Statistics: a painless injection.
This paper springs from experience in the teaching of research methodology and statistics to a wide variety of post-registration health professionals attending courses in higher education (Community Psychiatric Nurses, Occupational Health Nurses, Health Visitors etc.). The paper has two main aims: 1. To describe and comment upon the nature of the learning problems perceived by nurses who are required to confront research methodology and/or statistical methods as components of their chosen post-registration course. 2. To describe a teaching approach and a teaching schema which the writer has found to be successful in promoting knowledge, skills, and--above all--confidence in the handling of methodology/statistics related material by such students.