Reference no: EM132954116

Workbook for Dissertation

Survey Designs

The main headings for your dissertation are shown below with the rest of this booklet providing information regarding what you should include in each section.

Abstract
1.Introduction/Background
2.Literature Review
3.Aim & Objectives
4.Methods
4.1. Study Design
4.2. Sampling
4.3. Data Collection
4.3.1. Data Collection Tool (s)
If more than one include subheadings for each tool used
4.3.2. Procedure
4.4. Ethics
4.5 Data Analysis
5. Results
6. Discussion (including limitations of the study)
7. Recommendations for practice
8. Suggestions for future research
Reference list
Appendices

Abstract
The Abstract should be approx. 300 words and should provide a summary of ALL key points of the dissertation.
This should be written last and should be set on a page of its own.

1.Introduction/Background
You can write separate sections for the Introduction and the Background sections or comine them in one section - the choice is yours.
In this section please feel free to use subheadings heal you to structure the flow of information within this section.

2.Literature Review
This section should provide a summary and critique of previous research studies published on your topic. You need to demonstrate how YOUR studies BUILDS on this body of evidence.
The aim here is not to simply provide a summary of previously published research but to provide a critique of what has been done before.
• Avoid saying " A study by Appleby (2017) showed that......", at this level you need to start providing more information eg " A cross-sectional survey (n=235) showed that........... (Appleby, 2017)"
• Can you see the difference here? If not then you need to discuss this with your supervisor.

So within this section you could include the following:
o Some discussion around QUALITATIVE studies that have been carried out on this topic
o Previously published surveys on your topic area. There may be different measurements tools/questionnaires used in different studies, so in this section you need to provide a critical appraisal of these tools to show which a valid and reliable.
Later in your methods section, when you identify the tool that you will use, it SHOULD be one that you have demonstrated to be valid and reliable.
o You can include studies that have used different methods of administration eg paper-based, telephone, on-line. Again you can critique these different methods to demonstrate the advantages/disadvantages of approaches.

The end this section should lead logically into the aims and objectives of your study. You have used the introduction and Literature Review sections to tell the reader why your study is important and how it "fills a gap in knowledge".

3.Aim & Objectives
You should have an overarching aim that reflects the title of your study.
It is a good idea to include an objective that specifically identifies each area of what will be addressed in the results section of your study
• If the aim of your Study is to determine knowledge, attitudes and barriers of Malaysian Nurses to EBP then suitable objectives could be:
• To determine the attitudes of Malaysian Nurses towards EBP.
• To determine the knowledge of EBP principles among Malaysian Nurses.
• To explore the barriers that prevent Malaysian Nurses from being evidence-based practitioners.
• If you have covered factors such as gender or age in your Literature Review then you can explore this within your analysis. For example if you have shown that there are gender differences in attitudes among other professional groups then you may wish to explore this here and can have additional objectives - but remember these must have been discussed in the earlier sections (ie you should not "surprise" the reader by bringing things into your objectives that you have not previously mentioned). Eg:
• To determine if male Malaysian Nurses have a more positive attitude towards EBP than female Malaysian Nurses. (This would imply that previous research has shown males to be more positive in their attitude).
Please see the Powerpoint Presentation on the BlackBoard site that provides further information about framing/wording your objectives.

Methods
Remember that you can include tables, but these must be numbered and titled and you should refer to them in the body of the text (do not put them in the appendices)
4.1. Study Design
• Start by justifying a quantitative approach and then discuss the advantages and disadvantages of a survey design to show why you are using this.
4.2. Sampling
• In this section try not to put too much focus on ethics as you will then end up duplicating information as ethical considerations will be discussed later. If you prefer you can have your Ethics section before your sampling.
• Sample Selection - describe who your sample are and how you will obtain access to them. (Think of this in 3 parts: WHO? WHERE? and HOW?)
• Now identify the type of sampling strategy you have used:
o Probability/Non-probability
• Discuss the advantages/disadvantages of your chosen type
o Convenience/Purposive/
• Again discuss the advantages/disadvantages of your chosen strategy

4.3. Data Collection
In this section you need to discuss the outcomes you will measure (dependent variables) Ie this relates to your questionnaire AND the procedure you use to administer the survey
4.3.1. Data measurement Tool
Identify the tool (MOST of you will be using standardised questionnaires). You MUST reference the tool appropriately. Discuss the questionnaire in details:
• Are there different sections?
o What are they?
o How many questions are in each section?
• What demographic data is collected?
• What is the response format for the parts of your questionnaire that measure eg attitudes/knowledge. Discuss the response format eg
o Likert Scale (4 point/5 point/7 point)
o Dichotomous variables
• Comment on the reliability and validity of the tool/questionnaire.
o This should have been addressed in the Literature Review section.
You must include a copy of the questionnaire in the appendices and a copy of the confirmation from the authors that you can use this in your work.
4.3.2. Procedure
• In this section you need to discuss the procedure for carrying out your data collection. Remember you have already discussed how you got your sample in the earlier section so do not repeat information already covered.
• Discuss the advantages/disadvantages of the chosen method of administration specifically in relation to YOUR study (eg if you have chosen an on-line survey....why? and what impact may this have on your study?
4.4. Ethics
• You should highlight the main areas that need to be addressed:
• Obtaining informed consent
o Your survey will be anonymous and as such you WILL not take a consent form from the participants - consent is IMPLIED when they complete and return the questionnaire.
• Minimising the risk of harm to participants
o Discuss any potential areas
o This will have been addressed in your ethics application
• Ensuring anonymity and confidentiality
o Again - anonymous so anonymity is assured
o In terms of confidentiality cover storage of data
• Avoid using deceptive practices
o Mention the Participant Information Sheet (PIS)
• Right to withdraw
o Again, as the survey is anonymous it is NOT possible for participants to withdraw their data.

You should include a copy of your full ethical approval from Teesside in the appendices. (all of the above items will have been discussed within your ethics application, so refer to that)

4.5. Data Analysis
• Identify the method of data analysis you will use for YOUR study.
• For all studies there will be a descriptive statistics section and for SOME there will be some inferential statistics (eg if you are looking for differences between male/female attitudes).
Once you have your data I suggest that send this last section and your data to the Module Leader (Sylvia) for an overview of what your statistical analysis will be.

5. Results
Remember when you set out your objectives, I said these link to what will be included in the results section and therefore you should include the following:
• Start with a discussion of your response rate - ie:
o How many questionnaires were distributed?
o How many were returned?
o Calculate the response rate and comment on whether this was good/poor

• A description/summary of the demographics of your sample
o Ensure that you include tables/graphs only where required
o Eg if the sample included 55 males and 55 females - you do NOT need to include a tables and/or a graph.
• Then start to report the results from the survey
o There is a workbook to demonstrate how to present your data in a meaningful manner.

6. Discussion (including limitations of the study)
This is where you discuss your results and link it to previous studies, guidelines, practice.

7. Recommendations for practice
Do your findings have any implications for your clinical practice.

8. Suggestions for future research
Think about some of the following areas:
• Think about what the next step could be.
o If your study showed some results that were unexpected and you would like to explore this more then you may propose some qualitative research in which you could talk to participants to obtain more in-depth information.
o If your response rate was very low you may consider a further survey but using a different method of administration or accessing participants via a different route.

Reference list
Like all academic work you should include a reference list of all cited items - (Remamber that ALL parts of the work should be referenced - this includes ALL of the METHODS section.

Attachment:- Dissertation - Surveys.rar