Research is a fundamental part of midwifery practice. However, not everyone finds it easy to understand the basic principles, and particularly the language of research. This accessible handbook enables midwives and student midwives to firstly understand how to search and make sense of research evidence, how to write a research proposal and finally how to undertake a research study. The Handbook of Midwifery Research specifically focuses on the needs of midwives and students and helps increase the knowledge and understanding of midwifery research, enabling the reader to undertake research with confidence. With case studies, learning objectives and clear examples throughout, this is an essential purchase for any midwife or student wanting to understand or undertake research. This handbook includes useful tools and techniques to assist midwives and students to keep themselves up-to-date with the best available evidence, enabling them to apply this evidence to their own clinical practice. An essential resource for midwifery students as well as qualified midwives Clear, straightforward, and accessible in style Provides midwives and students with the skills to undertake research with confidence Provides examples throughout to apply research to midwifery practice Includes a glossary of research terms

Research is a fundamental part of midwifery practice. However, noteveryone finds it easy to understand the basic principles, andparticularly the language of research. This accessible handbookenables midwives and student midwives to firstly understand how tosearch and make sense of research evidence, how to write a researchproposal and finally how to undertake a research study.The Handbook of Midwifery Research specifically focuseson the needs of midwives and students and helps increase theknowledge and understanding of midwifery research, enabling thereader to undertake research with confidence. With case studieslearning objectives and clear examples throughout, this is anessential purchase for any midwife or student wanting to understandor undertake research. This handbook includes useful tools andtechniques to assist midwives and students to keep themselvesup-to-date with the best available evidence, enabling them to applythis evidence to their own clinical practice.* An essential resource for midwifery students as well asqualified midwives* Clear, straightforward, and accessible in style* Provides midwives and students with the skills to undertakeresearch with confidence* Provides examples throughout to apply research to midwiferypractice* Includes a glossary of research terms

Foreword, ixSoo DownePreface, xiAbout the Book, xiiiAbout the authors, xvAcknowledgements, xviiPart I Understanding researchChapter 1 Introduction to midwifery research, 3Introducing research, 3Types of research knowledge, 5Audit and research, 7Introducing qualitative research, 12Introducing quantitative research, 22The importance of evidence-based practice, 32Summary, 39Chapter 2 Finding the evidence, 40Introduction to finding evidence, 40Literature searching, 41Literature review, 41Sources of evidence, 44Using a search strategy, 47Structured review, 48Systematic review, 50Summary, 52Chapter 3 Making sense of the evidence, 54Introduction to critiquing research evidence, 54Critiquing qualitative research, 55Critiquing quantitative research, 59Hierarchy of evidence, 61Differences between qualitative and quantitative research, 66Summary, 70Part II Undertaking researchChapter 4 Data collection techniques, 73Introduction to data collection, 73Qualitative data collection techniques, 75Undertaking a research interview, 83Quantitative data collection techniques, 90Questionnaires, 93Summary, 100Chapter 5 Ethics and research governance, 102Introduction, 102Introducing ethics and research, 103History of ethics and research, 103Principles of ethics, 107Research governance, 110Ethical issues relating to midwifery research, 112Gaining ethical approval, 114Summary, 117Chapter 6 Data analysis, 119Introduction to data analysis, 119Qualitative data analysis, 120Quantitative data analysis methods, 125A basic understanding of statistics, 133Summary, 147Chapter 7 Research dissemination, 149Introduction, 149The dissertation, 149Research degree - proposals, 153Writing skills, 156Getting your work published, 159Impact of publications, 164Presenting a conference paper, 165Useful resources, 166Becoming a researcher, 167Summary, 168Appendix A, 170Appendix B, 176Contents viiAppendix C, 177Appendix D, 193Glossary, 196References, 202Index, 216