Chapter 8 Quantitative Research Design

Question 1

Quantitative Research

Answer 1

Uses numbers to represent reality

Analysis between and among variables

Question 2

Qualitative Research

Answer 2

Uses language, concepts, and words to represent
evidence

Emphasis on process and meaning

Question 3

Quantitative Design Selection

Answer 3

Explains and verifies facts

Tests theoretical relationships

Predicts events

Question 4

Quantitative Design Example

Answer 4

What is the relationship between timing of pain
medication, amount of medication, and pain
relief (as measured by a visual analog scale) in
a postoperative population?

Question 5

Qualitative Design Selection

Answer 5

Captures patient experience

Discovers social process

Describes happenings

Question 6

Qualitative Design Selection

Answer 6

What is the pain experience like for the patient
postoperatively?

Question 7

Blueprint

Answer 7

Outlines the plan for the study
-Defined from a broad or narrow perspective
-Connects theoretical perspectives with data collection
and analysis
-Provides methodical direction
-It outlines strategies for sample selection, development of measurement tools, data collection, and data analysis

Question 8

Design Structure as a Function of Quantitative Dimensions

Answer 8

Strong theoretical base

Explanation among variables

Objective approach to phenomena

Measurement of variables

Precision in measurement

Control of Error: Internal validity

Question 9

Which type of experimental design offers the strongest evidence for cause and effect?

Answer 9

Randomized Control Trials (RCT) offer the
strongest evidence of whether a cause (an
intervention) results in an effect (a desired
outcome

Question 10

Characteristics of Experimental Design

Answer 10

Manipulation/Intervention

Control

Random assignment

Question 11

Intervention

Answer 11

The researcher does something to some subjects (treatment)
-Pre & Post tests

Question 12

Control

Answer 12

The researcher introduces controls, including the use of a control & experimental groups

Question 13

Randomization

Answer 13

The experimenter assigns participants to a control or experimental condition on a random basis

Question 14

Control Group Conditions

Answer 14

No new intervention is used

“Usual care” or standard or normal procedures is used to treat patients.

An alternative intervention is used (e.g., auditory
vs. visual stimulation).

A placebo or pseudointervention, presumed to
have no therapeutic value, is used.

Attention control condition and delayed treatment
(wait-listed)

Question 15

3 Types of Commonly Used Experimental Designs

Answer 15

1) Randomized pretest-posttest control group

2) Randomized posttest-only group

3) One-group pretest-posttest design

Question 16

Randomized Pretest-Postest Control Group

Answer 16

One of most commonly seen designs

“Before-and-after” method

Similarity of experimental and control groups

Evaluate dependent variable before independent
variable introduced

Question 17

Randomized Posttest-Only Control Group

Answer 17

Excludes use of pretest

Usually requires groups to be randomly assigned

Used when pretest is inappropriate or impossible

Question 18

One-Group Pretest-Posttest Design

Answer 18

Pre-tested on dependent variable then post-tested after treatment

No comparison group

Threats to internal validity

External validity limited

Question 19

Randomized Clinical Trials

Answer 19

Most widely accepted approach to evaluating intervention or treatment

Researchers strictly adhere to principles of experimental design

Require sufficient sample sizes

Blinding of patients and health-care providers
 Single-blinded study
 Double-blinded study

Question 20

Advantages of Experiments

Answer 20

Most powerful method for detecting cause & effect relationships

Question 21

Disadvantages of Experiments

Answer 21

Often not feasible or ethical, Hawthorne effect (knowledge of being in a study may cause people to
change their behavior), often expensive

Question 22

Quasi-Experimental Designs

Answer 22

Outcome is “predicted” by theory and research

No random assignment and/or control groups

Nature of study or clinical setting dictate
use of this design

Question 23

Nonequivalent Control Group Designs

Answer 23

Those getting the intervention are compared with a nonrandomized comparison group

Question 24

Within-Subjects Designs

Answer 24

One group is studied before and after the intervention

Question 25

Advantages of Quasi-Experimental Designs

Answer 25

May be easier and more practical than true experiments