[Analysis of research papers published in the Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing].
OBJECTIVE
This study was to determine the current trend of nursing research as exploring both quantitative and qualitative methodologies, and to provide the explicit direction to improve the quality of published papers.


METHODS
Total of 366 articles published between 2004 and 2006 was reviewed using the criteria of analysis.


RESULTS
There was more number of quantitative studies than qualitative studies. More studies were conducted with subjects who had health problems, and studies that targeted women and elderly population have been significantly increased. In quantitative methodology, utilization of experimental and quasi-experimental designs has been increased, however descriptive study was dominant as yet. In qualitative methodology, studies using grounded theory and phenomenology were frequently published. It was noted that theoretical framework and rational for sample size were rarely presented in quantitative study. Philosophical position and the process of preparation for study, which guided the research, were not clearly described in qualitative study.


CONCLUSIONS
The findings of this review suggest that published studies have been improved and diversified, however, detailed and clear evaluation tool that assesses study process and method should be developed as a way to further improve the quality of published papers.
Suh
Yeon-Ok
YO
Department of Nursing, College of Medicine, Soonchunhyang University, Cheonan, Korea. yeonok@sch.ac.kr
Park
Jeong Sook
JS
Yang
Jin-Hyang
JH
Kim
Hae-Won
HW
Suk
Min-Hyun
MH
Shin
Hyun-Sook
HS
Jang
Hee-Jung
HJ
Jung
Myun-Sook
MS
Chung
Myung-Sill
MS
D015706:Bibliometrics; D006801:Humans; D007723:Korea; D015404:Nursing Methodology Research / Q000592:standards*; D010506:Periodicals as Topic; D036301:Qualitative Research