Introduction to Nursing Research -- Research and Nursing: Parallel Processes -- Conceptualizing Research in Nursing -- The Varieties of Nursing Knowledge -- Acquiring Nursing Knowledge through Research -- Key Methodological Approaches in Nursing Science -- Types of Research: Some Important Distinctions -- Research as a Professional Mandate -- Understanding Theory -- Explanation -- Theory -- Concepts and Statements: Building Blocks of Theory -- Theoretical Frameworks -- Testing and Using Theory in Research -- Points of Agreement on Theory and Research -- Deciding What to Study -- Choosing a Topic and Stating the Problem -- Reviewing the Literature -- Specifying the Model -- Specifying Hypotheses and Procedures of Analysis -- Understanding Research Design -- Predictable Setbacks and Challenges -- Determining Your Readiness to Start the Project -- Research Designs and Approaches -- Experimental and Quasi-experimental Designs -- Basics of Experimental Designs -- Pre-experimental Designs -- Classic Experimental Designs -- Quasi-experimental Designs -- Advantages and Limitations of Experimental Designs -- Survey Designs -- A Short History of the Survey -- The Rationale for Surveys -- Steps in Survey Research -- Guidelines for the Administration of Questionnaires -- Comparative Studies -- Secondary Data Analysis -- Advantages and Limitations of Survey Designs -- Qualitative Research Designs -- Entering the World of Qualitative Research -- Qualitative Research Designs -- Scientific Adequacy of Qualitative Research.