Mary Steen & Taniya Roberts 
The Handbook of Midwifery Research [PDF ebook] 

Research is a fundamental part of midwifery practice. However, not
everyone finds it easy to understand the basic principles, and
particularly the language of research. This accessible handbook
enables midwives and student midwives to firstly understand how to
search and make sense of research evidence, how to write a research
proposal and finally how to undertake a research study.

The Handbook of Midwifery Research specifically focuses
on the needs of midwives and students and helps increase the
knowledge and understanding of midwifery research, enabling the
reader to undertake research with confidence. With case studies,
learning objectives and clear examples throughout, this is an
essential purchase for any midwife or student wanting to understand
or undertake research. This handbook includes useful tools and
techniques to assist midwives and students to keep themselves
up-to-date with the best available evidence, enabling them to apply
this evidence to their own clinical practice.

* An essential resource for midwifery students as well as
qualified midwives

* Clear, straightforward, and accessible in style

* Provides midwives and students with the skills to undertake
research with confidence

* Provides examples throughout to apply research to midwifery
practice

* Includes a glossary of research terms

Inhoudsopgave

Foreword, ix
Soo Downe

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 finding 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

Contents vii

Appendix C, 177

Appendix D, 193

Glossary, 196

References, 202

Index, 216

Over de auteur

Dr Mary Steen is Research Fellow in Midwifery at University of Central Lancashire / RCM (joint appointment). She is interested in a wide remit of midwifery and women’s health issues. Her specific focus has been on the care and consequences of perineal trauma after childbirth. Her research work has developed of a new pain relief treatment (femepad). She has published her work in several health related journals and presented at conferences. Her work has received several awards for original research and clinical innovation.