ABSTRACT
The main purpose of this chapter is to indicate how ideas for a research study may be derived. This has been included because people approaching research studies for the first time often have difficulty in determining how to focus their work. They might ask why things happen but, in following this query through, get diverted to other interesting areas of study. Alternatively they may have an interest in an area of practice but be uncertain as to where to begin planning a research study. In cases such as these, nurses and other health care workers may become diverted from an original line of enquiry and attempt to explore too many issues. Once the idea for research has been clarified the next step is to develop these into a problem statement or research question that will provide the basis for research. This chapter will focus on the skills required for the following:
To generate ideas for research.
To develop research questions.
