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NURS 7381 - Nursing Synthesis & Application of Clinical Research: Ask a Question

The Synthesis Process

Research Questions

In order to search the literature effectively, you must ​construct a searchable question.​ A literature search question:

  • Frames your question in specific terms
  • Helps to identify the minimum searchable concepts in order to answer the question
  • Allows searchers to isolate relevant literature

Literature search questions can be structured in many ways depending upon the type of question and what the searcher hopes to identify in the existing literature.

The Research Question: Purpose

The research question dictates:

  • The goal of the study (or synthesis)
  • A summary of what is to be achieved
  • The methodology
  • The who, what, when, why, how, where, condition, intervention questions
  • The type of analysis

Davidson, M. Where to Start When Designing a Research Project: Part I

Evidence Pyramid

Literature syntheses and reviews are secondary sources.

DEVELOPING YOUR RESEARCH QUESTION