The Handbook of Midwifery Research

Preface, xi

About the book, xiii

About the authors, xv

Acknowledgements, xvii

Part I Understanding research

Chapter 1 Introduction to midwifery research, 3

Introducing research, 3

Types of research knowledge, 5

Audit and research, 7

Introducing qualitative research, 12

Introducing quantitative research, 22

The importance of evidence-based practice, 32

Summary, 39

Chapter 2 Finding the evidence, 40

Introduction to fi nding evidence, 40

Literature searching, 41

Literature review, 41

Sources of evidence, 44

Using a search strategy, 47

Structured review, 48

Systematic review, 50

Summary, 52

Chapter 3 Making sense of the evidence, 54

Introduction to critiquing research evidence, 54

Critiquing qualitative research, 55

Critiquing quantitative research, 59

Hierarchy of evidence, 61

Differences between qualitative and quantitative research, 66

Summary, 70

Part II Undertaking research

Chapter 4 Data collection techniques, 73

Introduction to data collection, 73

Qualitative data collection techniques, 75

Undertaking a research interview, 83

Quantitative data collection techniques, 90

Questionnaires, 93

Summary, 100

Chapter 5 Ethics and research governance, 102

Introduction, 102

Introducing ethics and research, 103

History of ethics and research, 103

Principles of ethics, 107

Research governance, 110

Ethical issues relating to midwifery research, 112

Gaining ethical approval, 114

Summary, 117

Chapter 6 Data analysis, 119

Introduction to data analysis, 119

Qualitative data analysis, 120

Quantitative data analysis methods, 125

A basic understanding of statistics, 133

Summary, 147

Chapter 7 Research dissemination, 149

Introduction, 149

The dissertation, 149

Research degree – proposals, 153

Writing skills, 156

Getting your work published, 159

Impact of publications, 164

Presenting a conference paper, 165

Useful resources, 166

Becoming a researcher, 167

Summary, 168

Appendix A, 170

Appendix B, 176

Appendix C, 177

Appendix D, 193

Glossary, 196

References, 202

Index, 216