Research in hybrid coursework nursing Master degrees: A content analysis of university websites
1School of Nursing and Midwifery, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Australia.
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Summary
Research project components in Australian and New Zealand nursing Master degrees vary significantly. Many university websites lack sufficient detail for nurses to select programs aligned with career goals.
Area of Science:
- Nursing Education
- Higher Education Research
- Curriculum Development
Background:
- Master of Nursing degrees are pursued by numerous international nurses.
- Hybrid Master degrees combine coursework with a research project.
- Limited understanding exists regarding the research component of these hybrid degrees.
Purpose of the Study:
- To map the research project component of nursing hybrid Master degrees in Australia and New Zealand.
- To document the structure, components, and intended outcomes of these research projects.
Main Methods:
- Systematic search of university websites from the Council of Deans of Nursing and Midwifery of Australia and New Zealand.
- Content download and hyperlink analysis to gather information on research components.
- Descriptive statistics and content analysis of extracted data using a preset template.
Main Results:
- Twenty-seven university websites provided information on hybrid nursing Master degrees.
- Significant variation observed in the research component's proportion (8-50%), research type, final output (thesis, report, manuscript), and word count (2000-25,000 words).
- Learning outcomes (n=178) showed diverse focus and content.
Conclusions:
- The research pathway components of hybrid nursing Master degrees in Australasia exhibit wide variability.
- Inadequate information on many university websites hinders nurses' ability to choose programs aligned with career aspirations.