Chapter 10

Quantitative Research for Various

Purposes
Types of Quantitative Research with
Different Purposes

1. Studies that are usually

experimental/quasi-experimental:
• Clinical trials
• Evaluation research
• Intervention research
Types of Quantitative Research with
Different Purposes (cont’d)

2. Studies that can be experimental or

nonexperimental:
• Outcomes Research
• Replication Studies
• Methodologic Research
Types of Quantitative Research with
Different Purposes (cont’d)
3. Studies that are usually
nonexperimental:
• Survey research
• Needs assessments
• Secondary analysis
• Meta-analysis
• Delphi surveys
Clinical Trials

Studies that develop and test the

effectiveness of clinical interventions
Phases of a Full Clinical Trial

• Phase I: finalizes the treatment (e.g., to

determine things like drug dose and safety)
• Phase II: seeks preliminary evidence of
effectiveness
• Phase III: fully tests the treatment
(randomized clinical trial or RCT)
• Phase IV: focuses on long term
consequences of the treatment
Evaluation Research

Examines how well a specific program,

practice, procedure, or policy is working
Types of evaluation:
• Process (Implementation) analysis
• Outcome analysis
• Impact analysis
• Cost analysis
Intervention Research
Research with a distinctive process of
planning and testing interventions. Steps
include:
1. Project planning; development of an
intervention theory
2. An intervention design, flowing from the theory
3. Implementation of a data collection system
4. Testing the intervention, in progressive stages
5. Dissemination of the results and intervention
Outcomes Research

Documents the quality and effectiveness of

health care and nursing services
Framework for outcomes research:
 Structure of care (organizational features)
 Nursing processes (aspects of clinical
decision-making and interventions)
 Patient characteristics
 Clinical outcomes
Replication Studies
• Studies to determine if findings from an
original study can be duplicated in
another independent study
• Types of replication:
– Identical replication
– Virtual replication
– Systematic extension replication
Methodologic Research

Investigations of the ways of obtaining,

organizing, and analyzing data

Examples:
– Developing and evaluating a new data
collection instrument
– Testing the effectiveness of stipends in
facilitating recruitment
Survey Research

• Obtains information about the prevalence,

distribution, and interrelations of variables
within a population
• Modes of administration:
– Personal (face-to-face) interviews
– Telephone interviews
– Self-administered questionnaires
– Internet surveys
Needs Assessments

• Studies to estimate the needs of a group,

community, or organization
• Needs assessment approaches:
– Key informant approach
– Survey approach
– Indicators approach
Secondary Analysis

• Studies using previously gathered data to

test new hypotheses
• Alternative strategies:
– Examine relationships not previously
analyzed
– Focus on a subgroup within the data set
(e.g., males only)
– Change the unit of analysis
Meta-Analysis

• A method of quantitatively integrating the

findings of prior research—not just a
literature review
• Uses statistical procedures to integrate study
data
• Each study is one unit of data
Delphi Surveys

A tool for planning and short-term

forecasting. Procedures include:
• Distributing questionnaires to an expert panel

• Tabulating responses and distributing results

back to the panel
• Completing follow-up rounds of surveys
(typically 3 or more rounds to achieve
consensus)