanding the purpose of research motivates nurses to become competent evidence consumers and translators in clinical practice

To

Variables and Hypotheses

From

Research Process Steps

Strength

strong

Relationship

Variables and hypotheses are defined and tested within the structured research process

To

Research Designs

From

Variables and Hypotheses

Strength

strong

Relationship

Research design determines how variables are manipulated or measured to test hypotheses

To

Population and Sampling

From

Research Designs

Strength

strong

Relationship

Research design influences population definition and sampling method selection

To

Data Collection and Instrument Quality

From

Population and Sampling

Strength

strong

Relationship

Selected sample receives data collection using valid, reliable instruments

To

Basic Statistics Interpretation

From

Data Collection and Instrument Quality

Strength

strong

Relationship

Data collected are analyzed using appropriate statistical methods based on measurement levels and design

To

Data Collection and Instrument Quality

From

Ethics in Nursing Research

Strength

strong

Relationship

Ethical principles protect participants during all data collection phases

To

Population and Sampling

From

Ethics in Nursing Research

Strength

strong

Relationship

Ethical protections especially stringent for vulnerable populations in sample selection

To

Evidence-Based Practice

From

Basic Statistics Interpretation

Strength

strong

Relationship

Statistical interpretation determines evidence strength for placement in the evidence hierarchy

To

Evidence-Based Practice

From

Research Designs

Strength

strong

Relationship

Study design type is primary factor in evidence hierarchy ranking from RCT to expert opinion

To

Nursing Application and Professional Competency

From

Evidence-Based Practice

Strength

strong

Relationship

EBP framework guides nurses in translating research findings into clinical practice

To

Evidence-Based Practice

From

Research Process Steps

Strength

strong

Relationship

Understanding the research process enables nurses to appraise evidence quality in EBP decision-making

To

Evidence-Based Practice

From

Population and Sampling

Strength

moderate

Relationship

Sample representativeness affects generalizability and applicability of evidence to target populations

To

Evidence-Based Practice

From

Data Collection and Instrument Quality

Strength

moderate

Relationship

Instrument validity and reliability affect the trustworthiness of evidence for EBP recommendations

To

Basic Statistics Interpretation

From

Research Designs

Strength

moderate

Relationship

Research design type determines appropriate statistical tests and interpretation of results

To

Basic Statistics Interpretation

From

Variables and Hypotheses

Strength

moderate

Relationship

Hypothesis type and variable measurement levels determine statistical analysis approach

To

Nursing Application and Professional Competency

From

Ethics in Nursing Research

Strength

moderate

Relationship

Nurses apply ethical principles when protecting research participants and advocating for patient rights

To

Data Collection and Instrument Quality

From

Research Process Steps

Strength

moderate

Relationship

Research process includes instrument selection and data collection as critical implementation phases

To

Population and Sampling

From

Research Designs

Strength

moderate

Relationship

Experimental designs require randomization; observational designs use probability or non-probability sampling

To

Ethics in Nursing Research

From

Research Process Steps

Strength

moderate

Relationship

Ethical review and approval occur early in research process before implementation