quantitative research is - answera formal, objective, rigorous, and systematic process
for creating new, generalizable knowledge
quantitative research does what 3 things - answer Describes new events
Examines relationships among variables
Determines the effectiveness of interventions/treatments by collecting numerical data
and analyzing the data with statistics
concepts (variables) must be - answera) defined in words and b) operationalized=made
measurable
IMRAD - Introduction - answerIntroduction Section (Note: In APA we do not label the
section "Introduction")
Defines the problem
Explains the rationale for the study
Explains why it is important
Ends with the purpose statement
Purpose of the study is narrower than the problem
Literature Review Section vs Literature Review Paper - answer•May or may not be part
of the Introduction
•Or section called Background and/or Literature Review
•Must explain what is already known about the problem
•Describes the current, available research
•Clarifies what is not known ("the gap")
•Leads into why the study you are reading is needed: The purpose
•Logical flow very important!
Theoretical Frameworks - answer•May or may not be used!!!!
•Guides the study
•Concept and relationships
•Provides boundaries, scope
IMRAD: Methods - answer•Explains choices of the researcher(s) about HOW the study
was conducted and Describes the plan & procedures
IMRAD: Methods logical flow - answerLogical flow: Introduction (Problem >Purpose)
narrower: a) aims and objectives, or b) research question/research hypothesis
IMRAD: Methods setting/sample - answer•inclusion and exclusion criteria and rationale
,IMRAD: Methods data collection - answerinstruments which collect numbers
IMRAD: Methods Data analysis plan: - answer•what statistical tests will be conducted?
What variables are being compared/tested? What level of significance has been set
(usually alpha =.05)
instruments specific type - answerLikert scale (5=strongly agree, 4=agree, 3=neutral,
2=disagree, strongly, 1=disagree)
Instruments !! must !! be - answer•valid and reliable
valid - answer•measure the concept/variable it purports to measure
reliable - answermeasure the concept/variable accurately & consistently
Levels of Measurement: Nominal - answer•unordered data; indicates categorical data
examples: sex, blood type
•Can report proportions e.g. 59% , but not means (averages)
Levels of Measurement: Ordinal - answer•ordered categories, but intervals are not truly
defined. Likert scale data is ordinal but often treated as interval level data
Levels of Measurement: Interval - answer•values on a scale, but "zero" is not
meaningful (e.g. zero does not mean nothing)
Levels of Measurement: Ratio - answercounts; values on a scale where zero means
nothing
levels of measurement often discussed as - answer•continuous data vs. categorical
data
•Important because it determines what statistics and data reporting can/should be
conducted
Basic research: - answerbench science; general knowledge; knowledge for knowledge
sake! Just for the pursuit of truth
Applied research - answer•solves problems, effects of interventions on patients, findings
used in the clinical setting
DIRECTLY improves clinical practice
, Purpose to solve problems, make decisions, and/or predict tor control outcomes in real-
life practice situations
*can be used to test theory
Rigor - answerattention to detail; adherence to research rules; exacting; careful;
requires precise/accurate measurement tools, a representative sample, and a tightly
controlled study design
Control - answerrules followed & standards used to decrease the possibility of
errors/bias
extraneous - answer•variables: occur in all studies/ unintended variables that might
interfere with measurement or hypothesized relationships of studied variables
sampling - answerprocess of selecting subjects
Goal is to have sample that is representative of the population
Probability sampling: - answerRandom sampling: each member has an equal chance of
being selected; most control; reduces bias
Non-probability sampling: - answerConvenience sampling: whomever is available;
common in nursing research; less control; increase risk of biased sample
Types of Quantitative Research - answer•Descriptive/Observational (e.g. survey study,
no manipulation of variable)
•Correlational
•Quasi-experimental
•Experimental
Descriptive/Observational Research - answerDescribes the characteristics and extent of
I a situation/event/concept/state of affairs. explores new areas of research and
describes situations as they exist in the world
key characteristic of descriptive/observational research - answerNo controlling or
manipulation or variables
with descriptive/observational research look for phrase - answer"Descriptive statistics"
descriptive/observational research consists of - answer•Percentages / proportions
•Mean, median, mode
correlational research - answer•Takes survey data a step further
•Looks at statistical relationship between two or more variables
•Determines the strength and type of relationship
•Explains what is seen
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