Foundations of Nursing Research Fifth Edition

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Foundations ofNursing ResearchFifth Edition
Rose Marie Nieswiadomy
Chapter 3An Overview of Quantitative Research
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Learning Objective 1

• List the steps in conducting quantitative research

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Quantitative Research Steps

• Number varies from author to author
• Macnee (2004) uses 5 steps
• Stommel Wills (2004) identified 9 steps
• Burns Grove(2005) listed 17 steps
• Polit and Beck (2004) identified 18 steps
• Authors combine several steps into one step

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Scientific Research Process

• Occurs always in an orderly fashion
• Consists of a number of steps

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Steps for Quantitative Research

• Identify the problem
• Determine the purpose of the study
• Review the literature
• Develop a theoretical/conceptual framework
• Identify the study assumptions
• Acknowledge the limitations of the study
• Formulate the hypothesis or research question
• Define study variables/terms

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Steps for Quantitative Research

• Select the research design
• Identify the population
• Select the sample
• Conduct a pilot study
• Collect the data
• Organize the data for analysis
• Analyze the data

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Steps for Quantitative Research

• Interpret the findings
• Communicate the findings
• Utilize the findings

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Learning Objective 2

• Discuss the steps in quantitative research

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Identify the Problem

• Start with broad topic area
• Narrow to specific problem statement

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Identify the Problem

• Get study problem from
• Personal experiences
• Literature sources
• Prior research
• Theory testing

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Identify the Problem

• State problem as a question
• Include population and variables

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Determine the Purpose

• Difference between purpose and problem
• Problem tells what is studied
• Purpose tells why study is done
• Studies may have one or both

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Review the Literature

• Finds out what exists on the topic
• Helps look at theory/framework
• Helps address the study methods

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Review the Literature

• Search a variety of sources
• Indexes
• Abstracts
• Dissertations
• Computer searches
• Continue until time to collect data

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Develop a Theoretical/Conceptual Framework

• Research helps test, develop, refine theories
• Process assists in selection of study variables
• Directs the hypothesis and interprets findings
• Answers the so what question(s)
• Adds to our nursing body of knowledge

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Identify the Study Assumptions

• Assumptions are beliefs held to be true but not
  proven
• Each research study is based upon assumptions

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Identify the Study Assumptions

• Assumptions are necessary because
• Influence the questions asked
• Affect the data gathered
• Help with methods of data collection
• Assist in the interpretation of the data

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Three Types of Study Assumptions

• Universal assumption
• Theory or research assumptions
• Assumptions needed to do the study
• Common sense assumptions

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Acknowledge the Limitations of the Study

• Limitations are uncontrolled variables
• Affect study results
• Limit generalization of the findings
• Extraneous variables
• Explain limitations at end of study

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Formulate Hypothesis or Research Question

• Hypothesis predicts relationships between
  variables
• Hypothesis provides predicted answer to question
• Hypothesis contains two types of variables
• Independent variable
• Dependent variable

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Formulate Hypothesis or Research Question

• Hypothesis is testable empirically
• Types of hypothesis vary
• Hypothesis mostly in quantitative studies
• Directional
• Nondirectional
• The Null hypothesis

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Define the Study Variables/Terms

• They must be clear to researcher and reader
• The definitions may be
• Dictionary
• Theoretical
• Operational
• The operational definition indicates how a
  variable will be observed and measured.
• It includes the instrument will be used to
  measure the variables.

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Select the Research Design

• Helps determine how study is planned
• Varies with the type of study conducted
• Quantitative vs. qualitative
• Experimental vs. non-experimental
• Experimental may be divided
• True experimental
• Quasi-experimental
• Pre-experimental

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• Non-experimental designs
• Survey studies
• Correlational studies
• Comparative studies
• Methodological studies

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Identify the Population

• Is a complete set of individuals or objects that
  have some common characteristic of interest to
  the researcher.
• Target or the universe is made up of the group
  of people or objects to which the researcher
  wishes to generalize the findings of a study.
• Accessible group that actually available for
  study.

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Select the Sample

• A subgroup of the population
• It represents the population
• It helps with generalization

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Select the Sample

• Types of samples
• Probability samples chosen by random selection
  process in which each member of the population
  has a chance of being in the sample.
• Nonprobability samples
• Voluntary aspect of participation
• Permission secured and rights protected

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Conduct a Pilot Study

• Similar in all aspects of the study
• It helps examine issues
• Design
• Sample size
• Data collection procedures
• Data analysis approaches

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Conduct a Pilot Study

• It helps tests/evaluates instruments
• Revisions made after pilot is completed

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Collect the Data

• Data are the pieces of information or facts
• Data collection procedures are followed

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Collect the Data

• Questions asked are
• What data?
• How is it collected?
• Who collects the data?
• Where is it collected?
• When will it be collected?

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Organize the Data for Analysis

• This step is planned from the beginning
• It uses the help of a statistician
• Decisions are made about missing data

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Analyze the Data

• The process is easier now
• Data is placed into computerized statistical
  packages
• Results are analyzed

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Interpret the Findings

• Do the data support the research hypothesis?
• Do the data not support the research hypothesis?
• Problems encountered are discussed
• Limitations of the study are presented
• Results are compared with other studies
• Implications are identified
• Recommendations are proposed

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Communicate the Findings

• A very critical component of the process
• A variety of ways are used
• Journals
• Presentations
• Posters

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Utilize the Findings

• Recommendations need considerations
• Integration into practice are critical components
• Researcher may act as a consultant for using
  findings
• Researcher must disseminate findings in many ways