NURS 8200 Post your research question. Describe the independent and dependent variables NURS 8200 Discussion 1: Levels of Measurement

NURS 8200 Post your research question. Describe the independent and dependent variables NURS 8200 Discussion 1: Levels of Measurement

Introduction

Polit reports that a variable is an amount, quantity or number that can vary as well as change (2020). It is to some degree, that the variable will fluctuate to take on different values and can be characterized in several methods (2010). In my opinion, the variable is critical in research, because it is utilized to look at change or affect in the investigation (Gray, Grove, and Sutherland, 2017). With that being said, variables can dependent or independent and it can be described as manipulated, and controlled (2020).

Independent variables are something that can be manipulated in a research study. It is checking to see if you make changes to the study will it have the same/different effect. (Cherry 2020). For example, if you are doing a medication study giving a high dose, low dose, and placebo, you are manipulating the outcome of the study because you are controlling the outcome. A dependent variable is something that is being tested in a study, the dependent variable would be measuring blood pressures against medication use, the dependent would be blood pressure results. (Cherry 2022) The dependent and independent variable works together for example the independent would be the amount of blood pressure medications given to the person and the dependent is blood pressure results. The change comes with the manipulated variable if the patient receives a high dose of blood pressure meds the blood pressure will be lower compared to not receiving any and having no change.

The extraneous variable is any variable that is not being tested but it can affect the outcome of the study, it is uncontrolled and can lead to not valid results. (Zach 2020) for example like the other example blood pressure meds and results of blood measure, the extraneous variable would be if the participants are diets and exercising that can affect the results or if the patient is consuming extra salt, you didn’t plan on including that in your research, but it can change results if these things are happening. To controlled extraneous variables, you must know what type of study is being done. One method is random sampling which you will divide up the controlled group and experimental group by doing a random name draw. They can also do the standardized procedure which can basically equal out the environment for everyone. For example, with the blood pressure and medication study, the participants can either start diets and exercising or that can make another controlled group.

Describe the independent and dependent variables.

There is a relationship between independent and dependent variable (McCrindle, 2010). To that end, an independent variable is a factor that has an impact on the dependent variable (2020).  As a Doctor of Nursing Practice Student, I would utilized an independent variable in my research to manipulate it to evaluate the dependent variable for change. McCrindle (2010), describes the independent variables as factors for which a connection with the dependent variables is desired. These variables can include subject features and interventions, but sometimes there results may be predictive of other outcomes. With that in mind, the research question should define the primary independent variable, which is commonly a specific treatment (2017). The independent variable is the one the experimenter controls.

The dependent variable is the variable that changes in response to the independent variable. The two variables may be related by cause and effect. The dependent variable is the variable a researcher is interested in (2017). The changes to the dependent variable are what the researcher is trying to measure (2010). As a beginner of this journey of research, it is easier for me to identify dependent variables as the outcome or results (2010).

Post Your Research Question

What standard of practices can Intensive Care Nurses implement to reduce the incidence of delirium in the critically ill patients?

P: Intensive Care Nurses

I: Implementation of an ICU Delirium education program for ICU nurses

C: N/A

O: Decrease the incidence of delirium in the critically ill patients.