DEVELOPING A RESEARCH PLAN

DEVELOPING A RESEARCH PLAN

Overview

When conducting research, it is possible to move in multiple directions rather than toward a specific focal point. These multiple directions create components of the research that do not align with one another. It is particularly a problem for novice researchers. For this final assignment, it will be critical to ensure that all parts of your submission—problem statement, purpose statement, research questions, and data collection, or sampling—are aligned. This review will help lead to a focused research plan, which is more likely to be successful at addressing the research question.

One important consideration is how valid and reliable the data and collection tools are for a research plan. For reasons of expediency, researchers find a sample of a specific population because it is not possible to research an entire population. In quantitative studies, statistical formulas are used to determine the number required from the sample to ensure validity of the study results. In qualitative studies, the simple rule of 12–20 participants is accepted based on the total population. Participants must meet the criteria outlined as specific for the study. The sample comprises individuals who can represent the total population. From the data gathered, the researcher can determine causation, correlation, or inference. 

Remember, reliable data are data findings that can be repeated. In other words, the results from the data collection are consistent across different samples and time periods. Valid data are data findings that are accurate and relevant.

Summary

For this assignment, you will develop a thorough, 5–9 page research plan based on your work on previous assignments. The plan will be based on either qualitative or quantitative methodologies, but not both. In addition to refining your previous work, you will also discuss the concepts of reliability and validity as they pertain to data collection.

Instructions

The purpose of a research plan is to provide a brief overview of the key components of a planned research study. The plan helps to build quality into the research process. During this course, you have developed an abbreviated research plan contributing to a process improvement focused on decreasing the incidence of an HAC of your choice. As you have progressed through the course, you may have improved your ideas and revised your writing based on new information and the expertise you have gained.

To complete this final assignment, combine relevant work from your previous assignments into one seamless research plan. Be sure to incorporate any useful feedback suggested by your instructor and properly cite all resources used to support your plan.

For this assignment, it is suggested that you build on the work that you did in the Research Problem and Purpose Statements assignment, as well as the research questions and methods assignment that fits the method you have chosen.

This assignment has four distinct parts.

Part 1: Problem Statement

For this first part of the assignment, present your revised and finalized problem statement based on your work in the Research Problem and Purpose Statements assignment.

Additionally, explain how the purpose statement is grounded within the context and evidence of your chosen HAC and the health care setting that is being used as the basis for your research plan. Point out the ways in which the problem statement will help to establish the alignment of other parts of the research plan.

This part should be about 1 page long.

Use the following Problem Statement Checklist when finalizing your problem statement.

Problem Statement Checklist

• Identify the problem that led to the research.
  • Is it easy to determine?
  • Do identifying words justify the problem?
• Is the rationale or justification of the problem clearly stated?
• Do the words in the problem statement indicate the kind of study performed? Which words in particular?
• Is the evidence that was cited for the problem provided in the literature?

Relevant Scoring Guide Criteria

• Explain a given problem statement in the context of a research plan.
• Align the separate parts of a research plan into a unified whole.
• Communicate in a manner that is scholarly, professional, and respectful of the diversity, dignity, and integrity of others and is consistent with expectations for health care professionals.

Part 2: Purpose Statement

For this second part of the assignment, present your revised and finalized purpose statement based on your work in the Research Problem and Purpose Statements assignment.

Additionally, explain how the purpose statement is grounded within the context and evidence of your chosen HAC and the health care setting that is being used as the basis for your research plan. Point out the ways in which the purpose statement is aligned with your problem statement, as well as how it will help inform an aligned methodological choice for other parts of the research plan.

This part should be 1–2 pages in length.

Use the following Purpose Statement Checklist when finalizing your purpose statement.

Purpose Statement Checklist

• Identify the purpose that led to the research study.
  • What is the study intended to accomplish? What are the desired outcomes?
  • Is the rationale or justification for the purpose clearly stated?
• Do the words in the purpose statement indicate the kind of study performed? Which words in particular?
• Was the item that was cited as evidence for the purpose published within the last five years?

Relevant Scoring Guide Criteria

• Explain a given purpose statement in the context of a research plan.
• Align the separate parts of a research plan into a unified whole.
• Communicate in a manner that is scholarly, professional, and respectful of the diversity, dignity, and integrity of others and is consistent with expectations for health care professionals.

Part 3: Research Question

For this third part of the assignment, present your revised and finalized research question. This research question should be based on your work in either the Qualitative Research Questions and Methods assignment or the Quantitative Research Questions and Methods assignment.

Additionally, explain how the research question is grounded within the context and evidence of your chosen HAC and the health care setting that is being used as the basis for your research plan. Point out the ways in which the research question is aligned with the purpose of your research plan, as well as how answering it will help to address your research problem. Also comment on the ways in which the research question helps to provide a guide to which data collection methods can be aligned.

This part should be 1–2 pages in length.

Depending on your chosen methodology, the following checklists could be useful:

Qualitative Research Question Checklist

• Does the purpose statement fit logically with the problem statement? Does the purpose statement use similar words to the problem statement, or does it seem to address a different topic?
• Do the research questions align with the method and design of the study? For instance, are words like perception used that would automatically reject a quantitative study?
• Do questions seek to describe responses to the variables described in the study?
• Do the questions begin with the word why?
• Do the questions focus on a single phenomenon?
• Do the questions include exploratory verbs?
• Is the language nondirectional?
• Are the questions open ended?
• Do the questions specify the participants and research site?

Quantitative Research Question Checklist

• Does the purpose statement fit logically with the problem statement? Does the purpose statement use similar words to the problem statement, or does it seem to address a different topic?
• Based on the problem statement, do the research questions align with the method and design of the study? For instance, are words like perception used that would automatically reject a quantitative study?
• Do questions seek to describe responses to the variables described in the study?
• Do the questions include words like compare or correlate that indicate a quantitative study?
• Do the questions include identification of the independent and dependent variables?
• Does the hypothesis fit with the research questions?
• Does the hypothesis include both the null and alternative hypotheses?
• Do the questions and hypothesis identify the participants for the research study?
• Do the questions and hypothesis specify the participants and the research site?

Relevant Scoring Guide Criteria

• Explain a given research question in the context of a research plan.
• Align the separate parts of a research plan into a unified whole.
• Communicate in a manner that is scholarly, professional, and respectful of the diversity, dignity, and integrity of others and is consistent with expectations for health care professionals.

Part 4: Data Collection, Reliability, and Validity

For this fourth and final part of the assignment, you will start by building on the data collection methods, tools, and strategies from your work in either the Qualitative Research Questions and Methods or the Quantitative Research Questions and Methods assignment. Make sure you use the data collection considerations that match the methodology of your research question.

In this part, you will describe the ways in which your data collection methods will be valid within the context of your chosen HAC and health care setting, as well as your choice of methodology. Additionally, you will explain how the measurements that your chosen collection methods will produce are reliable and valid. Lastly, you will comment on how the data collection methods are aligned in such a way that they will produce information that will help to answer the research question and create an opportunity to address the research purpose and problem. Use the following scoring guide to help you.

Relevant Scoring Guide Criteria

• Explain a chosen data collection method in the context of a research plan.
• Describe a contextually valid data collection method.
• Explain contextual measurement reliability and validity.
• Align the separate parts of a research plan into a unified whole.
• Communicate in a manner that is scholarly, professional, and respectful of the diversity, dignity, and integrity of others and is consistent with expectations for health care professionals.

Additional Submission Requirements

• Structure: Include a title page, table of contents, and reference page.
• Length: There is no length requirement for this assignment. Most submissions that fully address all scoring guide criteria will be 5–9 pages long.
• References: Cite at least five current scholarly or professional resources.
• Format: Use APA style for references and citations.
  • You may wish to refer to the following APA resources to help with your structure, formatting, and style:
    • Evidence and APA.
    • APA Style Paper Tutorial [DOCX].
• Font: Times New Roman font, 12 point, double-spaced for narrative portions only.

 

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