Discussion: Weighing the Evidence

 

When conducting original research, the final step researchers must complete is weighing the evidence and interpreting the meanings of their data, statistics, and analyses. This is the culmination of the research process in which all of the research methods and designs can be synthesized into a meaningful conclusion. In this stage, researchers should formulate explanations for what their data indicates, determine whether the data answers their initial research question, identify areas of uncertainty, and consider directions for further research.

In this Discussion, you focus on one of the research articles that you identified for Part 2 of the Course Project (Literature Review). You then explore the process of how the researchers generated conclusions based on their data, consider other possible interpretations of their data, and formulate ideas for further research.

 

To prepare:

 

Review this week’s Learning Resources, focusing on how researchers find meaning in their data and generate sound conclusions. Pay particular attention to Table 2 in the article, “Study Design in Medical Research.”

Revisit the 5 articles that you identified in Part 2 of the Course Project. Select one to consider for the purpose of this Discussion.

 

Read sections of the chosen article where the data is presented, analyzed, and interpreted for meaning. What reasoning process did the researchers use to formulate their conclusions? What explanation did they give to support their conclusions? Were there any weaknesses in their analysis or conclusions?

Consider possible alternate conclusions that the researchers could have drawn based on their data.

Examine the findings that the article presents and consider how well they addressed the researcher’s initial question(s). What additional research could be done to build on these findings and gain a fuller understanding of the question?

 

 

Post an APA citation and brief summary of the research article that you selected. Describe the data and the results of any statistical tests or analyses presented in the article. Explain how the researchers formulated their conclusion, any weaknesses in their analysis or conclusions, and offer at least one alternate interpretation of their data. Propose at least one additional research study that could be done to further investigate this research topic.

 

Read a selection of your colleagues’ responses.

Respond to at least two colleagues on two different days using one or more of the following approaches:

Ask a probing question, substantiated with additional background information, and evidence.

Share an insight from having read your colleagues’ postings, synthesizing the information to provide new perspectives.

Offer and support an alternative perspective using readings from the classroom or from your own review of the literature in the Walden Library.

Expand on your colleagues’ postings by providing additional insights or contrasting perspectives based on readings and evidence.

 

Required Readings

Polit, D. F., & Beck, C. T. (2017). Nursing research: Generating and assessing evidence for nursing practice (10th ed.). Philadelphia, PA: Wolters Kluwer.

Review Chapter 2, Fig. 2.1

Chapter 29, “Systematic Reviews of Research Evidence: Meta-analysis, Metasynthesis, and Mixed Studies Review”

 

This chapter focuses on the different types of systematic reviews. The chapter discusses the advantages of this type of analysis and the steps for conducting a meta-analysis or metasynthesis.

Dingle, P. (2011). Statin statistics: Lies and deception. Positive Health, 180, 1.

Retrieved from the Walden Library databases.

 

In this article, the author outlines how misleading statistics are used to make false claims about the positive use of statin drugs in order to retain a market share of sales for pharmaceutical firms.

Katapodi, M. C., & Northouse, L. L. (2011). Comparative effectiveness research: Using systematic reviews and meta-analyses to synthesize empirical evidence. Research & Theory for Nursing Practice, 25(3), 191–209.

Retrieved from the Walden Library databases.

 

The authors of this article assert that more comparative effectiveness research (CER) is necessary to accommodate the elevated demand for evidence-based health care practices. The article supplies a summary of methodological issues relevant to systematic reviews and meta-analyses used in the process of CER.

Stichler, J. F. (2010). Evaluating the evidence in evidence-based design. Journal of Nursing Administration, 40(9), 348–351.

Retrieved from the Walden Library databases.

 

The quality of evidence used in EBP can vary considerably. This article highlights the necessity of critically appraising facility design research articles and using a hierarchical model to rate the strength of evidence.

 Bernd, R., du Prel, J.-B., & Blettner, M. (2009). Study design in medical research: Part 2 of a series on the evaluation of scientific publications. Deutsches Aerzteblatt International, 106(11), 184–189. Retrieved from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2695375/pdf/Dtsch_Arztebl_Int-106-0184.pdf

 

This article provides guidance in evaluating the study design of scientific publications for reliability and credibility. The authors suggest that the most important elements to consider are the question to be answered, the study population, the unit of analysis, the type of study, the measuring technique, and the calculation of sample size.

 Walden University. (n.d.a). Paper templates. Retrieved July 23, 2012, from http://writingcenter.waldenu.edu/57.htm

 

This website provides you access to the School of Nursing Sample Paper, which will serve as a template for formatting your papers.

Media

 Laureate Education (Producer). (2012g). Hierarchy of evidence pyramid. Baltimore, MD: Author.

 

This multimedia piece explains the hierarchy of evidence pyramid. The piece offers definitions and key information for each level of the pyramid.

Laureate Education (Producer). (2012n). Weighing the evidence. Baltimore, MD: Author. 

 

Note: The approximate length of this media piece is 6 minutes.

 

In this video, Dr. Kristen Mauk provides insight about how she analyzed her data and interpreted meanings of what the data showed. She describes how she drew conclusions based on the results and how she explained unexpected findings that were contrary to her initial hypotheses.

(Week # 10: March 8 to March 15 – Main post under Assignment by Wed, March 11 at 11:59 PM EST). APA FORMAT 

Chapter 19 – Diseases Affecting Vision and Hearing. 

Chapter 20 – Metabolic Disorders.

Question(s): Choose and explain one of the eye diseases / disorders discuss in you textbook. Discuss its possible treatments. 

Guidelines: The answer should be based on the knowledge obtained from reading the book, no just your opinion. If there are 3 questions in the discussion, you must answer all of them. Your grade will be an average of all answers.  

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The theoretical foundations of qualitative and quantitative methods are very different, but many researchers believe both methods should be used in the research study to increase validity and reliability. What advantages or disadvantages do you see in using both types of methods in a nursing study? Support your answer with curren

Please, write a response to this discussion in one paragraph by using one reference from peer-reviewed Nursing Journal not older than 5 years. APA required without cover page.

 

Family Issues on Aging

            Mrs. Lo and her daughter seem to be at a critical point in their lives where tough decisions must be made. Mrs. Lo is under the impression that children should take care of their older parents in the latter years of their lives. The need for a comprehensive approach to tackle the needs of elderly Americans have always been an issue in the United States. Cultural, economic and social factors complicate the issue of elderly healthcare (Harvey, 2019).  In Mrs. Lo’s case, I would counsel her and the daughter together and try and find common ground on what is expected of Mrs. Lo’s care. A compromise would have to be reached in order for all parties to be happy. Communication and transparency are vital in situations like this. If there is still an unwillingness on the daughters end to move the mother in I think it would be best for Mrs. Lo to relocate close to the daughter so that at least she will be in close proximity with the daughter. It seems that Mrs. Lo had always been fairly independent so if she lived close to the daughter she would be able to help with the small tasks like grocery shopping and the like. There are millions of nursing home residents in the US and many of these nursing homes are understaffed and in need of better regulation and financing (Tabloski, 2014). An option that I’m familiar with for Mrs. Lo would include having a caregiver visit her during the day to aid her with the tasks that she needs help with. Ultimately communicating with her loved ones would be the best way for Mrs. Lo to have her opinion respected.