interprofessional collaboration Engaging with
other professionals to provide evidence-based
care
interrater reliability A test for instrument reli-
ability when two observers measure the same
event. Scores are correlated, and strong positive
correlations indicate good reliability
interval A continuum of numeric values with
equal intervals that lacks an absolute zero
intervention study In epidemiology, a study that
has a treatment that can be manipulated by the
researcher
interviews A method for collecting data in per-
son or over the telephone
introduction Part of a research article that states
the problem and purpose
Iowa model for EBP to promote quality care A
systematic method explaining how organizations
change practice
item to total correlation A test for instrument
reliability in which each item is correlated to the
total score; reliable items have strong correlations
with the total score
Jewish Chronic Disease Hospital study Unethi-
cal study involving injection of cancer cells into
subjects without their consent
journal A scholarly or professional resource
journal club A strategy for disseminating re-
search among nurses by discussing articles in a
small group
justice The principle of equity or fairness in the
distribution of burdens and benefits
key informants Individuals who have intimate
knowledge of a subject and are willing to share it
with the researcher
keyword A word used to search electronic data-
bases; a significant word from a title or document
used as an index to content
known group testing A test for construct valid-
ity in which new instruments are administered to
individuals known to be high or low on the char-
acteristic being measured
Kuder-Richardson coefficient A test for instru-
ment reliability for use with dichotomous items;
all items are simultaneously compared using a
computer
kurtosis The peakedness or flatness of a distri-
bution of data
ladder program An organizational process for
promotion and career advancement
laggards Individuals who are slow or fail to
adopt an innovation
leader One who takes initiative for change and
empowers others
levels of evidence Predetermined scales that
guide decisions for ranking evidence; evidence
hierarchies
levels of measurement A system of classifying
measurements according to a hierarchy of mea-
surement and the type of statistical tests that is
appropriate; levels are nominal, ordinal, interval,
and ratio
lifelong learning Adding skills and knowledge
about the profession as it continues to evolve
Likert scales Ordinal-level scales containing
seven points on an agree or disagree continuum
list of references Publication information for
each article cited in a research report
lived experience The perspective of an individ-
ual who has experienced the phenomenon
longitudinal designs Designs used to gather
data about subjects at more than one point in time
long-term outcomes Primary changes in patient
behaviors or status over time
magazine A resource targeted to the general
reading audience
magnitude The strength of the relationship ex-
isting between two variables
mandated reporting Data that must be shared
with supervising or governmental agencies ac-
cording to a specified timeline
manipulation The ability of researchers to con-
trol the independent variableGLOSSARY 521