QUANTITATIVE DESIGNS
During the late 19th and throughout the 20th collectionwith the intent of generalizing from a
century, strategies of inquiry associated with
quantitative research were those that invoked the
postpositivist worldview and that originated mainly in
psychology. These include true experiments and the
less rigorous experiments called quasiexperiments
(see, an original, early treatise on this, Campbell &
Stanley, 1963). An additional experimental design is
applied behavioral analysis or single-subject
experiments in which an experimental treatment is
administered over time to a single individual or a small
number of individuals (Cooper, Heron, & Heward,
2007; Neuman & McCormick, 1995).
One type of nonexperimental quantitative
research is causal-comparative research in which the
investigator compares two or more groups in terms of
a cause (or independent variable) that has already
happened. Another nonexperimental form of research
is the correlational design in which investigators use
the correlational statistic to describe and measure the
degree or association (or relationship) between two or
more variables or sets of scores (Creswell, 2012).
These designs have been elaborated into more complex
relationships among variables found in techniques of
structural equation modeling, hierarchical linear
modeling, and logistic regression. More recently,
quantitative strategies have involved complex
experiments with many variables and treatments (e.g.,
factorial designs and repeated measure designs). They
have also included elaborate structural equation
models that incorporate causal paths and the
identification of the collective strength of multiple
variables.
Survey research provides a quantitative or numeric
description of trends, attitudes, or opinions of a
population by studying a sample of that population. It
includes cross-sectional and longitudinal studies using
questionnaires or structured interviews for data
sample to a population (Fowler, 2008).
Experimental research seeks to determine if a
specific treatment influences an outcome. The
researcher assesses this by providing a specific
treatment to one group and withholding it from another
and then determining how both groups scored on an
outcome. Experiments include true experiments, with
the random assignment of subjects to treatment
conditions, and quasi-experiments that use
nonrandomized assignments (Keppel, 1991). Included
within quasi-experiments are singlesubject designs.
Reference: Cresswell, John Research Design:
Qualitative, Quantitative, and Mixed Methods
Approaches
QUASI-EXPERIMENTAL RESEARCH
Quasi-experimental research may look very much like
true experimental research in that it does involve the
manipulation of an independent variable.
However, it is not the same as true experimental
research because quasi-experimental research studies
lack one or both of the essential properties
of randomisation and a control group.
The major drawback with quasi-
experimental research is that, compared to
experimental research, it has a weakness in that is not
possible to deliver 'cause and effect' results.
In other words, we cannot infer from quasi-
experimental research that, for example, doing one
thing causes a particular phenomenon (e.g. smoking
cigarettes causes cancer).
DESCRIPTIVE RESEARCH
This type of research describes what exists and may
help to uncover new facts and meaning.
The purpose of descriptive research is to
observe
describe
document
aspects of a situation as it naturally occurs (Polit &
Hungler 1999)
This involves the collection of data that will provide an
account or description of individuals, groups or
situations. Instruments we use to obtain data in
descriptive studies include
questionnaires
interviews (closed questions)
observation (checklists, etc.)
There is no experimental manipulation or indeed any
random selection to groups, as there is in experimental
research.
The characteristics of individuals and groups such as
nurses, patients and families may be the focus of
descriptive research. It can provide a knowledge base
which can act as a springboard for other types of
quantitative research methods.
Reference: Polit D.F., Hungler B.P. (1999) Nursing
Research: Principles and Methods (6th Ed.)
Philadelphia, Lippincott
CORRELATIONAL RESEARCH
Quantitative correlational research aims to
systematically investigate and explain the nature of the
relationship between variables in the real world. Often
the quantifiable data (i.e. data that we can quantify or
count) from descriptive studies are frequently analysed
in this way.
Correlational research studies go beyond simply
describing what exists and are concerned with
systematically investigating relationships between two
or more variables of interest (Porter & Carter 2000).
Such studies only describe and attempt to explain the
nature of relationships that exist, and do not examine
causality (i.e. whether one variable causes the other).
Reference: Porter, S., Carter, DE (2000) Common
terms and concepts in research. In Cormack, D.
(Ed.) The Research Process in Nursing (4th Ed.).
Oxford, Blackwell Science (pp. 17-28)
SURVEY RESEARCH
According to Polit and Hungler (1999), a survey is
used to obtain information from groups of people (i.e.
populations).
The information that is obtained may be concerned
with the prevalence, the distribution, and/or the
interrelationships between variables within these
groups.
Data collection tools include:
personal interviews
telephone interviews
questionnaires
As pointed out in the accompanying book (chapter 5),
depending upon the problem being investigated, this
type of research may be better explored by means of a
qualitative paradigm.
Reference: Polit DF, Hungler BP (1999) Nursing
Research: Principles and Methods (6th Ed.)
Philadelphia, Lippincott
EVALUATION RESEARCH
This is an applied form of research that involved
finding out how well a programme, practice, procedure
or policy is working (Polit & Hungler 1999:201).The
aim of this type of research is to assess/evaluate the
success of a particular practice or policy, etc.
Examples of this type of research can be seen in
various types of analysis/evaluation, including:
process/implementation analysis (the analysis
of process and the implementation of
treatments/nursing cares, etc. - similar to
audits)
outcome analysis (the analysis of the outcome
of changes in processes, treatments, etc. -
again, similar to audits)
impact analysis (the analysis of the impact that,
for example, a new treatment will have on the
patients)
cost-benefit analysis (the analysis of the cost to
benefit ratio of , again for example, the
introduction of a new drug)
As with the survey research methods, this type of
research may best be carried out as a qualitative piece
or research, depending upon the original research
question.
Reference: Polit DF, Hungler BP (1999) Nursing
Research: Principles and Methods (6th Ed.)
Philadelphia, Lippincott