Research Paper For Nursing Class

Running head: Correlates of Quality of Life

Correlates of Quality of Life in Older Adult Veterans

Kumar Achaibar

April, 17, 2007

Professor A. Yarcheski, PhD, FANN

The Research Process in Nursing 705:390

I. Introduction, Problem Statement, and Definition of Terms

1. Discuss how adequately the research problem statement is described in the introduction to the study?

According to Polit and Beck (2004) a research problem statement identifies the nature of the problem, the context and the significance of the problem (p.73). According to Polit and Beck’s definition of a problem statement, Mowad adequately described the problem statement. Mowad described that the nature of the problem deals with the quality of life for older adult and that there is not a lot of empirically based knowledge about quality of life in this population. Mowad then described the context of the problem statement, when she stated that many personal factors are believe to contribute to quality of life including biological and psychological factors and choosing variables for the study can be somewhat arbitrary. Mowad also stated the significance of the research was designed to examine the relationship of three personal variables to the quality of life. Even though Mowad describe the problem statement adequately, she failed to clearly state the specified population of the study in the problem statement.

2. Identify and present the statement of the research purpose to be investigated in this study.

Mowad’s statement of purpose is to examine the relationship of three personal variables to quality life. These variables, which are especially relevant to older adults, are health promotion, a sense of coherence, and personal autonomy.

3. Discuss whether the criterion is met for a good statement of the research purpose as discussed by Polit and Beck.

According to Polit and Beck (2004), in a quantitative study, a statement of purpose identifies the key study variables and their possible interrelationships, as well as the nature of the population of interest (p.74). Mowad’s statement of purpose is to examine the relationship of three personal variables to quality life. These variables, which are especially relevant to older adults, are health promotion, a sense of coherence, and personal autonomy. According to Polit and Beck’s definition Mowad failed to state the population of interest. So it was not a good statement of research purpose.

4. State the independent and dependent variables in the study.

The independent variable is quality of life. The dependent variables are health promotion, sense of coherence, and personal autonomy.

5. Present the conceptual and operational definition for each independent and dependent variable in the study; indicate when the conceptual or operational definition is not presented anywhere in the article.

According to Polit and Beck (2004) a conceptual definition presents the abstract or theoretical meaning of the concepts being studied (p.31). All three independent and the dependent variable were conceptual defined in the article. The conceptual definition of Health-promoting in Mowad research paper is a lifestyle of enduring patterns of activities that serve to enhance the health and welfare of the individual, representing health promotion at the individual level. The conceptual definition of sense of coherence in Mowad’s research article is a construct defined as a way of seeing the world as comprehensible, manageable, and meaningful. The conceptual definition of personal autonomy in Mowad’s research article is an individual’s value that reflects the ability to be freely self-directed and able to make choices that reflect one’s need and goals. The conceptual definition of quality of life in Mowad’s research article is a quality of life is dynamic, complex, subjective, and multidimensional phenomenon that refers to the degree to which a person enjoys the important possibilities of his or her life. All three independent and the dependent variable’s operational definition is also in the research article. According to Polit and Beck (2004) an operational definition of a concept specifies the operation that researchers must perform to collect the required information (p.32). The operational definition of health-promotion was measured using the Health-Promoting Lifestyle Profile II. Mowad’s operational definition of sense of coherence was measured using the Sense of Coherence Scale. Mowad’s operational definition of personal autonomy was measured using the Perceived Enactment of Autonomy Scale. Mowad’s operational definition of quality of life was measured using the Quality of life Profile: Senior Version, Short Scale.

II. Review of the Literature

1a. State and describe the types of information presented in the article’s review of the literature. Present examples of each type of information presented.

According to Polit and Beck (2004) the most important type of information in a research review is findings form empirical investigation, theories, primary and secondary sources (p.89). Findings from empirical investigation are basically numerical findings from previous studies. Theories are a set of statement devised to explain a group of facts. Primary sources are description of studies written by the researcher and secondary sources are description of studies prepared by someone other than the original researcher ( Polit & Beck, 2004, p. 89). Mowad’s review of the literature contained a lot of theories and empirical findings. One example of theory in the literature review was Antonovsky theory on sense of coherence. Another example of theory used by Mowad was the personal autonomy theory. One example of empirical investigation in the literature review was Campbell’s classical work on quality of life which reported 82% of older Americans rated quality of life positively. Another example of empirical investigation in the literature review was McDaniel study on health promoting lifestyle and quality of life. McDaniel used the Pearson correlation and came up with (r = .53, p= .05).