The conceptual structure of research utilization

Despite the fact that the nursing literature is replete with calls to make the practice of nursing research based, little is known about the structure and function of research utilization. The purpose of this study was to exp lore the conceptual structure of research utilization. Data were collected from a randomly selected sample of 600 registered nurses practicing in west ern Canada. Using the techniques of structural equation modeling (with LISR EL), competing models representing conceptual structures of research utiliz ation were developed and evaluated. In the first model, a simplex style of model, the investigator proposed that a nurse's early responses would influ ence subsequent responses to the question measuring research utilization, i mplying a time ordered causal sequence. In the second style of model, a com mon cause (or factor-like) model, the investigator proposed a stable underl ying concept, research utilization, that was relatively insensitive to prom pting and time ordering. The simplex style of model failed to reach accepta ble indices of fit. The common cause model fit the data well, suggesting th at instrumental, conceptual, and persuasive research utilization exist and that a global measure of research utilization may be defensible. (C) 1999 J ohn Wiley & Sons, Inc.