title: Using timed event sequential data in nursing research.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Measuring behavior is important in nursing research, and innovative technologies are needed to capture the "real-life" complexity of behaviors and events.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this article is to describe the use of timed event sequential data in nursing research and to demonstrate the use of this data in a research study.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Timed event sequencing allows the researcher to capture the frequency, duration, and sequence of behaviors as they occur in an observation period and to link the behaviors to contextual details. Timed event sequential data can easily be collected with handheld computers, loaded with a software program designed for capturing observations in real time.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Timed event sequential data add considerable strength to analysis of any nursing behavior of interest, which can enhance understanding and lead to improvement in nursing practice.
authors.affiliation: Kristen E. Pecanac, MS, RN, is Doctoral Candidate; Barbara Doherty-King, PhD, APRN-BC, is Assistant Professor; Ju Young Yoon, PhD, RN, is Assistant Professor; Roger Brown, PhD, is Professor; and Tony Schiefelbein, BS, is Senior Database Administrator, School of Nursing, University of Wisconsin-Madison.
authors.forename: Kristen E
authors.initials: KE
authors.lastname: Pecanac
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Doherty-King
authors.forename: Ju Young
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Yoon
authors.forename: Roger
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Brown
authors.forename: Tony
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Schiefelbein
mesh_terms: D034201:Computers, Handheld; D003625:Data Collection / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D055805:Moving and Lifting Patients / Q000451:nursing; D015399:Nursing Research / Q000379:methods*; D012984:Software; D013996:Time and Motion Studies; D016138:Walking