Quantitative Research Designs

Question 1

To determine causality, it must be demonstrated that:

Answer 1

• cause and effect variables are associated
• cause precedes effect
• relationship not explained by another variable

Question 2

When are quasi-experimental designs used?

Answer 2

• Used in situations where full experimental design is not possible or ethical
• Will have a control group with treatment
• Lacks randomization and/or control
• Involves manipulation of IV
• May use a non-equivalent comparison group (not randomly selected)
• As a result, one cannot make causal inferences

Question 3

What is the purpose of non-experimental designs?

Answer 3

• Understand phenomena as they naturally occur, without researcher intervention (no manipulation)
• Independent variables occur naturally
• Requires a large sample size
• Less ability to predict causal relationships
• E.g. surveys, correlational studies

Question 4

Describe survey’s as a tool in non-experimental designs:

Answer 4

• Can be used in the following:
• When little is known about variables
• Data collected via questionnaire or interview
• Can obtain great deal of info from large population in fairly economical manner (breadth but not depth)
• Information is quite accurate
• Must not attempt to determine causation
• Must be a bit cautious, extraneous variables likely present interfering with results
• Related terms: descriptive, exploratory, comparative

Question 5

Describe correlational design:

Answer 5

• Provides a means of looking at relationships between variables that cannot be manipulated
• Not identifying causation but correlation
• These can be categorized as either descriptive or predictive correlational

Question 6

What are developmental studies?

Answer 6

• Looks at data as it develops over times
• Types of correlational studies
• E.g. cross sectional [individuals experiencing phenomena at different points, like 3rd and 6th semester students, but not comparing same individuals], longitudinal, retrospective
• Attrition is huge d/t long time span of study

Question 7

What are some reasons for conducting a pilot study?

Answer 7

• Determine feasibility of conducting the study
• Develop or refine a research treatment
• Develop protocol for implementing a treatment
• Identify design problems
• Determine if the sample is representative
• Examine instrument reliability and validity
• Develop or refine data collection tools
• Check data analysis techniques

Question 8

Why are experimental designs not the most nursing research design?

Answer 8

• Complexity of problems - experiments assume that all variables involved in phenomenon have been identified
• Not all variables can be manipulated or measured
• Difficult or impractical in naturalistic settings