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NUR/518 Read Me First

Week Two

INTRODUCTION

This week we will be discussing how to analyze quantitative research reports. When we think
about quantitative research, we should think about numbers. With quantitative research the data
we end up with is numbers.

When we think of research utilization and evidence-based practice, we generally think of


quantitative research projects. As we judge the impact research evidence has, we think of
randomized clinical trials. Think about what you hear on the news about women and hormones.
Or the drug studies we see on the television, these are all quantitative research studies. As we
turn to nursing, we might read about the effectiveness of a teaching intervention on breast
feeding. Another type of quantitative research is survey research. As we think about issues like
how satisfied nurses are in the workplace or patient satisfaction scores we use in our facilities.
These are examples of survey research. Both survey research and clinical trials are examples of
quantitative research.

Learning about quantitative research requires us to take a journey into areas such as
experimental and non-experimental research, random and non-random sampling strategies, data
collection techniques, and finally statistics to analyze the data. While this information is complex,
it is understandable!

This week we will learn about research terms so we can dissect research reports. How many
times do you gloss over those research reports because they are just too difficult to understand?
After we are through this week, you will be able to understand much of what you are reading in
those studies so you can proudly go to work and share the latest and greatest research findings.

THIS WEEK IN RELATION TO THE COURSE AND PROGRAM

This week we are studying quantitative research. We are delving into all of the pieces and parts
of this type of research. In addition we will be taking what we are learning about research and
applying the information as we read and review research studies. As you move forward in the
program, you will be involved in a practicum where you may use many of the techniques that you
have learned this week in this course.

Next week, we are going to discuss qualitative research. This will be followed by ensuring we
understand ethics in research and that we understand how to implement research findings into
practice.

HINTS FOR READING THE ASSIGNED MATERIALS

This week’s reading is a bit more complex. In addition, there is a lot of reading! There are likely
many words that you will not be familiar yet it is essential that you understand all of these terms.

As you do your reading, I suggest you make a list of terms with which you are not familiar and
write out some definitions you can use as you complete your reading. I also recommend you
read each chapter in its entirety at one sitting if you can. For example getting the entire picture of
all of the sampling techniques will allow you to build your learning and do some comparisons.

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In many of the chapters techniques for both quantitative and qualitative studies are included in
the chapter. For instance, in the chapter for measurement strategies, the technique of interviews,
is included. When you think of interviews this is generally considered to be a qualitative
technique….so just skip that section. Mark that section to review next week when we are talking
about qualitative research.

Finally, when we seek to understand quantitative research, we have to deal with statistics which
can be scary for some. Please don’t let the statistics intimidate you…we will review some basics
so you can understand the research studies you are reading.

QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER

When we think about quantitative research there are some points to ponder as you read. How do
we identify a study as quantitative? Many studies are not purely quantitative, the study may use
a mixed methodology. In this case, take the part of the study that uses quantitative techniques
and apply what you have learned to those sections.

Important to quantitative research is reliability and validity of any tools used in the data collection
strategies. As you review studies, look at the tools used to collect data. This might be a survey, a
biomedical machine, or a rating scale. Ensure that researchers have addressed reliability and
validity in the data collection process. Then as you look at the study in general, think about
issues that might affect the validity of the study in general. How much time did it take to collect
the data? Did anything happen during that time that might have affected the data? What about
the people who participated in the research? Are they similar to the people you want to apply the
findings to? How generalizable are those findings? (Daggett, Harbaugh, & Collum, 2005)

As you read, just keep asking those questions about rigor in the study.

SUMMARY

Quantitative research studies form the backbone of research that we can readily use in practice.
In addition, quantitative methodologies are used frequently in areas such as patient or staff
satisfaction.

REFERENCES

Daggett, L.M., Harbaugh, B., & Collum, L. A. (2005). A worksheet for critiquing quantitative
nursing research. Nurse Educator, 30(6). Retrieved March 31, 2006 from
http://www.nursingcenter.com/library/static.asp?pageid=637834

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