Quantitative Research
Process
PCU-MJCN
Class 2012
Types
Descriptive
Correlational
Quasi-experimental
Experimental
Descriptive
Exploration and description of phenomena in real-life situations
Provides an accurate account of characteristics of particular
individuals, situation, or groups
Purposes
Discover new meaning
Describe what exists
Determine the frequency with which something
occurs
Categorize information
Outcomes
Description of concepts
Identification of relationships
Development of hypotheses that provide a basis for future quantitative
research
Example
Describing the
spread of bird flu
and its potential
influence on global
health
CORRELATIONAL RESEARCH
Involves the systematic investigation of relationships between or
among variables
Purposes
The means for
generating
To explain the nature
hypotheses to guide
of relationships in the
quasi-experimental
real world, not to
and experimental
determine the cause
studies that do focus
and effect.
on cause-and-effect
relationships.
Example
Relationship between the minutes of exercise
per day, types of food consumed, and
children’s weight.
QUASI-EXPERIMENTAL RESEARCH
To examine causal relationships or
to determine the effect of one
variable on another.
Involves implementing a treatment and
examining the effects of this treatment
using selected methods of measurement.
To determine ●
-1 indicates that the variables
the degree or vary in opposite directions
strength and ●
+1 indicates that the variables
type of vary together, both variables
relationships either increase or decrease
together
between two ●
0 indicating no relationship
variables
Example
Determining the effectiveness of treatments
such as herbal medicines on the health of
patients and families
EXPERIMENTAL RESEARCH
An objective, systematic, highly
controlled investigation for the
purpose of predicting and
controlling phenomena in
nursing practice.
Terms relevant to Quantitative Research
Basic Research – seeks new knowledge
Applied Research – conducted to generate
knowledge to influence practice
Rigor – is the striving for excellence in
research, and it requires discipline,
adherence to details, and strict accuracy
Control – imposing of rules to decrease the
possibility of error
Problem solving process
Problem
definition
Evaluation and
Data collection
revision
Assessment
Nursing process
Data collection
Data
interpretation
Evaluation /
Modification
Nursing
Diagnosis
Implementa
tion
Plan
Stating Goals
Planned
intervention
Knowledge of
Nursing World
Research Process
Clinical
experiences
Literature review
Outcomes
, findings
Problem and
purpose
identification
Implem
entation
Methodology
Design
Sample
Measurement methods
Data collection
Data analysis
Steps of the Quantitative Research process
Literatur
Research
Research
Study
objectives,
problem or and
e review
Framework
questions,
purpose
hypotheses
1 St
u
d
2y
v
ar
3
ia
bl
4
e
s
Limitati
Assump
Researc
Population
ons
tions
h design
and sample
M
et
5
h
o
d
6
s
of
m
7
ea
su
re
8m
e
nt
Data
Data
Research
analyses
collection
outcomes
Di
ss
e
9 mi
na
tio
n
for
1
0
evi
de
nc
e-
ba
1 se
1
d
pr
act
ice
Value to the Nursing Profession
To help nurses assess patients and to evaluate the care that they
receive
Provide the means to measure single concepts or their relationships
Identifying trends and patterns
Helps in policy decisions
For emphasizing evidence-based practice
Limitations of Quantitative Research
Empirical observation limit understanding of
human phenomena
Charges of ‘scientism’ – the belief that only
scientific method can produce “hard
evidence” worthy to be called science and
that other ways of producing knowledge are
inferior