title: Methodological issues associated with group intervention research.
abstract: Interventions using a group format can be powerful treatment modalities. However, a review of nursing journals most likely to report the conduct of group research by nurses showed that less than 1% of nursing research reports used this approach and that none accounted for group-level effects in the analysis. This article discusses methodological issues inherent in group intervention research. We begin by offering examples of variables that can be incorporated into group research. We then present some challenges that researchers must address in collecting data when group formats are used. We end with recommendations for conducting group intervention research and by addressing issues associated with interpreting and reporting results.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychosocial and Community Health, School of Nursing, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195-7263, USA. samurphy@u.washington.edu
authors.forename: Shirley A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Murphy
authors.forename: L Clark
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Johnson
mesh_terms: D000704:Analysis of Variance; D015982:Bias; D003625:Data Collection; D003627:Data Interpretation, Statistical; D015987:Effect Modifier, Epidemiologic; D006126:Group Processes; D006801:Humans; D007400:Interprofessional Relations; D016014:Linear Models; D016294:Models, Nursing; D015399:Nursing Research / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards; D011568:Psychiatric Nursing; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012107:Research Design; D012108:Research Personnel / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000523:psychology