Descriptions, definitions and examples of terms used within the library
ENTRY FORM TERMS:
Age Age refers to the minimum and maximum age range of subjects in your study.
Clinical Significance Clinical Significance is a summary statement of the meaning of these results in relation to clinical practice.
Co-variate A Co-variate is a variable whose relationship with the dependent or outcome variable is adjusted before the effects of the other independent variables are examined.
Data Analysis Method Data Analysis Method refers to the process of systematically applying statistical or logical techniques to describe, summarize, and compare data. Select from the pull-down choices or enter in the form of analysis used to compare, contrast, and relate variables studied. This would include statistics or scientific analysis used.
Data Collection Method Data Collection Method refers to the procedures for gathering and recording data from or related to subjects in the study. Select from the pull-down choices the protocol, procedure, or process that best identifies what was used to collect data for the purpose of this research question.
Data Collection Setting(s) Data Collection Setting refers to the context and environment in which the study was conducted. Examples of settings would include: hospices, intensive care unit, ambulatory care facilities, laboratory, home environment, etc.
Dependent A Dependent variable is one whose values are a function of other variable(s) [called independent variable(s)] in the relationship under study. A dependent variable is an outcome or response variable in this research question.
Dependency Dependency refers to the “role” of the variable in this research question. Select from the pull-down choices the term that best describes the role of the variable in this study. See choices below:

--A Co-variate is a variable whose relationship with the dependent or outcome variable is adjusted before the effects of the other independent variables are examined.

--A Dependent variable is one whose values are a function of other variable(s) [called independent variable(s)] in the relationship under study. A dependent variable is an outcome or response variable in this research question.

--An Independent variable is one that is hypothesized to influence an event or manifestation (the dependent variable); independent variables are controlled or fixed by the researchers in order to observe their effect on dependent variables.
Description of Sample Description of Sample refers to the characteristics of the “observation units” in your study. This may be, for example, persons, patient care units, hospitals, or communities. The observation units are associated with the level of analysis at which statistical testing is completed. Examples of descriptions to use in this field would include: young adults, university students, women with HIV, White elderly women, urban family caregivers, etc.
Design Design refers to the overall plan or series of decisions that, taken together, make up a master plan for conducting the research, which includes sample, setting, methods, and other procedures used in the study. For example: grounded theory, historical inquiry, quasi-experimental research, control methods, etc.
Enter Abstract or Text An Abstract is a summary of the main features of a study. Although there are no character limits, please try not to exceed 500 words. You may copy and paste your abstract from another document.
Enter Title Enter the Complete Title of your study here. There are no character limits. You may copy and paste text from another document.
Estimated End Date Estimated End Date is the date you completed active data collection for your study or the date you anticipate you will complete data collection (e.g., no longer enrolling subjects, no longer conducting experiments). Enter the date in mm/dd/yyyy format, for example, 06/01/2005 using zero as a place holder. If you do not know the exact end date, you may estimate by using the last day of the month in which the study ended or December 31of the year in which the study ended. If the study has not yet ended, you may enter the date you expect the study to end. This date may be edited later.
Findings Narrative Findings Narrative is a summary statement that describes the overall results of the study related to this specific question, aim, or hypothesis.
Gender Gender refers to subjects. If applicable, indicate whether subjects were male, female, or mixed - both male and female.
Independent An Independent variable is one that is hypothesized to influence an event or manifestation (the dependent variable); independent variables are controlled or fixed by the researchers in order to observe their effect on dependent variables.
List Co Investigators The List Co-Investigators field requires the complete name of other individuals who participated in conducting the study. The format for entering this information is important. Please use commas to separate First, Middle, and Last Names.
Not Applicable Select Not Applicable if a dependency relationship does not exist with the variable associated with the research question.
Number of Groups Number of Groups refers to the number of classes, sets, or different groups into which you divided the sample in your study.
Operational Definition An Operational Definition tells how variables or concepts will be measured in a study. Operation definitions provide a means for researchers to specify exactly how to test or to measure particular phenomena being studied.
P Value P Value is the probability that a given result obtained in a statistical test could have occurred by chance alone rather than because of a hypothesized relationship. A P-value is the lowest level of significance at which a given null hypothesis can be rejected, that is, the necessary criterion for determining that the result probably did not happen by chance.
Phenomenon Phenomenon refers to the facts, ideas, concepts, observations, or occurrences being studied.
Qualitative Research Qualitative Research emphasizes the experiences, interpretations, impressions, or motivations of an individual or individuals, and seeks to describe how people view things and why. Qualitative research describes phenomena in words instead of numbers or measures and usually uses induction to ascertain what is important in phenomena.
Quantitative Research Quantitative Research emphasizes data that are obtained via measurement or counting, and the statistical testing of the relationships among variables. Quantitative research includes experimental and non-experimental research and descriptive research (research that attempts to describe the characteristics of a sample or population).
Research Focus Research Focus refers to the description of the topic or research domain that would best describe the specific characteristic(s) studied and central to this research work. Some examples would include clinical research, historical research, ethics research, educational research, methodological research, etc.
Research Question Research Question refers to the inquiry that is to be answered by the research study, and should be stated in the form of a question.
Sample Size Sample Size refers to the actual number of “observation units” included in your study. As examples, if you studied people, this refers to the number of human participants on whom observations were made. If you studied patient care units in a hospital, this refers to the number of units on which observations were made.
Sampling Plan Sampling Plan refers to the strategies, or set of rules or procedures, for specifying how a sample is to be selected. For example: convenience, random assignment, theoretical, etc.
Start Date Start Date is the date after your protocol was completed when you began to actively work on your study (e.g., began to enroll subjects, began experiments). Enter the date in mm/dd/yyyy format, for example, 01/01/2005 using zero as a place holder. If you do not know the exact start date, you may estimate by using the first day of the month in which the study started or January 1 of the year in which the study started. This date may be edited later.
Statistical Value Statistical Value refers to the numerical value resulting from comparison, contrast, or analysis of study variables.
Study Type Study Type refers to the specific funding or educational experience that best describes the condition under which this research study was conducted. Make a selection from the pull-down choices that are provided. See choices below:

--A thesis is a research paper written for master's degree.

--Funded-Government refers to a research paper funded by a national government.

--Funded-National refers to a research paper funded by a national organization.

--A dissertation is a research paper written for a doctoral degree.
Thesis Research paper written for master's degree.
Theoretical Framework Theoretical Framework refers to the concept(s), model(s), and or theory(ies) that were used to guide research questions and formulate hypotheses for data collection and analysis of this study.
Variable Name Variable Name refers to an attribute or characteristic of a piece of data that differs within and among subjects or objects being studied.
Words in Abstracts Words in Abstracts or keywords, are significant words or terms that can be used to describe this study and as referencing points to retrieve this study. For example: nurse role, pediatric oncology, etc.


BUTTONS, TABS AND PULL-DOWN TERMS:

Add Analysis Clicking on this button will allow you to add additional analyses.
Add Phenomenon Clicking on this button will allow you to add additional phenomena.
Add Question Clicking on this button will allow you to add additional research questions.
Add Research Select this tab to begin submitting your research study for publication in the Registry of Nursing Research database. Definitions are provided for terms used on the entry form. Additional “Help" appears on the right side on the tab toolbar within the electronic library.
Add Variables Clicking on this button will allow you to add additional variables.
Advanced Search Clicking on "Advanced Search" will direct you to additional searching options.
Advanced Search Tips Type in search term(s) in the blanks provided to retrieve information from conference abstracts or research abstracts by using keyword(s), specific title, year, location, and/or researcher name. Use buttons provided to further refine your search to "these words exactly'', "any of these words" or "all of these words."
Clear Form Clicking on this button will remove any information that was added to the form.
Co- Investigator Type in the first and last name of a co-investigator.
Dissertation Research paper written for doctoral degree.
Find Abstracts Select this tab to locate specific conference abstracts or research abstracts published in the Registry of Nursing Research database. For additional help, see “Help” on the right side of the tab toolbar.
Find Resources Select this tab to locate nursing resources available from the Virginia Henderson International Nursing Library. For additional help, see “Help” on the right side of the tab toolbar.
Funded - Government Research paper funded by a national government.
Funded - International Research paper funded by an international organization.
Funded - National Research paper funded by a national organization.
Help Click on “Help” on the right side of the tab toolbar.
Primary Investigator Type in the first name, middle name, and/or last name of a primary investigator.
Qualitative Study If your study only has qualitative components, this button will allow you to proceed to the section of the entry form where you can enter your qualitative research question and related information about your study.
Quantitative and Qualitative Study If your study has both quantitative and qualitative components, this button will allow you to enter first the quantitative research and then the qualitative research.
Quantitative Study If your study has only quantitative components, this button will allow you to proceed to the section of the entry form where you can enter your quantitative research question and related information about your study.
Relationship of Variables Select a term from the pull-down choices that best describes the association between variables in this study. (See definitions of co-variate, dependent, and independent variables).
Save and Continue Clicking on this button will save any information that was added to the form and allow you to continue to the next section of the registration form.
Save and Finish Later Clicking on this button will save any information that was added to the form and allow you to return to complete the form at another time by going to "My Profile" and then "My Research" and selecting the study you want to continue working on.
Search Clicking on "Search" will display search results.
Thesis Research paper written for master's degree.
Title Type in the title of the study.
Unfunded Research paper that was self-funded.