Research: promoting positive attitudes through education

Abstract

This paper outlines a study which was undertaken to explore the relationship between nurses' attitudes towards research and their educational experience. A Likert-type attitude questionnaire, using statements derived from themes emerging within the literature, was used prior to, and following, 61 students' learning experiences on research modules at diploma and degree levels. Teaching and learning strategies adopted within the modules focused on overcoming some of the main barriers to utilization of research findings identified within the literature. The results obtained identified a significant shift towards more positive attitudes to research following the modules. The conclusions exhort nurse educators to not only include research into curricula, but also to reflect on the teaching and learning strategies adopted.

Swedish nursing students' attitudes to and awareness of research and development within nursing

“…Further, students with additional academic studies were more positive to the factors ‘Research language’ and ‘Participation’. This is in accordance with previous studies, which have shown the relationship between education and attitudes (Pearcey 1995, Dyson 1997). Students from an upper secondary school that focused on health care, who had entered nursing education at the university level, were less positive to the factor ‘Research language’ and less familiar with Swedish nursing researchers than students entering from an upper secondary school that did not focus on health care.…”

“…A study by Whitmeyer Hitchcock and Murphy (1999) showed that students who were involved in the research process during their education had a positive attitude towards research. Results from other studies also demonstrate that students' attitudes towards nursing research change in a positive direction during education (Slimmer 1992, Dyson 1997, MacArthur MacVicar 1998, Linder 1999, Manninen 1999). However, Arthur and Kam Yuet Wong (2000) did not find this relationship probable because the students entered the research course with a positive attitude.…”

Utilization of research findings by graduate nurses and midwives

“…1991, Marsh & Brown 1992, Poster et al. 1992, Cole 1995, Pearcey 1995, Pond & Bradshaw 1996, Dyson 1997). A positive relationship was found between attitudes towards research and research utilization in practice.…”

“…1996, Parahoo 1998, Bjorkstrom & Hamrin 2001). Furthermore, a link between developing positive attitudes towards research and the amount of research education received was also discovered (Cole 1995, Pond & Bradshaw 1996, Dyson 1997, Hitchcock & Murphy 1999), but again the evidence was far from conclusive. Chenitz et al.…”

“…For example, a number of studies have found that, although the majority of respondents expressed very positive attitudes towards research, they reported minimal use of research findings in practice (Veeramah 1995, Wright et al 1996, Parahoo 1998, Bjorkstrom & Hamrin 2001. Furthermore, a link between developing positive attitudes towards research and the amount of research education received was also discovered (Cole 1995, Pond & Bradshaw 1996, Dyson 1997, Hitchcock & Murphy 1999, but again the evidence was far from conclusive. Chenitz et al (1986) and McSherry (1997) did not find any association between these two variables.…”