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Quantitative Research Designs

In Week 1, you examined some fundamental differences between quantitative and qualitative research methods. This week beings the in-depth exploration of quantitative research, which will continue through Week 9. This is not to diminish the use of qualitative research methods, which have just as much merit as quantitative methods. Quantitative research, on the other hand, has at least one underlying commonality—some engagement with numerical values. Because of this, there are many general considerations and principles that can be applied to quantitative research.

This week, you consider the characteristics and uses of many different kinds of quantitative research study designs. You also explore various important components of quantitative research, including research problems and questions, hypotheses, and variables. You examine the purpose and significance of conducting a quantitative research study of your choice, formulate a research problem statement, and develop hypotheses related to the research study you selected. These skills in developing quantitative research designs will assist you in analyzing research studies. This week, you begin your article critique; this assignment will give you the opportunity to apply many of the concepts presented throughout Weeks 1 through 9 of the course.

Learning Objectives

Students will:

Formulate a research question, testable hypothesis, and appropriate research design for a quantitative research study

Identify independent and dependent variables

Evaluate the purpose and significance of a proposed research study that applies to evidence-based practice

Learning Resources

Required Media

Laureate Education, Inc. (Executive Producer). (2011). Research methods for evidence-based practice: Selecting a research topic and developing a hypothesis. Baltimore, MD: Author.

Note: The approximate length of this media piece is 13 minutes.

In this week’s video, Dr. Leiyu Shi discusses the characteristics of a good research hypothesis and details the steps in developing a hypothesis that can be tested through research.

Accessible player

Laureate Education, Inc. (Executive Producer). (2011). Research methods for evidence-based practice: Musings: Aligning research question and methodology. Baltimore, MD: Author.

Note: The approximate length of this media piece is 6 minutes.

This video discusses the importance of having a well-defined research question, which informs the methodology that you use in creating a hypothesis for a research study.

Accessible player

Laureate Education. (2011). Important events in clinical research history. Retrieved from http://mym.cdn.laureate-media.com/2dett4d/Walden/CLRA/6100/01/mm/timeline/index.html

This timeline identifies and describes key historical events related to the development of clinical research throughout the ages.

Required Readings

Gray, J.R., Grove, S.K., & Sutherland, S. (2017). Burns and Grove’s the practice of nursing research: Appraisal, synthesis, and generation of evidence (8th ed.). St. Louis, MO: Saunders Elsevier.

Chapter 5, “Research Problem and Purpose”

Chapter 5 outlines how to identify and develop a research problem statement, purpose, and research questions. The chapter also provides examples of both quantitative and qualitative research topics, problems, and purpose.

Chapter 6, “Objectives, Questions, Variables, and Hypothesis”

This chapter explains the different types of hypotheses and assesses how research variables can be used to formulate research objectives in both quantitative and qualitative studies.

Chapter 10, “Quantitative Methodology: Noninterventional Designs and Methods”

Chapter 10 describes the principles of research design and those foundational concepts that influence the selection of an appropriate quantitative design: causality, bias, manipulation, control, and validity.

Chapter 11, “Quantitative Methodology: Interventional Designs and Methods”

This chapter builds on the material presented in Chapter 10 and discusses how to select the most appropriate quantitative research design for addressing a particular research problem.

Select one of the following articles to use for this week’s Assignment:

Fouquier, K.F. (2011). The concept of motherhood among three generations of African American women. Journal of Nursing Scholarship, 43(2), 145–153.

Grey, M., Whittemore, R., Jaser, S., Ambrosino, J., Lindemann, E., Liberti, L., Northrup, V., & Dziura, J. (2009). Effects of coping skills training in school-age children with Type 1 diabetes. Research in Nursing & Health, 32, 405–418.

Methey, N.A., Davis-Jackson, J., & Stewart, B.J. (2010). Effectiveness of an aspiration risk-reduction protocol. Nursing Research, 59, 18–25.

Newhouse, R.P., Morlock. L., Pronovost, P., & Breckenridge-Sproat, S. (2011). Rural hospital nursing: Results of a national survey of nurse executives. Journal of Nursing Administration, 41(3), 129–137.

Handouts

Laureate Education. (2011). Litmus test for a doctoral-level research problem. Baltimore, MD: Author.

Optional Resources

Caress, A., Luker, K., & Chalmers, K. (2010). Promoting the health of people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: Patients’ and carers’ views. Journal of Clinical Nursing, 19(3–4), 564–573.

Note: You will access this article from the Walden Library databases.

Mbeba, M. M., N., Jere, D. L., Kachingwe, S. I., Crittenden, K. S., McCreary, L. L., … Norr, K. F. (2011). Peer group intervention reduces personal HIV risk for Malawian health workers. Journal of Nursing Scholarship, 43(1), 72–81.

Note: You will access this article from the Walden Library databases.

Miller, J., Gaboda, D., Nugent, C., Simpson, T., & Cantor, J. (2011). Parental eligibility and enrollment in state children’s health insurance program: The roles of parental health, employment, and family structure. American Journal of Public Health, 101(2), 274–277.

Note: You will access this article from the Walden Library databases.

Su, C., Lu, X., Chen, W., & Wang, T. (2009). Promoting self-management improves the health status of patients having peritoneal dialysis. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 65(7), 1381–1389.

Note: You will access this article from the Walden Library databases.

Discussion: Starting the Research Process

Formulating a specific, applicable research problem statement is an important step in beginning a research process. The problem statement defines the focus of the research study, dictates what methods and tools will be used, and sets the stage for all subsequent elements of the research process. Because of this, it is necessary to put a great deal of thought into the problem statement to ensure that the rest of the research process will be well planned and appropriate to the problem at hand.

This week’s Discussion asks you to identify evidence-based practice problems that can be addressed using quantitative research methods. Based on the practice problem you select, formulate a quantitative research problem statement. In this Discussion, you are also given the opportunity to evaluate your colleagues’ problem statements. Please refer to this week’s Learning Resources for appropriate and scholarly examples of research problem statements and how they inform the rest of the research process.

To prepare:

Determine a nursing practice problem that is of interest to you and that is appropriate for a quantitative research study. Note: You will continue to use this problem in the Discussions over the next several weeks.

Using the Walden Library and other credible sources, locate and read two or three articles that address your practice problem.

With your practice problem in mind, review the Learning Resources and media presentations focusing on the strategies presented for generating a research problem statement.

Ask yourself: What is the importance of my practice problem to nursing, research, and theory? How might addressing this problem bring about positive social change? How will investigating this problem support evidence-based practice?

This is the question to address in discussion below:

Post a proposed research problem statement, including sufficient information to make your focus clear and explaining how addressing this problem may bring about positive social change.