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The Purpose of Research
When you hear the word research, what comes to mind? At its core, research is about seeking answers to questions. In many ways, we all engage in research without realizing it—whether we’re comparing housing options, developing a new recipe, or making important life decisions. Each of these activities involves gathering information, evaluating options, and drawing conclusions.
According to the Cambridge Dictionary, research is defined as [a] “detailed study of a subject, especially in order to discover new information about something or reach a new understanding of it” (Cambridge University Press, n.d.). Similarly, Francis Dane (1990) describes research as a critical process of asking and attempting to answer questions about the world. This process may involve a variety of approaches, such as surveys, interviews, experiments, or innovative methods of inquiry.
However, nursing research differs from everyday research because it is systematic, evidence-based, and aimed at improving patient care and health outcomes. While informal research often relies on personal experience or trial and error, nursing research follows established scientific methods and ethical standards to ensure that results are valid, reliable, and applicable in clinical settings.
Through rigorous data collection, analysis, and critical evaluation, nursing research transforms curiosity into evidence that informs practice, enhances patient safety, guides policy development, and advances the profession as a whole. Ultimately, nursing research not only answers questions but also challenges assumptions, dispels myths, and drives innovation in health care delivery.
Table 1.1 demonstrates the difference between everyday research and nursing research.
Table 1.1 Comparison Between Everyday Research and Nursing Research (Intellectual property of Dr. Florriann Fehr/TRU Open Press CC BY-NC-SA 4.0)
Everyday Research
Nursing Research
Deciding what to cook, shop for, or buy
Evaluating a new intervention for patient care
Searching online reviews for a product
Reviewing peer-reviewed literature or clinical guidelines
Asking friends or family for advice
Consulting with colleagues, ethics boards, or experts
Trial and error / personal experience
Systematic observation, data collection, and analysis
Making decisions based on convenience or preference
Making evidence-based decisions to improve health outcomes
Informal reflection (“Did this work?”)
Structured reflection and critical appraisal of results
The nursing research process is a systematic and evidence-based approach that enables nurses to address clinical questions, improve practice, and enhance patient outcomes. It begins with identifying a problem or gap in knowledge, followed by reviewing existing literature, designing and conducting a study, analyzing and interpreting data, and applying findings to real-world practice. The following scenario demonstrates how a nursing student can apply this process in a clinical setting to explore and improve sleep quality among night shift nurses.
Dr. Fehr Tip: Evidence-Based Practice Is an Act of Care
Using evidence is not about being ‘academic.’ It is about being accountable.
Every time you look up a guideline, question a medication interaction, or verify a claim, you are advocating for safety.
Evidence-based practice is how love for patients becomes action.
Scenario: Evaluating Sleep Quality Among Night Shift Nurses
You are a nursing student completing your placement on a busy hospital medical surgical unit. During breaks, several night shift nurses mention that they struggle with poor sleep, fatigue, and difficulty concentrating after work. You notice that this seems to affect their mood and performance. You start to wonder whether specific sleep hygiene practices, such as using blackout curtains, limiting caffeine, or following a consistent sleep routine, could improve sleep quality among night shift nurses.
Applying the Nursing Research Process
1. Identify a Problem or Question
You identify a workplace concern and ask: How can night shift nurses improve their sleep quality and reduce fatigue?
2. Review the Literature
You review studies in nursing and occupational health journals. Evidence shows that shift work negatively impacts sleep patterns, but few studies have evaluated practical, nurse-led sleep hygiene interventions in hospital settings.
3. Formulate Research Questions or Hypotheses
You develop the question: Does following a structured sleep hygiene routine improve sleep quality among night shift nurses?
You also form a hypothesis: Night shift nurses who follow a sleep hygiene routine for six weeks will report improved sleep quality and reduced fatigue compared to before the intervention.
4. Design the Study
You choose a quantitative, quasi-experimental design. Nurses will complete pre- and post-intervention surveys using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) to measure changes in sleep quality.
5. Obtain Ethical Approval
You submit your study plan to the hospital’s Research Ethics Board (REB) to ensure confidentiality, voluntary participation, and data protection.
Dr. Fehr Tip: Ethics is Not a Hurdle in Research. It is the Foundation
Ethics approval may sound formal and distant, but ethical thinking begins with you.
Ask yourself: Would I feel safe participating in this study? Does this protect dignity? Is this inclusive?
Ethical thinking is everyday practice.
6. Collect Data
You recruit 15 night shift nurses who agree to follow the sleep hygiene plan, which includes avoiding caffeine six hours before sleep, using blackout curtains, and maintaining a consistent bedtime. Data are collected through self-reported sleep diaries and surveys.
7. Analyze Data
You perform statistical analysis comparing pre- and post-intervention PSQI scores.
8. Interpret and Draw Conclusions
Results show a significant improvement in sleep quality and reduced fatigue levels among participants. However, you acknowledge that self-reporting and a small sample size may limit accuracy.
9. Disseminate Findings
You share your findings with the nursing unit manager and present them at a student research symposium. The results are also summarized in the hospital’s internal newsletter.
10. Apply to Practice
The hospital’s wellness committee decides to implement a Sleep Hygiene Education Program for all night shift staff, improving nurse well-being and patient safety.
Activity
Dr. Fehr Tip: When Patients Bring You Google
When a patient shows you something they found online, pause before reacting.
Your role is not to dismiss. It is to explore with them.
You might say: ‘Let’s look at this together and see what we can find from reliable health sources.’
Research literacy protects patients. Compassion protects relationships. You need both.
Reflective Question
What do you think are the possible reasons for and benefits of doing research?
The video below highlights the purpose and benefits of research in the healthcare setting.
Activity
Watch the video, Why do we conduct research? – Research Summit 2016 [2:17] on YouTube, by Healthy Dialogues (2016).
Note: If you are using a printed copy of this resource, watch the video by scanning the QR code with your mobile device.
Dr. Fehr Tip: Evidence-Based Practice Is an Act of Care