Principles and practice of research in midwifery / edited by Elizabeth R. Cluett and Rosalind Bluff ; forewords by Jo Alexander, Jennifer Sleep.

Previous ed.: Edinburgh: Ballière Tindall, 2000.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Introduction: History of research in midwifery-- Aim and purpose of this book--Research awareness--Definition and purpose of research and evidence-based practice--The relationship of audit to research and EBP--Structure of the book--1. From Practice to Research:- Introduction--Midwifery practice--Types of knowledge--Theory--The nature of Research--Paradigma, approaches, methodology and methods: a terminology debate--The main assumptions for each paradigm--From practice to research--Conclusion--Chapter summary--2. Evidence-based practice:- Introduction--Origins--The purpose--The process of evidence-based practice--The evidence for EBP--Evidence-based practice and policy--Conclusion--Chapter summary--3. Experimental research:- Introduction--Origins--The purpose and types of experimental research--The process of experimental research--Experimental research designs--Quasi-experimental design--Experimental case studies--Conclusion--Chapter summary--4. Surveys:- Introduction--Origins--Purpose--Characteristics of the approach--Components of the research process--Specific tools and methods used within the approach--Reliability and validity--Conclusion--Chapter summary--5. An Introduction to statistics in midwifery research:- Introduction--Origins--Ethics and statistics--Types of statistics--Presentation of statistics--Levels of measurement--Descriptive statistics--Probability, p values and significance--Inferential statistics--Correlation and the associated statistical tests--Confidence intervals--Odds ratio--Relative risk--Numbers needed to treat--Analysis of variance--Power calculations--Secondary review and meta-analysis--Additional reading--Conclusion--Chapter summary--6. Grounded Theory:- Introduction--Origins--Purposes--Features of grounded theory--Ethical issues--Straussian and Glaserian perspectives of grounded theory--Conclusion--Chapter summary--7. Ethnography:- Introduction--Origins--Purpose--Characteristics of the approach--Components of the research process--Ethnographic reports--Conclusion--Chapter summary--8. Phenomenology:- Introduction--Origins--Purpose--Characteristics of the approach--Ethical considerations--Conclusion--Chapter summary--9. Alternative approaches to research:- Introduction--Integrating quantitative and qualitative approaches--Triangulation--Historical research--Feminist approaches--Action research--Evaluation research--Case studies--Conclusion--Chapter summary--10. Interviewing in qualitative research:- Introduction--Origins--Purpose--Face-to-Face interviews--Telephone interviews--Electronic interviews--Focus group interviews--The interview process--After the interview--Trustworthiness of the data--Conclusion--Chapter summary--11. Critiquing the literature:- Introduction--Critiquing and the skills--The critiquing process--Alternative critiquing frameworks--Your decision--Conclusion--12. From Research to Practice:- Introduction--Learning and working together--Sharing information with colleagues--Sharing information with students--Evidence-based projects--Sharing information with clients--Evidence-based practice--Midwives doing research--Quality assurance--Research as a strategy for change--Conclusion--Chapter summary.

This work is a study of the principles and practice of research in midwifery. It features sections on issues in experimental research; surveys; statistics; grounded theory; ethnography; phenomenology; and alternative approaches to research.