Which of the following research topics best lends itself to the experimental research process method?
1. The effects of therapeutic touch on a geriatric client diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease
2. Prioritizing three nursing diagnoses for a newly admitted client with diabetes mellitus
3. Employing humor as an intervention with clients who are recovering from ortho-pedic surgery
4. Determining the blood pressure patterns of a client who recently experienced a cerebrovascular accident (i.e., stroke)
ANS: 3
In experimental research, the investigator controls the study variable (use of humor) and ran-domly assigns subjects to different conditions (those who receive humor as an intervention, and those who do not).
The effect of therapeutic touch on a geriatric client with Alzheimer's disease lends itself to the nursing process as a nursing intervention to perhaps assist a client in meeting a goal of preventing social isolation. To use the experimental research process, there would have to be other clients involved (i.e., a group of clients with Alzheimer's disease who receive therapeutic touch, and a group of clients with Alzheimer's disease who do not receive therapeutic touch) to determine whether or not therapeutic touch had any effect.
Prioritizing nursing diagnoses for client care is an example of using the nursing process.
Determining the blood pressure patterns of a client who recently had a cerebrovascular accident is a part of the assessment phase of the nursing process. In contrast to an experimental research study, no variable is being controlled by the nurse.
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