DQ : There is a tendency for novice researchers to develop their own instrument if they cannot readily find one. How might you respond to a peer or manager who asks you to help develop a new tool to collect patient data on anxiety prior to cardiac catheterization?Week 5 Topic 5 DQ 2
Instrumentation is a component of measurement that involves the application of specific rules to develop a measurement device or instrument (Groves, Burns, & Gray, 2013) . Instruments are used to measure specific variables in a study. Data gathered with an instrument are at the nominal, ordinal, interval or ratio level of measurement with nominal as the lowest and ratio the highest (Groves et al., 2013) .
Selection of an instrument requires extensive examination of reliability and validity. Methodologic studies address the development, validation and evaluation of research tools (Polit& Beck, 2010) . Instrument development research often involves complex and sophisticated research methods including the use of mixed method designs.
An instrument is a formal written document used to collect self-reported data.
In drafting questions for a structured instrument researchers must carefully monitor the wording of each question for clarity, sensitivity to respondent's psychological state, absence of bias and reading level for questionnaires (Polit& Beck, 2010) .
Draft instruments are critically reviewed by peers or colleagues and then pretested with a small sample of respondents. A pretest is used to determine if the instrument is useful in generating desired information and the process can take many months to complete.
In the scenario of assisting in developing a new tool to look at anxiety in patients being prepared for a cardiac procedure I would be willing to be involved in the project of researching a new instrument.
I think it would be a good learning experience and help me actually put to use what I have learned in this class. I think it would be time intensive but if it could help provide better care for the patient then I would be glad to be a part of that. I am very nervous about doing research and my experience with feeling anxious or unsure of myself in a particular area is to be like Nike and "Just do it."
References
Groves, S. K., Burns, N., & Gray, J. R. (2013). The practice of nursing research appraisal, synthesis, and generation of evidence (7th ed.). St. Louis, Missouri: Elsevier Saunders.
Polit, D. F., & Beck, C. T. (2010). Essentials of Nursing Research Appraising Evidence for Nursing Practice (Seventh Edition ed.). Philadelphia: Wolters Kluwer/Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.