This book is the product of our sixteen years of experience in nursing research. We feel it important to present in one volume the basic concepts of research in nursing, particularly those concerned with patient care. We believe that this book will fill the need for a presentation of how some of the important methodological tools can be applied to problems that are uniquely nursing. Throughout the book, many examples of the application of the methods of research to nursing and patient care situations are presented. Hundreds of actual studies undertaken in the nursing area and related health fields are cited as illustrative matierial throughout the book. The orientation of the book is predominantly practical. Although theoretical concepts are introduced from time to time, the attempt is to explain these in down-to-earth language and to show their application to actual research situations. - Preface.