3.

What is the basic literature foundation of

the study? This part purports to provide the
 The first chapter of nursing research is researcher clarity of the terms or variables
entitled “The Problem” or “The Problem used in the study. The terms and variables
and Its Background.” must first be clear to the researcher so that
 Its purpose is to introduce the problem, he/she can make his/her reader understand
clarify important variables, identify them.
delimitations, and present the 4. How serious is the chosen research problem?
significance of the study to the nursing Why is there a need to look for a
field. solution to the problem? Mostly, the
researcher in this element looks for
It has the following essential elements: statistical or quantitative evidence to assess
1. Introduction the weight of the problem.
2. Statement of the problem 5. What is the overall purpose of the problem?
3. Scope and delimitation It is very significant to note that the
4. Significance of the study researcher must be totally aware of the
5. Notes in Chapter 1 purpose of the research problem.

Note:

 The researcher has to introduce the

different elements of Chapter 1 by giving The PRELIMINARY literature review and
a brief description of each element, for overall objective, the formulation of the heart
the reader to know what to expect of the of the thesis- the statement of the general
chapter and the specific problems-must be done.
 The introduction is very important in
establishing the cognitive setting of the The following are examples of a general
research and involves problem:
(a) RATIONALIZING why there is a
need to research on the problem, 1. This study is about the relationship between
(b) clarifying the important the level of performance of clinical
terminologies for the reader to instructors and the efficiency of nursing
easily understand what the research students in the operating ward of the Bataan
is about and General Hospital.
(c) establishing the degree of 2. This study focuses on the effects Thai
seriousness of the massage on the recovery of nurses from back
problem which prompt a researcher pain in selected hospitals in Region 3.
to look for solutions. 3. This study aims to determine the knowledge
in proper breastfeeding practices of
Following questions aid the researcher in primigravidas in Balanga City, Bataan.
formulating the introduction:
The general problem is followed by an
1. What is the rationale of the problem? - This enumeration of the specific problems.
question is answered by sharing with the
beneficiaries the reasons The specific problems must meet the following
Examples: Personal experience, an criteria:
article read, a scene witnessed, a news 1. They must be in questions form.
heard, a theory that needs to be clarified, etc. 2. They must define the population and the
The proponent should describe the existing sample of the study, the respondents.
and prevailing problem situation based on this 3. They must identify the variables being
experience. The scope may be local, national or studied.
international. 4. They must be empirically testable
2. What is the setting of the problem? -The
setting; This describes to the reader the
place where the research was conducted.

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 There are two general types of questions C. What are the common causes of the
in nursing research. non-researchable and dengue fever outbreak in Capunitan, Orion,
researchable questions. Bataan?
1. environmental;
 Non-researchable questions are questions 2.social activities; and
of value. These are questions 3. psychological aspects?
answerable by yes or no. D. How do the deans and faculty of the
Examples: college of nursing assess the administrator’s
1. Should all mothers breastfeed their practices regarding:
babies? 1. recruitment and selection of faculty;
2. Should all clinical instructors be 2. retention of faculty;
watchful over their nursing students? 3. supervision of faculty;
3. Should nursing colleges force their 4. evaluation of faculty performance; and
graduates to enroll in review classes 5. faculty development?
before taking the nursing licensure E. How competent is the nursing
examinations? coordinator’s competence in curriculum
4. Are all clinical instructors (Cis) delivery as assessed by:
master’s degree holders? 1. level 3 and 4 students;
5. Do family members help their diabetic 2.Clinical instructions; and
patients recover? 3.Nursing coordinators?
6. Do patients rest well in Intensive Care (by: Lazaro,2005)
Units (ICUs)?
 Factor-relating questions (“What is
 Researchable questions are questions of happening here?”). their goal is to
value, opinion, or policy raised to determine the relationship among factors
accumulate data. that have been identified.
Examples:
Formulating a clear, A. What is the relationship of the
significant question prepares the performance of clinical instructions to
researcher for subsequent decision the RLE performance of their nursing
making over research design, data students in APCAS?
collection and data analysis. B. How is the knowledge in herbal
The basic form of a research medicines of the residents of Jacoba
question involves the use of question Ville, Tuyo, Balanga City associated
words such as who, what, where, when, with their patronage or consumption of
why, and how. generic drugs?
Types of Research Questions C. How does their environment affect
the recovery of pediatric patients in
 Factor-isolating Questions (“What is Bataan General Hospital?
this?”). 
They are sometimes called factor-
naming questions. They isolate, categorize, What are the significant differences in the
describe or name factors and situations. assessment of deans and faculty of the
Examples: administrations practices regarding?
A. What is the demographic profile of head 1. recruitment and selection of
nurses in terms of: faculty;
1. age; 2. retention of faculty;
2. gender; and 3. supervision of faculty;
3. length of employment as head nurse? 4. evaluation of faculty performance;
B. How will their subordinates describe the and
managerial skills of head nurses in the 5. faculty development?
following dimensions?
1. conceptual; E. What are the significant differences in the
2. human; and assessment of the nursing coordinator’s
3. technical? competencies in curriculum delivery by Level 3

PANILAGAN - Midterm Notes in NCM 111

and students, clinical instructors, and nursing  A variable is any factor or property that
coordinators in selected colleges of nursing in a researcher measure, controls and/or
the City of Manila? manipulates.
 It may be a CONCEPT or a CONSTRUCT.
Situation-relating questions (“What will
happen if…?”) these questions usually A concept can be defined by a
yield hypothesis-testing or experimental study dictionary and commonly used by an educator
designs in which the researcher (e.g. age, civil status, academic degree, weight,
manipulates the variables to see what will height, etc.).
happen. A construct usually combines two
Examples: concepts. Its definition
is usually not found in dictionaries (e.g. level of
A. What are the effects of traditional performance, level of awareness, nature of
methods of teaching RLE to the RLE environment, rate of recovery, educational
performance of nursing students? attainment, sociological factors)
B. How do the pain management procedures
applied in the emergency room by the KINDS of VARIABLES
nursing students affect the level of pain
C. What is the difference between the A. Variable according to the numbered
degrees of assistance discharged by male and categories
female nursing students in the operating room
of the Bataan General Hospital? 1. Categorical variables – represent
unordered categories, groups, or classes
Situations-producing questions. (“How can I e.g. multiple intelligence, learning
make it happen?”) these questions styles, civil status, leadership styles
establish explicit goals for nursing actions, 2. Dichotomous variables – represent
develop plans or prescriptions to only two categories e.g. left and right,
achieve goals, male and female, personal and online
Examples: 3. Polychotomous variable – have more
than two categories
A. How can nursing services be organized to e.g. educational attainment, economic
promote job satisfaction? class, religion, political affiliation,
B. What program must be proposed to hinder severity of the disease, Likert scale
the growth of nosocomical bacteria in 4. Continuous variable – take on any
selected hospitals in Bataan? range of values
C. What measures must be implemented to e.g. height, weight, speed, glucose
raise the passing rate of the nursing level, temperature
licensure examinations?
D. What policy must be formulated to manage B. Variables used in an experiment
outpatients effectively? 1. Independent variables – the cause
E. What part of the present curriculum should variable, the reasons for the changes in
be enhanced or improved? the dependent variables.
2. Dependent variables – variables
that are affected by the cause

C. Variables according to the nature

1. Concrete variables – variables that
The scope of the Study is determined by the can be perceived through the senses
major variables of the study while e.g. height, skin color, taste, sound
the sub-variables and their characteristics, 2. Abstract variables – variables of
attributes and indicators serve as the quality
delimitation. e.g. knowledge level, perception level,
 It is also beneficial to mention the locale level of awareness, recovery rate
or setting of the research and D. Variables according to the number being
when the data would be gathered.

PANILAGAN - Midterm Notes in NCM 111

studied  This section describes the contribution
of the study to the existing body of
1. Univariate variable – one variable knowledge. This could be in the form of
being studied new knowledge in the field, a check on
2. Bivariate variable – two variables the major findings of other studies, a
being studied check on the validity of finding in a
3. Polyvariate variable – more than different population, a check on trends
two variables being studied over time and a check on other findings
using different methodologies.
EXAMPLE OF SCOPE and DELIMITATION
OF THE STUDY LITERATURE REVIEW

A. The study is focuses on the levels of  A literature review is a comprehensive

performance of operating room nurses in summary of previous research on a topic.
selected government and private hospitals in  A literature review is a survey of
Cabanatuan City. Performance of scholarly sources on a specific topic. It
staff nurses is divided into three areas, provides an overview of current
namely: (1) patient care management, knowledge, allowing you to identify
which includes assessment, planning, relevant theories, methods, and gaps in
intervention, evaluation, and endorsement; the existing research.
(2) unit management; and professional and  A literature review creates a "landscape"
service commitment. This study will for the reader, giving her or him a full
be undertaken during the first semester of understanding of the developments in the
schoolyear 2020 – 2021. field.

Delimitation versus Limitation In writing the literature review, the purpose

is to convey to the reader what knowledge and
 Delimitations aim to narrow the scope of ideas have been established on a topic, and
a study. what their strengths and weaknesses are.
For example, the scope may focus on
specific variables, specific participants,
specific sites, or narrowed to one
type of research design (e.g., ethnography
or experimental research).

 Limitations aim to identify potential

weaknesses of the study. For example, all
statistical procedures and research
strategies, such as surveys or grounded
theory studies have limitations. In
introductory discussions about these
strategies, authors typically mention
both their strengths and their
weaknesses.

SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY HOW TO DO IT?

 The significance of the study must also  Search for relevant literature
discuss the importance of the study to  Evaluate sources
society, the country, the government, the  Identify themes, debates and gaps
community, or to the institution, the  Outline the structure
agency concerned, the curriculum
planners and developer, and to the Write your literature review
researchers (actual and future).

PANILAGAN - Midterm Notes in NCM 111

STEP 1: SEARCH FOR RELEVANT WEAKNESSES OF THE
LITERATURE RESEARCH?

TIPS: TIPS:
a. HAVE A CLEARLY DEFINED TOPIC a.MAKE SURE THE SOURCES YOU
b. PLAN IT AROUND YOUR USE ARE CREDIBLE.
RESEARCH PROBLEM AND QUESTIONS. b.YOU CAN FIND OUT HOW MANY
c. MAKE A LIST OF KEYWORDS TIMES AN ARTICLE HAS BEEN CITED.
d. ACCESS RELIABLE DATABASES c. IN THE SCIENCES YOU USUALLY
ONLY REVIEW RECENT
RELIABLE NURSING DATABASES LITERATURE.
https://researchguides.uic.edu/c.php?g=25218 d.TAKE NOTES AND CITE &
6&p =1684967 REFERENCE YOUR SOURCES

BOOLEAN OPERATORS STEP 3: IDENTIFY THEMES, DEBATES, AND

GAPS
•AND
•OR TO BEGIN ORGANIZING YOUR
•NOT LITERATURE REVIEW’S
•QUOTATION “ ___” ARGUMENT AND STRUCTURE, YOU NEED
•PARENTHESIS (___) TO UNDERSTAND THE CONNECTIONS AND
• READ THE ABSTRACT TO FIND OUT RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN THE SOURCES
WHETHER AN ARTICLE IS YOU’VE READ.
RELEVANT
• IDENTIFY THE MOST IMPORTANT GUIDE QUESTIONS TO ORGANIZING
PUBLICATIONS ON YOUR TOPIC, • TRENDS AND PATTERNS (IN THEORY,
TAKE NOTE OF RECURRING CITATIONS. METHOD OR RESULTS): DO CERTAIN
APPROACHES BECOME MORE OR LESS
STEP 2: EVALUATE AND SELECT SOURCES POPULAR OVER TIME?
• THEMES: WHAT QUESTIONS OR
FOR EACH PUBLICATION, ASK YOURSELF: CONCEPTS RECUR ACROSS THE
•WHAT QUESTION OR PROBLEM IS THE LITERATURE?
AUTHOR ADDRESSING? • DEBATES, CONFLICTS AND
•WHAT ARE THE KEY CONCEPTS AND HOW CONTRADICTIONS: WHERE DO SOURCES
ARE THEY DEFINED? DISAGREE?
•WHAT ARE THE KEY THEORIES, MODELS • PIVOTAL PUBLICATIONS: ARE THERE
AND METHODS? DOES ANY INFLUENTIAL THEORIES OR
THE RESEARCH USE ESTABLISHED STUDIES
FRAMEWORKS OR TAKE AN THAT CHANGED THE DIRECTION OF THE
INNOVATIVE APPROACH? FIELD?
•WHAT ARE THE RESULTS AND • GAPS: WHAT IS MISSING FROM THE
CONCLUSIONS OF THE STUDY? LITERATURE? ARE THERE WEAKNESSES
•HOW DOES THE PUBLICATION RELATE TO THAT NEED TO BE ADDRESSED?
OTHER LITERATURE IN
STEP 4: OUTLINE YOUR LITERATURE
THE FIELD? DOES IT CONFIRM, ADD TO, REVIEW’S STRUCTURE
OR CHALLENGE
ESTABLISHED KNOWLEDGE? •CHRONOLOGICAL
•HOW DOES THE PUBLICATION •THEMATIC
CONTRIBUTE TO YOUR •METHODOLOGICAL
UNDERSTANDING OF THE TOPIC? WHAT •THEORETICAL
ARE ITS KEY INSIGHTS STEP 5: WRITE YOUR LITERATURE REVIEW
AND ARGUMENTS?
•WHAT ARE THE STRENGTHS AND INTRODUCTION
•THE INTRODUCTION SHOULD CLEARLY

PANILAGAN - Midterm Notes in NCM 111

ESTABLISH THE FOCUS AND PURPOSE OF performance of nursing students as
THE LITERATURE REVIEW. shown by their academic and RLE grades.
BODY
•DEPENDING ON THE LENGTH OF YOUR 6. Research hypothesis- A hypothesis which
LITERATURE REVIEW, YOU MIGHT WANT states the actual expected relationships
TO DIVIDE THE BODY INTO between variables. It is always expressed
SUBSECTIONS. YOU CAN USE A affirmatively and is also called substantive or
SUBHEADING FOR EACH THEME, TIME scientific hypothesis. All examples mentioned
PERIOD, OR METHODOLOGICAL APPROACH. the expected relationship of the variables.

TIPS: ASSUMPTIONS OF THE STUDY

•SUMMARIZE AND SYNTHESIZE The study assumptions are propositions taken
•ANALYZE AND INTERPRET to be true based upon presupposition without
•CRITICALLY EVALUATE preponderance of the facts. These
•WRITE IN WELL-STRUCTURED propositions often refer to the different
PARAGRAPHS variables or sub- variables being studied.
Example 1:
CONCLUSION Thesis Title: The effect of the Quality of
•IN THE CONCLUSION, YOU SHOULD Nursing Care and Services on the Level of
SUMMARIZE THE KEY FINDINGS YOU Satisfaction of Parents and Their Families
HAVE TAKEN FROM THE LITERATURE AND
EMPHASIZE THEIR SIGNIFICANCE Assumptions:
1. The staff nurses of Bataan General Hospital
NOTE: and Isaac and Catalina Medical Center are
WRITE YOUR LITERATURE REVIEW AS IF exposed to patients with different types of
YOU ARE TELLING A STORY! diseases within the different facilities and
wards.
 WHEN YOU’VE FINISHED WRITING 2. In performing their duties, stuff nurses
AND REVISING YOUR LITERATURE must establish rapport with their clients.
REVIEW, DON’T FORGET TO 3. Establishing rapport with clients is the first
PROOFREAD THOROUGHLY BEFORE step towards gaining their trust and
SUBMITTING. cooperative while in the process of treatment.
REMEMBER 4. Staff nurses render nursing care and
THE LITERATURE REVIEW IS THE GROUND services in varying levels
FROM WHICH YOUR RESEARCH STUDY 5. The level of satisfaction of patients in
STANDS, different ward of the hospitals are different
from
 MAKE IT STRONG AND YOUR STUDY each other.
WILL THRIVE,
 MAKE IT WEAK AND YOUR STUDY
WILL CRUMBLE.

5. Null hypothesis – A hypothesis formulated

for the purpose of statistical analysis. This
kind is always expressed as a negative
statement. This kind of hypothesis is
subjected to testing in which the decision is
either to accept or reject it
Examples:
a. There is no relationship between
the reasons for using alternative medicine
and the level of comforts of the patients.
b. The kind of teaching method used
has no effect on the level of

PANILAGAN - Midterm Notes in NCM 111