Quantitative Research

Objectives
Definition
List types
Discuss characteristics
Examine the types of designs
How quantitative relates toe evidence-based nursing
Summary points



Definition
Identified with the traditional scientific method
Gathers data objectively in an organized manner
Findings can be generalized to other
situations/populations
Systematic plan
Types
Experimental designs
Treatment
Control group
Quasi experimental
Lacks randomization
May not have control group
Non experimental
Generates questions for experimental designs
Characteristics
Why Purpose for the study
Where Setting where the study is done
Who Subjects to be studied
What Type of data to be collected
When Timing of the data collection
How Design used for the study
Experimental Design
Control
Most common and important characteristic
Manipulation
Independent variable
Randomization
Assignment of subjects to a group allowing for
equal opportunity of selection
Variables
Dependent
Outcome of the study
Usually not manipulated
Independent
Treatment, intervention, or experiment
Usually manipulated
Extraneous
Need to be controlled
Examples gender, age, ethnicity
Generalization
Ability to apply the results of a study to
other settings and/or populations
Helps to strengthen the study
Aided by careful control of the study
through the use of randomization,
control, and manipulation
Experimental Designs
Look for cause and effect
Must be a preceding cause and a relationship between the
cause and outcome
Issues to consider
Can the variables be manipulated
Ethics
Feasibility
Hawthorne effect
Types
Pretest-posttest
Randomized Controlled Trials (RCTs)
Non-Experimental Designs
Manipulation of variables is not possible
Randomization is not possible
Observational not interventional
Types
Secondary analysis
Meta analysis
Quasi-Experimental Design
Most frequently used quantitative research design
Independent variable is manipulated
No randomization of subjects
No control group used
Not as strong design as experimental
Stronger design than descriptive
More practical
Control
Critical for results related to cause and effect in
relation to the treatment/intervention
Randomization aids in controlling extraneous
variables
Areas of concern
Maturation
Attrition of subjects
History
Descriptive Designs
Examines the characteristics of just one sample population
Used for theory development, practice problems, rationale
for current practice or clinical decision making based on
what others are doing
Types
Comparative
Time dimensional
Cross-sectional
Trends and events
Correlational
Comparative Design
No manipulation of the independent
variable

No control group used

Can be retrospective
Correlational Design
Most widely used descriptive design
Examines the relationships between two or more
variables within a situation
Reason for the relationship is unknown
Do not conclude that only one variable causes
another
Can be prospective or retrospective in design
Can be predictive in nature
Quality Improvement Projects and Root Cause
Analysis
Focused on patient outcomes
Improving practice, not scientific inquiry
Root Cause Analysis
Examine systems
Looks for reasons for system or person error
Adverse events or sentinel events
Evidence-based Considerations
Increases comprehension of various designs
Concepts of randomization and control are
essential
What is expected (relationships, effect, etc)
determines design
Three essential components must be present for
experimental design control of variables,
manipulation, and randomization
Summary Points
Identified with traditional scientific methods
Objective, systematic plan for gathering data
Design centers around why, where, who, what, when
and how questions
Examines relationships for cause and effect
Summary Points Contd.
Manipulation of the independent variable, control
of extraneous variables, and randomization are
essential
Comparative designs no manipulation or control
of the independent variable
Correlational design most commonly used
descriptive design
Types of correlational studies ex post factor,
prospective, or predictive
Summary Points Contd.
Experimental designs look for cause and effect
Issues ethics, manipulation of variable, feasibility,
and Hawthorne effect
Most classic experimental design pretest-posttest
design
Randomized Controlled Trials true experimental
design
Summary Points Contd.
Types of non experimental designs used in EBP
secondary analysis and meta analysis
Quasi experimental designs used most frequently
when no randomization or control group possible
Most commonly used quasi experimental design
formats non equivalent control group and time
series designs
Non equivalent control groups design compares
two groups without randomization
Summary Points Contd.
Time series design no randomization, no control
group, data collected at various intervals.
Threats to study history, maturation, and attrition
Implications for EBP must have working
knowledge about quantitative designs.
Root Cause Analysis and Quality Improvement work
to show relationships