Special Issue – Pensar Enfermagem

Research Methodologies in Nursing: Between Scientific Rigour and Innovation

Submission Opens: 15 July 2026

Submission Deadline: 27 November 2026

Special Issue Editors: Helga Rafael Henriques (ESEUL), Florinda Galinha de Sá (ESEUL), and Sara Correia (University of Oviedo).

 

Pensar Enfermagem invites the submission of manuscripts for a special issue dedicated to research methodologies in nursing, with a focus on the presentation of research findings.

Nursing research plays a central role in the development of disciplinary knowledge, the improvement of care quality, and the response to complex health challenges. In this context, methodological choices are crucial determinants of the robustness, validity, and relevance of the evidence produced.

This special issue aims to promote critical and in-depth reflection on the research methodologies used in nursing, encouraging the sharing of innovative approaches, the presentation of results obtained, discussion of contemporary challenges, and the enhancement of scientific rigour. In doing so, it seeks to contribute to strengthening methodological quality and advancing nursing science.

Topics of Interest

Among others, papers presenting results in the following areas will be considered:

Quantitative Methodologies

• Clinical trials and quasi-experimental studies
• Observational studies
• Statistical methods applied to nursing research
• The use of Big Data in healthcare

Qualitative Methodologies

• Phenomenology, grounded theory, and ethnography
• Narrative methods and experience-centred research
• Qualitative data analysis techniques
• Rigour and credibility in qualitative research

Mixed Methods and Evidence Synthesis

• Mixed methods designs (action research or other approaches)
• Systematic reviews, scoping reviews, and other forms of evidence synthesis
• Integration of quantitative and qualitative data

Methodological Innovation

• Simulation as a research strategy
• Digital methods and research in virtual environments
• Artificial intelligence applied to health research
• Emerging methodological approaches

Full submission guidelines are available on the Pensar Enfermagem Journal website. Authors should indicate, at the time of submission, their intention to submit their manuscript to this Special Issue. The deadline for article submission is 27 November 2026.

The focus should be on methodological discussion and in-depth analysis of different study designs, considering quality, validity, and reliability in research; ethics in nursing research; transparency, reproducibility, and open science; and the development and validation of instruments.

This Special Issue seeks to disseminate scientific knowledge concerning methodological foundations and rigour that advance health research methodologies.

Submit your papers!