Optimizing Academic Research Titles: Clarity, Specificity, And Credibility

Aveyard (2014) suggests that researchers should be responsible and assure the acceptance and the clearance of ideas presented in studies through their topics or titles. However, through the title ‘Nursing students’, the experience of research during clinical placements peaks the reader interest; it informs the reader of the focus of the study and its subject matter. Baillie (2015), states in this line that certain terms or lost words in the title can deteriorate the credibility of the studies. The title does not include terms which allow the reader to recognise the target group. This brings Parahoo (2014) to mention that the title should not be too long or too short because of the confusion it can have on the reader. Whitehouse was a format student nurse which is now leading nurse research (Björkström et al. 2003). It however establishes that the grade of a person depends on the anterior training. In this line, Ingram-Bromfield (2008) states that a short description on the author’s grade, certification, occupation and work place allow to know their clinical expertise. Moreover, Braun and Clarke (2006) develops that researchers should make shore that details on the author’s job title and qualification necessary to engage in investigations to show how the author is well identified following the area of study. There is no indication of a record of previous publications.

Research Approach/ Design

Burnard et al (2008) performed a study design to evaluate the complete experience of the pre-registration nursing student regarding conducting research during clinical placements and to identify any positive aspect or barriers to the amelioration of the experience during clinical placements. The researcher states that the study focuses on nursing students. The approach used for this study is qualitative according to Burns and Grove (2011) and Caldwell, Henshaw and Taylor (2011) and it is a method which primarily concentrates on the attitudes, experiences and feelings of the pre-registration nursing students to specify the contrasting aspects of the statistical and size based dimensions. Connelly (2014) explains that a qualitative approach is used to understand an instructive problem which provides an inside into learning and teaching in different settings. However, we discover through Creswell (1998) that the advantage of qualitative research is that in case there is a problem, it can provide depth and detail, creates openness and attempts to avoid pre-conceived notions and judgemental considerations. The example which is derived from this research article pertains to the experiences of the nursing students. This article discusses the role of the university in supporting research learning at a great length despite not being included in the structured interview whilst the interview was taking place. Qualitative method data is more influential than quantitative method as it is used to gain an understanding of primary reasons (Creswell, 1998). The disadvantage of a qualitative method is that fewer people focus their interests and generally more time is consumed generating difficulties in making systematic comparisons (Crouch and McKenzie, 2002). The approach used in this study is a phenomenology developed by Giorgi (2008) as specific outlooks and descriptions of such outlooks related to the hypotheses or existing preconceptions. As such, Holloway and Galvin (2016) develops that a phenomenological approach is an access which stresses and details a person experience. This justifies findings through participant’s experiences and is a true image of the data (Burns and Grove, 2011).

Sample

Hunt et al (2015) have stated that the process of sampling is reflective of the most significant of processes within the entire working architecture of any research for the purpose of making sure that the research could be effective as well as successful and that the research process could be concluded within the determined time limit through the most economic methods. Therefore, there are many sampling techniques which can be used when recruiting participants. In this line, Ingham-Broomfield (2008) suggests that purposeful sampling is a method commonly used in qualitative research, to select and identify appropriate information for maximum usage of limited sources. However, the author did not explain the nature for purposeful sampling.

Sampling-population

Crouch and Mc Kenzie (2002) states that a sample size inferior at 20 participants helped build pleasant relationships which introduce complete analysis of their experiences. The sample size is described as the detail of how participants are recruited; this however gives to the person who reads the possibility to evaluate this procedure appropriately. Throughout the study, it has been clearly outlined that 8 nursing students have selected as the focused research sample and this has been the indication of the applicability of the phenomenological methodology (Mason, 2010). Crewell (1998) explains that in any phenomenological study, the sample sizes generally involve 5 to 25 participants. The researcher, must, in this sense, designate and highlight the targeted population for the reader to determine the sample size (Ryan et al. 2007). In the qualitative study . The participants in this study were students of the second and third year preregistration degree level in nursing studies and the care facilities investigated involved the adult, childcare, mental health and learning disability based services. First year’s student were excluded because they refused to provide written consent. The criteria and standards for selecting specific participants for the study should be justified appropriately.

Ethical considerations

This study was approved by a favourable ethical opinion. Ethical issues are significant components of any research project involving human beings. Ingham-Broomfield (2014) develops that the researcher must ensure that ethical boundaries and concerns are not disregarded and this could result into participant’s protection. Leung (2015), however, considers that informed consent, privacy and confidentiality and exploitation etc. are the most significant ethical components in the health and social care structures. It is the responsibility of nursing researchers to make sure the protection of sustained human right and ethical principles are correctly followed (Mason, 2010). In the study, students were permitted to ask questions earlier and to complete an informed written consent form before getting involved in the study (Ryan et al. 2007). Polit and Beck (2017) have explained that maintenance of proper confidentiality could enable participants to control their involvement in the most effective manner and this could lead to the proper participation involvement on part of such students or other participants since confidentiality aspects could restrain any effort to identify them completely . Patient confidentiality in terms of information, audio and files were coded and respected to protect privacy. The article mentioned that complete anonymity was impossible because of the nature of the study and the face to face interview process. Parohoo (2006) outlines that if a different method is used by the researcher, it would be required to be made sure that participants remained anonymous to the readers. Braun and Clarke (2006) maintained that in this article, researchers could find institutional and ethical approvals to be specified and sustained. The article mentions that the letter of support from the study was discussed and provided by the university and the head of education at each trust.

Data collection

Moule, Aveyard and Goodman (2016) collected the data through semi-structured questionnaire and interactive interviews. Polit and Beck (2017) explains that unstructured and semi-structured interviews also assist in the data collection process and are widely used in qualitative research, less complete labour, consume less time and is more expensive than unstructured interviews. However, semi-structured interviews generally has a frame work and are beneficial for interviewers to have an interview guide prepared, which is an informal grouping of topics and question that interviewer can ask in different ways for different participants (Pout and Beck, 2014).

Holloway and Galvin (2016) have stated that the interview setting is of the prime importance regarding the participations since this could assist the researchers in obtaining of the most relevant data structures from the participants since the interviewees are comparatively at greater position of control regarding the interview processes and thus could provide unhindered responses from a perceptually secured state of mind..

Interviews took place at the venue of the participant’s choice: at either one of the two trusts in which nursing students were on placements at the university or via skype. Parahoo (2014) has specified that data collection through phenomenological interview methods require enough time so that accurate and extensive data could be obtained and should also be recorded to allow detailed analysis of the data collected. The procedure used to gather and record data are effectively described and are also appropriate for phenomenological studies . The researcher specified that a previous study was conducted by Bjorkstrom et al. (2003) and the process used for collecting the data was a three-part questionnaire study which shows positivity, but the article also, does not provide further information of how long it takes to collect information (Ryan et al. 2007).

Therefore, researchers in the article have used the relevant method of collecting data which could help in accomplishing much information needed for research through collecting of information and by making sense of the experiences of the pre-registration nursing placement which embellish accurate data acquisition processes. Sherman et al (1992) suggest that nursing students are encouraged to inspect areas in a wider depth when indicated through their non-verbal or verbal communication.

Analysis

Braun and Clarke (2006) defined thematic analysis as a method of describing, analysing, reporting, identifying and organising themes which are found in the collected data. All interviews are recorded on a Dictaphone which is then further recorded, downloaded and transcribed verbatim. Thematic analysis is an appropriate and valuable method used to study the point of views of participants producing surprising insights and highlighting alterations and similarities (Aveyard, 2014).

The data collected through semi-structured and face to face interviews were examined and determined by using three main processes of phenomenological analysis. The three stages consist of phenomenological interpretation, phenomenological reduction and phenomenological description as presented by (Moule, Aveyard and Goodman, 2016) which in addition explains that these three stages are mainly used in qualitative researches.

According to Parahoo (2014) phenomenological description is the process of analysing the description of data collection through different methods. Moreover, Moule, Aveyard and Goodman (2016) also present phenomenological interpretation as the method of analysing the data collection to identify the competing themes and insights for the research. They conclude by outlining that phenomenological reduction could be also perceived as the theoretical construct which could be utilised as a research connection which could assist the researchers to weed away the preconceived notions regarding the interpretations of the experiences of the participants and could also assist them in entering the field of the research with open mind without the stress of preconception.

In this article, the researcher has utilised critical reflection during the process of phenomenological reduction, recorded interviews on a Dictaphone, downloaded and formulated transcripts through repeatedly listening to the recordings of the interviews reading and then formulating the transcripts and thus, considered the meaning units. After the interviews were transcribed verbatim, the researcher performed data analysis and then agreed on the final themes. The thematic analysis were used to analyse the data which was collected from focus groups, along with interviews and textual sources. Such interpretation and analysis tend to be root of thematic analysis, thus this was the correct method of data analysis to be utilised within this type of research. A thematic framework was grown through discussions with experienced qualitative researchers for expert’s opinion and then was refined by using the design modelling feature of Nvivo qualitative software for all data analysis.

Nvivo software has higher compatibility and has characteristics in coding, rich text and ability to perform multimedia functions which are essential for qualitative data analysis and thus, this software helps to improve accuracy in qualitative studies (Zamawe, 2013). According to Holloway and Galvin (2016), Nvivo is one of the most popular computer software which are used in qualitative data analysis packages and this software unit helps to recognise code themes, idea and series of actions to achieve results which are essential for this research. However, researchers have discussed about particular versions of the software in the analysis of data.

The article states that participants are given opportunities to analyse their transcripts before publishing such transcripts for feedback purposes. Meanwhile Burns and Grove (2011) argue that by letting the participants to analyse their transcript and provide general feedbacks on researcher’s interpretations which could motivate the researcher to furthermore check for any contradiction and provides an opportunity re-analysing the data.

Results and finding

The objective of the study was to investigate on the pre-registration nursing student experience of research during clinical placements.

In this article, researchers have used results displayed in several tables which were presenting the role of university, mentor influence, placement culture, visibility and student’s attitudes and explained their findings from the data analysis under each topic which used verbatim and made understanding the results. The first table is a small table which is divided into two columns, such as inclusion for those who were eligible to participate and other side exclusion. According to Parahoo (2014), transcribing the data verbatim allow others to have an insight into what becomes apparent between the researcher and the participant and it also helps to compare the perception of participants as well as the researchers. Box one explained student’s perceptions of research before knowing about the process and the reader find it evolving to read and understand the minimal informal words. The researcher interpreted what was said and included an informal meaning of what the students really said in the box. Box two represents their experiences, and university suggestions to consider, and in accordance to student’s perception of research.

As mentioned previously, using narrative analysis the researcher developed themes, when presenting their findings, and they also used themes as headings and actual narrations from the focus groups to support their conclusions.

Trustworthy and Credible

Following the article, authors present their task designations regarding the nursing services departments and also provided their social media accounts to clearly suggest that they would be presenting the research paper with their experiences, knowledge and expertise. Speziale, Streubert and Carpenter (2011) and Ryan et al (2007), in this line suggest that when including author’s roles and job title the trustworthiness and credibility of the articles are impact. In addition, Connelly (2014) develops that for qualitative studies to be credible in the field it should be beneficial and logical as credibility is sensitive (Zamawe, 2015). To ensure credibility and trustworthiness, the author should be able to provide audit trails and demonstrate engagements between the researcher and participants

The appropriate instruments, process and data for research were appropriately used by researchers to improve the genuineness of research (Leung 2015). The importance of a credible research lie on the researcher’s idea and accomplished by more than a skilful qualitative researcher and data collected comes from appropriate methods used in qualitative research (Baillie, 2015). The recordings were made accessible for participants to access and listen during their own time and place of choice and used to improve credibility and accuracy. As such, Ballie (2015) explains that the process recorded is available for explanations and can be justified, and further explains the trustworthiness of the research.

Strengths, limitations and Discussion

In the article, the selected sample is a strength which has no evidence of worthless, unsuitable and inappropriate details of bigot language. Contrarily, the researchers have not comment on the strengths of the study and the method of data analysis and data collection were appropriate for their study and it helped to acquire valid findings which made the research credible. The outline is easy to understand because of the titles, subheadings and written language used adequate. However, Bjorkstrom et al. (2003) develops that the use of interviews to achieve data corresponds to the study and design an additional strength of the paper.

Researchers have discussed the findings which have brought forward an in-depth analysis of the outcomes of this research which could be realised to formulate further insights into the research topic under consideration (Zamawe, 2015). Following this point of view, comparing researchers appears to be less aware of health care research and also comes in to understand the importance of research in health care. Although there is lack of an evidence identification that originates from research, it’s perceived through the lack of importance because no research specified objective is covered. In this line, Polit and Beck (2017) explains that researchers mostly argues on the interpretations of results and provides clinical research suggestions by explaining the experiences of nursing student in placements.

Aveyard (2014) recognises and accepts limitations related to the study. Despite numerous repetition errors and approaches constantly mentioned in the article, there still exists some spelling misplacing and the author as the head of the research process, has consistently utilised peer reviewing of the journal for authentication and relevance maintenance purposes. The author suggests that fourteen codes are found, but only 5 themes are declared within the study. Whitehouse explains in this way that there is only one study which conducts and focuses on nursing student’s research placement, but the key point of the section it outlines that no studies were concluded as it produces confusion. Within the study it is mentioned that mentor viewpoints are not included, this would have been useful to compare their experiences with the student nurses. The time limitations for researcher are important parts to be considered as the author is completing master’s degree. Finally, the limitation of sufficient information generates more difficulties in the research process.

Implication for practice

In this article student nurses are unable to identify nursing researchers through their uniform which are alike the ward nurses, and it constitutes a barrier because of the confusion it creates. Implications state that the differences in uniform should more incorporate the nursing student and healthcare introduction trust booklet. Burnard et al (2008) have explained in this line that universities and trust have implemented suggestions made by nurses’ student as they were truthful and helpful to the study and will further increase research awareness. The purpose of the study was to expand the scope of the experiences of the nursing students and that of the associated research throughout clinical placements taken into consideration and when implications are set by the author and are mainly based on opinions and nursing student’s experiences. The implications of the study identified in the research includes nursing student centred approach established to improve the experience of the students regarding undertaking of research and understanding how to translate evidences from research to clinical practices. The researchers have been allowed to identify and help to focus on not only student nurses but also on the role of the university. Moreover, a multidisciplinary team work was made to expand a goal which benefits student nurses. In addition, qualitative research gives researchers the chances to reflect on present practices and encourages bringing up to date and evidence-based practices, elaborating and ameliorating are very important for providing every day nursing practice.

Conclusion

Our essay presented the different procedures or elements indispensable for the amelioration of nursing student’s research during clinical placement through authors. It is also noted that, the question of the credibility in studies stands sensitive, but withstands the limitations surrounding the analysis which improved in methods and also results. The ethics of analysis and findings in studies permitted the betterment of student’s trustfulness and also improves the awareness and the experiences of nursing student’s research.

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