NUR 4700 (Research Proposal Development)

Primary Research Articles 

Primary research in nursing consist of a first-hand report of a original study, experiment, or event. It is written by the person (researchers) who conducted the study/experiment or witnessed the event. The study or experiment can be quantitative, qualitative, hybrid or mixed methods in their methodology.

Examples of primary research data include: when a nurse researcher interviews patients about their health behaviors, a pharmaceutical company conducts clinical trials on a new drug, or a hospital surveys its nursing staff, they are creating primary information.

Type of research study design include:  

• Randomized Controlled Trials (RCTs):

  • Often considered the gold standard for clinical research, RCTs involve randomly assigning participants to either an intervention group or a control group to evaluate the effectiveness of a treatment or intervention.

• Cohort Studies:

  • These are observational studies where a group of people (cohort) is followed over time to determine the relationship between exposures and outcomes. Cohort studies can be prospective (following subjects forward in time) or retrospective (looking back at data from past records).

• Case-Control Studies:

  • Another type of observational study where researchers compare individuals with a specific condition or disease (cases) to those without the condition (controls) to identify potential risk factors or causes.

• Cross-Sectional Studies:

  • These studies analyze data from a population at a single point in time to examine the prevalence of an outcome or to investigate associations between variables.

• Qualitative Research:

  • This type of research is used to gain in-depth understanding of experiences, perceptions, and behaviors. Common qualitative methods in nursing include interviews, focus groups, and ethnography.

• Descriptive Studies:

  • These studies aim to describe characteristics or outcomes in a specific population or setting without analyzing relationships or causality. They often provide a snapshot of a particular situation or condition.

• Quasi-Experimental Designs:

  • Similar to RCTs but lack random assignment. These designs are used when randomization is not feasible, often to evaluate the effect of an intervention in a more naturalistic setting.

• Case Studies:

  • An in-depth analysis of a single case or a small number of cases, often used to explore unique or complex issues in clinical practice.

• Mixed-Methods Research: This design combines both quantitative and qualitative research methods to provide a more comprehensive understanding of a research question.

Structure of a Primary Research Article (IMRAD)

The IMRAD structure—Introduction, Methods, Results, and Discussion—is a standard framework used in scientific writing to ensure clarity and organization in presenting research findings.

1. Abstract

   • A concise summary of the research article, including the research question, methods, key results, and main conclusions.

2. Introduction (I)

   • Provides the general background of the research topic.
   • Includes a literature review summarizing relevant research and highlighting gaps that the current study aims to address.
   • Concludes with a clear statement of the research question or hypothesis.

3. Methods (M)

   • Describes the study design, participants, procedures, materials, and data collection techniques.
   • Outlines the steps taken to conduct the research, ensuring that the study can be replicated by others.

4. Results (R)

   • Presents the data collected during the study, often accompanied by tables, graphs, and statistical analyses.
   • Focuses on reporting the findings without interpretation.

5. Discussion (D)

   • Interprets the results, explaining their significance and how they contribute to the existing body of knowledge.
   • Discusses potential limitations of the study and suggests directions for future research.

6. Literature Cited (References)

   • Lists all the sources cited in the article, formatted according to a specific citation style (e.g., APA, MLA, Chicago).
   • Provides the necessary information for readers to locate the original sources.

 Gunasekeera,V., Mendall, M. , Chan, D., Kumar, D., & Mendall., M. A. (2016). Treatment of Crohn's disease with an IgG4-guided exclusion diet: A randomized control trial. Digestive Diseases & Sciences, 61(4), 1148-1157. doi:101007/s10620-0153987-z

Primary vs Secondary Research 

Not sure if the study is primary research? 

One quick way to identify if an article is a primary study is to check the methodology section. If the article describes how the authors conducted their own experiment, survey, or data collection, it's likely a primary study. This section should detail the study design, participants, procedures, and data analysis, indicating that the research is original.

Find Primary Research Articles