NURS 781 - Measurement & Instrumentation in Nursing

"Designing and Conducting Health Surveys" is written for students, teachers, researchers, and anyone who conducts health surveys. This third edition of the standard reference in the field draws heavily on the most recent methodological research on survey design and the rich storehouse of insights and implications provided by cognitive research on question and questionnaire design in particular. This important resource presents a total survey error framework that is a useful compass for charting the dangerous waters between systematic and random errors that inevitably accompany the survey design enterprise. In addition, three new studies based on national, international, and state and local surveys-the UNICEF Multiple Indicator Cluster Surveys, California Health Interview Survey, and National Dental Malpractice Survey-are detailed that illustrate the range of design alternatives available at each stage of developing a survey and provide a sound basis for choosing among them.

Making Sense of Factor Analysis: The Use of Factor Analysis for Instrument Development in Health Care Research presents a straightforward explanation of the complex statistical procedures involved in factor analysis. Authors Marjorie A. Pett, Nancy M. Lackey, and John J. Sullivan provide a step-by-step approach to analyzing data using statistical computer packages like SPSS and SAS. Emphasizing the interrelationship between factor analysis and test construction, the authors examine numerous practical and theoretical decisions that must be made to efficiently run and accurately interpret the outcomes of these sophisticated computer programs.

From a perspective that focuses on the meaning, purpose, and implications of key psychometric concepts, principles, and procedures, Psychometrics: An Introduction, Second Edition (by R. Michael Furr and Verne R. Bacharach) introduces the subject and study of psychometrics. It addresses these topics at a level that is deeper and more focused than what is found in typical introductory undergraduate testing and measurement texts, but is much more intuitive than what is traditionally found in the more technical publications intended for advanced graduate courses. By emphasizing concepts over mathematical proofs and by focusing on practical significance, this book assists students in appreciating not just how measurement problems can be addressed, but why it is crucial to address them.

Qualitative Research Design: An Interactive Approach, Third Edition provides researchers and students with a user-friendly, step-by-step guide to planning qualitative research. Joseph A. Maxwell shows how the components of design interact with each other, and provides a strategy for creating coherent and workable relationships among these design components, highlighting key design issues. Written in an informal, jargon-free style, the book incorporates examples and hands-on exercises. "This book uses everyday language that will captivate students' attention and embed practical knowledge to supplement the technical."                                        --Gaetane Jean-Marie, University of Oklahoma "The key strengths of the text are the passion and the enthusiasm that Dr. Maxwell has for qualitative research after all these years. I feel I can also utilize these concepts on my own research team and take them out of the classroom and into research team meetings with colleagues."                                        --Deborah Gioia, University of Maryland, Baltimore "I really liked this book. I found myself taking notes and saying "yes" so many times because Maxwell captures the research process so well and provides many points worth quoting. As a faculty mentor, I particularly see the value of this book for my students who are conducting qualitative dissertations."                                        --Mary S. Enright, Capella University "The text is incredibly engaging and practical...So many of the issues raised in the book are central to qualitative research, yet often not explicitly discussed in 'public' venues."                                        - David Carlone, The University of North Carolina at Greensboro "I particularly like the interactive focus and believe that helps students to more realistically engage qualitative research design.  It certainly lives up to its billing as a good guidebook, and I appreciate the fact that the author really concentrates on useful content, exercises, insights, and examples, and leaves extensive theory discussions to others."                                         - Sharon L. Caudle, Texas A & M University

This book offers the reader a synopsis of research, appreciating both the science and art of inquiry. It is designed to present the basic elements of conducting and understanding nursing research using an expeditious and useful reference format. This updated new edition offers the reader a step-by-step guide to conducting research and to understanding the research studies done by others. It describes both quantitative and qualitative investigations. The book is written in outline format, for quick reference. An important feature of the new edition is an extensive listing of online databases and knowledge resources. Graduate students and nurse researchers will find this an easily accessible source of valuable information.

Written at an accessible level, Scale Development, guides the reader toward the identification of the latent variable, the generation of an item pool, the format for measurement and the optimization of the scale length. Using exercises to illustrate the concepts, the text also includes advice about factor analytic strategies. For researchers tired of 'off-the-shelf' measurement tools that don't fit their particular situation, this is a must read.