First Year Examination-Evaluation
University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee College of Nursing
Problem
Significance
State of Science re: Problem
What is known?
What are the gaps?
Research Questions
Frameworks
Note: The order in which a scientist writes research questions and makes decisions about the logical framework(s) for a study varies and is often iterative
Post-First Year Exam: Methods/Approach
The first year exam is critically important in: a)
establishing a logical, cohesive plan for your dissertation;
b) developing a working relationship with your major professor; c) maintaining forward progress toward attaining your degree; and d) setting the stage for the iterative process of science. The time and care you invest in this process in the first year will, to a large degree, determine the ease and speed with which you are able to progress through the program.
First Year Evaluation
A requirement for entering Year 2 Coursework, this exam is submitted following the completion of NURS 890, 801, 808, 802, 883, and 882.
-Dr. Kovach and PhD Task Force
First Year Dissertation Preparation Examination Faculty Tracking Form
Requirement: By the end of completing your first two credits in NUR 890 you should have the sections below completed.
Student Response/Plan
What is the patient/consumer/healthcare delivery problem? Write a clear succinct statement of problem. Consider the “bigger picture” when writing your problem
statement (e.g. A dissertation study about nurse’s knowledge of clinical low back pain guidelines is important because it addresses a problem in patient care or outcomes. The problem is NOT nurse’s lack of knowledge. It IS undertreated pain in people with low back pain. While this dissertation may not include patients, the problem, justification for doing the study, and framework consider the
“bigger picture”). Getting this first step clear is critical for develop cohesion and
consistency between your problem, significance, framework(s), and research questions. There could be many ways in which the problem can be addressed. You will focus on one aspect for you dissertation.
It is important for you to know the bigger picture since as a nurse scientist you will have a program of research in a focal area.
Who is included in the population of interest? State whether or not your study sample will likely be different than your population of interest. If yes, provide a brief rationale (e.g. Nurse’s lack of satisfaction with work resources contributes to high turnover. High turnover is associated with decreased quality of patient care. Therefore, the problem is poor quality of care, but the population studied will be nurses with a focus on perceived resource needs).
What are the philosophical properties most often used to approach inquiry of the problem or phenomenon?
Is targeting your research program to this group “marketable” and feasible? Would it become more marketable or more feasible to either broaden or limit more specifically your target population?
Is there evidence in the literature of the existence and prevalence of the problem?
If no, describe whether the focus of your dissertation should be a description of the
____Yes ____No
problem and/or prevalence of the problem.
Summarize the evidence in the literature of the existence and prevalence of the problem.
Attach your NUR 890 review of the literature or evidence table on the existence and prevalence of the problem including the sequelae or consequences of the problem.
What are the sequelae or consequences of the problem?
Is there evidence in the literature showing an association between this problem and these sequelae? If no, describe whether the focus of your dissertation should be a descriptive correlational study examining the
relationship between the problem and sequelae.
____Yes ____No
Summarize existing evidence showing an association between this problem and these sequelae?
Is there evidence in the literature showing the causes or antecedents to the problem? If no, describe whether the focus of your dissertation should be a descriptive correlational study examining the relationship between logical antecedent variables and the problem.
____Yes ____No
Summarize existing evidence showing an association between this problem and logical antecedents?
What gaps in understanding this problem, phenomenon, or relationships between variables have you identified thus far?
Is this a significant problem to the public’s health? (note that problems with healthcare delivery and lack of provider
knowledge/decision making are important because of the ultimate impact on patient health). State in one to two sentences why this is a significant problem to the public’s health.
____Yes ____No
If no, RETHINK PROJECT.
Can the stated problem become an outcome variable in a future intervention study?
-If yes, great. State the reason it could become an intervention study outcome variable (e.g. X may be modified through intervention and has the potential to improve/increase/decrease).
to the public’s health. Going through this exercise is critically important in helping you to clarify and solidify your rationale for this study.
What are the most relevant concepts for you to consider in addressing this problem?
Provide a concise rationale for why each concept is relevant. Which concept(s) do you plan to study in NUR 802?
NOTE: The MP must approve the concept(s) chosen by the start of NUR 802. The faculty teaching NUR 802 must also approve during NUR 802 study.
Requirement: By the end of April you must have the requirements listed above and below this box submitted to your MP and the faculty member teaching NUR XXX. These are the required components of the First Year Exam.
Student Response/Plan
Provide conceptual definitions of the 1-3 concepts that you are considering studying in your dissertation. These concepts MUST be one of the relevant concepts stated above.
Attach the concept analysis paper that was prepared for NUR 802 on one or more of these concepts.
Which aspects of your program of research are conducive to a deductive approach, which to an inductive approach?
Explain the framework(s) that guides this study, the fit of your concepts within this framework and the explanations for hypothesized relationships. Evidence of conceptual integration is expected; based on the current state of the science, there is a plausible conceptual rationale for the concepts being examined and the proposed framework(s).
OR
Explain the inductive reasoning framework(s) that guide this study and the fit of your concepts within this framework. Explain how this framework informs your research
questions, design or approach, and how that design or approach drives your methodology and data analysis. Define the philosophical perspectives (e.g., ontology, epistemology) informing your research process including the foundational basis for these perceptions.
Evidence of conceptual integration is expected; based on the current state of the science, there is a plausible conceptual rationale for the concepts being examined and the proposed framework(s).
Condense and succinctly summarize this requirement in 2-4 paragraphs here. Attach your paper from NUR XXX.
Based on all of the work you have done thus far, list 1-3 possible purpose statements for your dissertation study. For each of these purpose statements, how would this study begin the process of advancing the
knowledge of the science of nursing?
Based on all of the work you have done thus far, list possible research questions or hypotheses for your dissertation study.
The first year exam is critically important in: a) establishing a logical, cohesive plan for your dissertation; b) developing a working relationship with your
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