Final answer:
The nurse interviewing school nurses to determine their roles is engaging in primary data collection, a process where the researcher gathers firsthand information specific to their research goal.
Step-by-step explanation:
When the nurse interviews school nurses to determine their roles in schools and collects information through these interviews, the nurse is utilizing a research process termed primary data collection. Primary data refers to information that is collected firsthand by the researcher for a specific research purpose. This can include surveys, interviews, observations, and experiments. It contrasts with secondary data, which consists of information that was collected by someone else for a different purpose and is being used by the researcher for their own purposes.
Figures such as FIGURE 13.1 showing a military sergeant interviewing an Iraqi police officer and entering the answers into her computer exemplify the primary data collection process. Similarly, as mentioned in the scenario, a medical researcher interviewing every third cancer patient and a high school counselor selecting students based on randomly generated numbers are also collecting primary data.
Understanding the difference between primary and secondary data is crucial in the research process and is consistent with learning outcomes set out to locate and evaluate research materials. The case studies and interview methodologies mentioned serve as strong tools for collecting primary data, providing a unique perspective that is applicable to the specific audience or research question.