Nursing Research Guide for FHSU Tech Students

Teacher's Pet. (2014, August 17).  The scientific method [Video file].  Retrieved from https://youtu.be/SMGRe824kak

A study design that randomly assigns participants into an experimental group or a control group. As the study is conducted, the only expected difference between the control and experimental groups in a randomized controlled trial (RCT) is the outcome variable being studied. ~Study Design 101

In Primary research articles, the authors are the people who actually did the study.  The article discusses a single study in depth, usually including:

• Background: a description of the problem,
• Methodology: how subjects were chosen, how many subjects were studied, what the intervention(s) were, how results were measured, possible statistical analysis.
• Results: the results of the intervention(s),
• Discussion: usually there is a section discussing the results in more depth
• Conclusions: What actions are supported by the evidence gained from the study, for example, which treatment is more effective.
• Limitations of the current study: Sometimes there are sections about potential flaws in the current study, such as a limited number of subjects or some alternate explanation of the results that cannot be ruled out. 
• Recommendations for further research: The authors may make recommendations about how future studies could improve on their study, by addressing the problems noted in the limitations section.

Example:  Bachur, R.G., Monuteaux, M.C., & Neuman, M.I.  (2015).  A comparison of acute treatment regimens for migraine in the emergency department.  Pediatrics, 135(2). 232-238. doi: 10.1542/peds.2014-2432. Retrieved from http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/pediatrics/135/2/232.full.pdf

A Literature Review: The author(s) discuss a series of research studies done by other people on a particular topic, such as the effectiveness of a certain treatment.  The purpose is to summarize the findings and give the reader a sense of the sum of knowledge available. Critiques of the research may be included. 

Example: seri, S. Ö., & Cabıoğlu, T. (2012). Migraine treatment and the role of acupuncture: A literature review. Journal of the Australian Traditional-Medicine Society, 18(2), 89–93. Retrieved from: http://ezproxy.fhsu.edu:2048/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=aph&AN=78054677&site=ehost-live