ABOUT THIS BOOK For the last 40 years nursing research has been struggling to establish its theoretical roots and legitimate place within the wider arena of research in the health sciences. Overshadowed by the medical endeavour, both resources and support have been meagre. Initially this medical hegemony also restricted the range of research designs by favouring the quantitative approaches that have formed the backbone of much clinical research. However, despite these restrictions, nursing research has developed a particular diversity which matches the eclec- ticism of the discipline itself. Nursing and nurses have rapidly recognized that health-related research problems often require a multi-faceted approach that can be realized most effectively through multi-disciplinary activities. Not unexpectedly, however, individual researchers have frequently remained entrenched in the particular methodologies with which they are familiar and have only reluctantly (and perhaps wisely) ventured beyond these. In contrast, the aim of this book has been to gather together material that reflects the diversity and richness of research in nursing. To juxtapose different designs springing from different epistemologies, with the aim of stimulating a more holistic approach. It hopes to provide readers with an understanding of nursing research through a consideration of the issues involved.