A student completes her master's thesis on correlates of depression in retired airline pilots, and it is shelved in the library. Has this student communicated her research findings?

Question

a. Yes, because the thesis is in the library and can be accessed.
b. No, because the findings have not been made available to persons who will utilize them.
c. Yes, because the students in this particular master's program often discuss their work in progress.
d. No, because if the findings do not appear in print in a nursing journal, they have not been communicated.

Answer 1

ANS: B
Research is not considered complete until the findings have been communicated. Communicating research findings involves developing and disseminating a research report to appropriate audiences; the research report is disseminated through presentations and publications. Analyzing data, drawing conclusions, and writing a report of the findings are essential steps in conducting research—but they do not complete the process.