Research Should be Generalizable

When I report on papers and articles that I have read keep in mind that we will always want to apply the test of generalizability.  Often studies are performed in one location or in a small area with a relatively small number of people.  Perhaps in a hospital in Maryland that employs 200 nurses.

Findings that are generalizable are quite powerful, and can provide true change in your organization.

Let’s say the study finds that nurses who work 8-hour shifts make fewer errors than nurses who work 12-hour shifts.  For the research to be generalizable to the entire population of hospital nurses additional studies would have to show the same results in hospitals in Florida, New York, California, Prague, Milan, etc. Look for another post where I discuss the powerful facet of transferrability.