Nursing (NURS) 328
Understanding Research (Revision 7)
Revision 7 is closed for registrations, see current revision
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Delivery Mode: Individualized study online (with eTextbook)
Credits: 3
Area of Study: Applied Studies
Prerequisite: ENGL junior/senior (ENGL255 recommended). Available only to Bachelor of Nursing students or with professor approval
Post RN BN Pre/co-requisite: MATH 215 or MATH 216 or an equivalent introductory statistics course; ENGL junior/senior (ENGL255 recommended)
Post LPN BN Pre/co-requisite: NURS 250.
Faculty: Faculty of Health Disciplines
Centre: Centre for Nursing and Health Studies
NURS 328 is not available for Challenge.
Overview
Nursing 328: Understanding Research introduces students to the research process and to the methods and analytical tools they require to critically evaluate research reports. The course provides students with an overview of qualitative and quantitative approaches to research.
Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of NURS 328, the student will achieve or exceed the following course outcomes:
- Explain the importance of research to evidence-based professional practice.
- Describe ethical considerations in research.
- Describe quantitative and qualitative approaches to research.
- Critically appraise research reports.
Course Structure
- Unit 1: The Value of Research and Evidenced-based Practice
- Unit 2: Qualitative and Quantitative Research: Two Alternative Paradigms
- Unit 3: Research Ethics
- Unit 4: Research Problems, Questions, and Hypotheses
- Unit 5: The Literature Review
- Unit 6: The Theoretical Frame
- Unit 7: Quantitative Research Design
- Unit 8: Qualitative Research Design
- Unit 9: Sampling in Research
- Unit 10: Scrutinizing Data Collection Methods
- Unit 11: Evaluating Measurements and Data Quality
- Unit 12: Analyzing Quantitative Data
- Unit 13: Analysis of Qualitative Data
- Unit 14: Critiquing Research Reports
Evaluation
To receive credit for NURS 328, students must complete and submit all of the required assignments , complete the final exam, and achieve a composite grade of at least C (64 percent). All papers submitted must follow the guidelines of the current APA Publication Manual
The assignments and weighting of the composite grade is as follows:
| Facilitating Evidence Based Practice | 15% |
| Making Research Real and Relevant | 25% |
| Critique of a Research Report | 30% |
| Final Examination | 30% |
| Total | 100% |
The final examination for this course must be taken online with an AU-approved exam invigilator at an approved invigilation centre. It is your responsibility to ensure your chosen invigilation centre can accommodate online exams. For a list of invigilators who can accommodate online exams, visit the Exam Invigilation Network.
To learn more about assignments and examinations, please refer to Athabasca University's online Calendar.
Course Materials
Etext
Registration in this course includes an electronic textbook. For more information on electronic textbooks, please refer to our eText Initiative site.
Woo, K., Polit & Beck (2019) Canadian essentials of nursing research (4th ed.). Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.
A print version of the eText may be available for purchase from the publisher through a direct-to-student link provided on the course website; you can also acquire the textbook on your own if you wish.
Other Materials
A variety of electronic journal articles and websites are used in the course and paper copies are not included in the course package.
Athabasca University reserves the right to amend course outlines occasionally and without notice. Courses offered by other delivery methods may vary from their individualized-study counterparts.
Opened in Revision 7, July 12, 2016.
View previous syllabus