Quantitative Research

Question 1

What are two advantages of quantitative research?

Answer 1

Offers strongest evidence of causation

Strong factor of randomization

Question 2

What are three disadvantages of quantitative research?

Answer 2

Very expensive to run
May be unethical or not possible to manipulate
Need adequate sample sizes for statistical power

Question 3

What is a quasi-experimental design?

Answer 3

Questions about effectiveness of an intervention with NO randomization to groups

Question 4

What are the three kinds of non-experimental quantitative designs?

Answer 4

Cohort design, Case-control and cross-sectional design

Question 5

What factors are shared by all non-experimental quantitative designs?

Answer 5

No randomization between participants

No direct intervention by researchers

Question 6

What are two advantages to non-experimental quantitative designs?

Answer 6

Economical and may be easier to conduct than experimental counterparts
May address ethical concerns that would be present in an RCT

Question 7

What are two disadvantages to non-experimental quantitative designs?

Answer 7

Less (or no) evidence of causality

Many influencing factors not controlled

Question 8

What is a cohort design and what makes it better or worse than other non-experimental quantitative designs

Answer 8

Questions about cause or course of a problem
Can be prospective or retrospective
Strongest non-experimental design and is better if exposure is rare

Question 9

What is a case-control design and why would you pick this over cohort or vice versa?

Answer 9

Questions about cause of problem
Retrospective
Weaker than cohort due to retrospective factor and possible bias associated with that

Question 10

What is a cross-sectional design

Answer 10

Addresses questions about what is associated with a problem however it measures factors and outcomes at one point in time

Question 11

What are some challenges faced with scales? (5)

Answer 11

Response bias
Social desirability
Extreme response
Yea-sayers/nay-sayers
Halo effect

Question 12

What does internal consistency of an instrument mean?

Answer 12

Items within one scale need to measure same critical attribute

Question 13

According to Cronbach Alpha Coefficient what is an acceptable internal consistency?

Answer 13

Greater than 0.70 on a range from 0.00-1.00