PREDICTING RESEARCH PRODUCTIVITY FOR NURSES WITH EARNED DOCTORAL DEGREES.
Contributors: University of South Carolina.
Published: 1987
Number of pages: 93
Subjects: Health Sciences, Nursing.
Description: The purpose of this research was to identify those variables that contribute to the development of a doctorally prepared nurse researcher. As a result of multiple forces and demands, nursing has placed emphasis on research productivity. Increasing the number of nurses with doctorates has become a priority because of the belief that these individuals will contribute to the profession's knowledge base. Increasing numbers does not necessarily mean that research and theory development will increase. Therefore, this study focuses on the characteristics of a research productive doctorally prepared nurse. The conceptual framework was derived from role theory, socialization theory, and reference group theory.

The sample included 491 nurses with doctoral degrees earned between 1974 and 1983. Subjects were randomly selected from 3650 alphabetically listed nurses in the Directory of Nurses with Doctoral Degrees 1984 (ANA). Each subject was mailed a three page, 30 item questionnaire developed from the conceptual framework. Three hundred fifty (75 percent return rate) completed questionnaires were returned, of which 342 were usable. Stepwise multiple regression was utilized to identify the best set of predictor variables.

The findings indicate that the following characteristics are the best predictors of research productivity: Funding, Membership in research organizations, Younger age groups, Clinical specialist functional role, and Informal collaboration with peers.

Results of this study indicate that there are significant variables which can predict research productivity. In light of the prediction model, it seems worthwhile to increase opportunities for funding, membership in research organizations, and collaboration with other researchers.
Notes: Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 48-04, Section: B, page: 1006.

Thesis (PH.D.)--UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1987.

School code: 0202.