6.1 Nonexperimental Design

Question 1

Non-Experimental Designs

Answer 1

• Not amendable to experimental/quasi-experimental approaches

AIMS
- Explore events, people or situations as they occur
- Test relationships and differences among variables

• Does not require randomization or intervention. Independent variables are naturally occurring and not manipulated.
• Level 4 evidence

Question 2

Words Related to Non-Experimental Designs

Answer 2

Exploratory
- Study simply seeks to learn more about the variable and their relationships

Observational
- Suggests there is no intervention.

Question 3

Types of Non-Experimental Studies

Question 4

Survey Studies

Answer 4

Descriptive
- Provides a picture of a situation that is naturally happening without manipulation (intervention) of any variables

Exploratory
- Used when little is known about a phenomenon

Comparative
- Compares 2+ groups of variables

• Uses detailed descriptions and use of data to improve nursing practice

Variables include opinions, attitudes or facts (age)

• DOES NOT DETERMINE CAUSATION

Advantage
- Collection of large amounts of data from large populations and is cost effective

Disadvantage
- Obtained data is superficial

Question 5

Relationship/Difference Studies

Answer 5

• Aims to assess relationships between variables.

Correlational Study
- Instead of testing causation, it tests whether a variable covary (as one variable changes does the other)
- Testing strength of relationships between variables

Developmental Study
- Utilizes “time perspective”
- Concerned about current relationships and changes as time passes

3 Types
- Cross-Sectional
- Cohort, Longitudinal, Prospective
- Case-Control, retrospective, ex post facto

Advantage
- Efficient and effective to collect large amounts of data that can serve as a foundation for future experimental studies.
- Offers a framework for exploring the relationships between variables that cannot be manipulated

Disadvantage
- Limitations due to variables not being manipulated
- Lack of generalizable studies
- Inability to determine casual relationships

Question 6

Non-Experimental Studies

Answer 6

• Does not explain cause-and-effect relationships
• Data however can be used to predict how subjects respond to interventions

Question 7

Methodological Research

Answer 7

• Development and evaluation of data collecting instruments.
• Is not interested in cause-effect relationships
• Make a measurable instrument for intangible concepts.
• “Psychometric Testing”

Question 8

Secondary Analysis

Answer 8

• A method (not design approach) where previously collected data is re-analyzed for a secondary purpose

Question 9

Mixed Methods

Answer 9

• Use both qualitative and quantitative approaches in a study