One of the important sources of identification of a research problem is:

Appeared in: IGNOU PB Bsc Nsg.Entrance-2026

Explanation

Nursing practice is a primary source for research problems as it exposes nurses to real-world clinical challenges and unanswered questions.
During daily patient care, nurses identify gaps in knowledge, inefficiencies in procedures, and areas where patient outcomes could be improved.
These direct observations from clinical experience are the foundation for developing relevant and impactful research questions aimed at enhancing evidence-based practice.

Option A: The Code of Ethics provides principles for the moral and ethical conduct of research; it does not generate the research questions themselves.
Option B: Textbooks summarize existing, well-established knowledge. They are a source for background information, not for identifying new, unsolved problems.
Option D: Practice guidelines are the end product of research, providing evidence-based recommendations. They represent answers to previous research questions, not the source of new ones.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Sources of Nursing Research Problems as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
Encouraging nurses to question their daily practice is fundamental to the growth of evidence-based practice (EBP) and the continuous improvement of patient care.
A nurse who observes a high rate of a specific complication and questions the current prevention protocol is engaging in the first step of the research process.
What if? If a new practice guideline is implemented and nurses observe it is difficult to follow or leads to negative side effects, this new observation from practice becomes a new research problem, demonstrating the cyclical relationship between research and practice.

How to Approach the Question

First, understand the core of the question: it asks for a source or starting point for a research problem.
Evaluate each option based on its role in the research cycle.
Recognize that 'Nursing practice' involves direct observation of clinical phenomena, which is where new questions and problems naturally arise.
Contrast this with the other options: 'Textbooks' and 'Practice guidelines' are summaries or products of past research, representing what is already known or recommended.
Identify that the 'Code of Ethics' is a regulatory framework for how to conduct research, not a source for what to research.
Conclude that the most fundamental and direct source of new, relevant research questions is the clinical environment itself.

Concept Tested & Keywords

QSU34BiKWzmdIkk8HRcKZQ

E6 NursingResearch Sukhpal Kaur p. 88-90

E6 NursingResearch Suresh Sharma 5e Part 1 p. 79-81

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Attempt every question from this paper in a timed mock, then review the full solution for each one.