Research for Evidence Based Practice
QUANTITATIVE ANALYSIS AND INTERPRETATION: CORRELATIONS
DISCUSSION
As a DNP-prepared nurse, patient care will be an integral part of your practice. To meet the needs of patients, you may find yourself searching to understand the relationship between patient care and overall health, the association between patient care and clinical research, or the link between patient care and successful treatment plans. Each of these considerations all revolve around the use of correlational research.
“Correlational research is conducted to establish the direction and the strength of relationships between or among variables as they exist in a natural setting” (Gray & Grove, 2020). Through the use of different methods and designs, correlational research allows the researcher to examine relationships among variables to garner insight into theory and evidence for practice. This week, you will explore the relationships and associations of variables in studies that conduct correlational research. You will also consider the strengths and weaknesses of different correlation techniques by analyzing data and output for a set of variables.
Reference: Gray, J. R., & Grove, S. K. (2020). Burns and Grove’s the practice of nursing research: Appraisal, synthesis, and generation of evidence (9th ed.). Elsevier
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
· Analyze research questions in relation to nursing practice problems
· Develop null and alternative hypotheses for a research study
· Justify independent and dependent variables to support research studies
· Analyze correlations and relationships predicted by statistics between variables in research studies
· Interpret output and results using correlation statistics
DISCUSSION: CORRELATIONS
“Much of the clinical research relevant to nursing explores whether a relationship exists between two patient characteristics. Understanding potentially related characteristics helps nurses better identify which physical, psychological, or demographic factors are associated with reason for concern” (American Nurse, 2011).

In order to explore relationships among associated variables, a DNP-prepared nurse may utilize correlational research. This type of research allows for the exploration of connections and measuring of many variables. While not used to determine causality, this research can be integral in proving theory. So, when might an issue or topic need to be explored through relationships and associations?
For this Discussion, review the Learning Resources and reflect on a particular topic of interest that may benefit from a correlational study. Formulate a research question and consider your hypotheses and prediction. Reflect on the effectiveness of conducting correlational research.
Reference: American Nurse. (2011). Understanding correlation analysis. https://www.myamericannurse.com/understanding-correlation-analysis/Links to an external site.
RESOURCES
LEARNING RESOURCES
Required Readings
· Gray, J. R., & Grove, S. K. (2020). Burns and Grove’s the practice of nursing research: Appraisal, synthesis, and generation of evidence (9th ed.). Elsevier.
· Chapter 11, “Quantitative Methodology: Noninterventional Designs and Methods” (pp. 252–256)
· Chapter 23, “Using Statistics to Examine Relationships” (pp. 663–674)
· Benton, C. P. (2021). Sexual health attitudes and beliefs among nursing faculty: A correlational study Links to an external site. . Nurse Education Today, 98. doi:10.1016/j.nedt.2020.104665
· Rio, L., Tenthorey, C., & Ramelet, A.-S. (2021). Unplanned postdischarge healthcare utilisation, discharge readiness, and perceived quality of teaching in mothers of neonates hospitalized in a neonatal intensive care unit: A descriptive and correlational study Links to an external site. . Australian Critical Care, 34(1), 9–14. doi:10.1016/j.aucc.2020.07.001
· Woo, M.-J., & Kim, D.-H. (2021). Factors associated with secondary traumatic stress among nurses in regional trauma centers in South Korea: A descriptive correlational study Links to an external site. . Journal of Emergency Nursing, 47(3), 400–411. doi:10.1016/j.jen.2020.08.006
· Document: Week 6 Correlations Exercises SPSS Output (PDF) Download Week 6 Correlations Exercises SPSS Output (PDF)
· Document: CITI Program Learner Registration Guide (PDF)
Be sure to review the Learning Resources before completing this activity. Click the weekly resources link to access the resources.
WEEKLY RESOURCES
TO PREPARE:
· Review this week’s Learning Resources and focus on the types of research questions that can be answered using a correlational statistic.
· Brainstorm a number of healthcare delivery or nursing practice problems that could be explored using correlational statistics. Then, select one problem on which to focus for this Discussion.
· Formulate a research question to address the problem and that would lead you to employ correlational statistics.
· Develop a null hypothesis and alternate hypotheses.
· Ask yourself: What is the expected direction of the relationship?
BY DAY 3 OF WEEK 6
Post a brief description of the selected problem that you identified for the focus of this Discussion and include your research question. Be specific. Explain your null hypothesis and alternate hypotheses for your research question and identify the dependent and independent variables that you would recommend to best support the research study. Then, explain your prediction for the expected relationship (positive or negative) between the variables that you identified. Why do you think that sort of relationship will exist? What other factors might affect the outcome? Be specific and provide examples.