Chapter 2 - Quantitative Research

Types of Quantitative Research

Quantitative research

• formal, objective, rigorous, sytematic
• new situations, events, concepts

• Descriptive research - explorations and description of phenomena.
  • Examples from astronomy, geology, Darwin's work, etc. demonstrating descriptive research in physical and life sciences.
  • Group discussion of how descriptive research might apply in a Nursing context.
    • How would Human Subjects rules impact descriptive research in Nursing?
    • Would all descriptive research in Nursing involve human subjects restrictions?
    • Cause & effect?

• Correlational research
• relationships between or among variables.
  • ANOVA = ANalysis Of VAriables, computer programs such as SPSS and MiniTab enable correlations between multiple variables with little effort. However, interpretation of results requires greater sophistication.
• often expressed for two variables on a plot with a correlation coefficient (r)  which expresses degree of correlation from +1-0– -1 (drawings of sample plots on board).
  • examples of colorimeter data in biology (Absorbance vs. concentration, r = +), cholesterol vs. atherosclerosis (r = +), smoking vs. lifespan (r = -), etc.
• Group discussion of examples of applications of correlational research in Nursing.
  • How would Human Subjects rules impact correlational research in Nursing?
  • Cause & effect?

 

• Quasi-experimental research - aimed at demonstrating cause & effect

• Not as controlled as experimental
• Examples from nutrition and medical research - is cause and effect demonstrated
• Group discussion of examples of applications of quasi-experimental research in Nursing.
  • is cause and effect demonstrated? Why or why not?
  • What is needed to improve quality of demonstration of cause and effect?

• Experimental research
• rigorous control of variables etc.
• examples of experimental research from physics/chemistry/biology.
• Group discussion of experimental research in Nursing.
  • Can we do true experimental research with people?
  • Can we do true experimental research in Nursing?
  • What is the impact or use of experimental research for Nursing research?
  • What is the relation of experimental research to Nursing research?

Basic vs. Applied Research

• Pure Basic research often considered to be done strictly for resons of personal satisfaction. Often done for aesthetic or philosophic reasons. Motivation lacks a practical purpose.
• Examples of extra-solar astronomy, high energy physics etc.
• Historically many examples of pure basic research have lead to valuable practical contributions, just not intention.
• Discusion of basic vs. applied research.

Precision – hard science definition distinguishes precision vs. accuracy and exclusive non-related concepts.

• Precision relates to repeatability
• Accuracy relates to actual or true value,
  • Target example:

  

  • A shows greater accuracy, B shows greater precision.
  • Precesion generally preferred, as can correct "sites" etc. to bring right on.
  • Note that in science the actual value may not be known - we often work towards a concensus value. After all, how can we know the "true" value of a natural system, we did not create it!

© R A Paselk

Last modified 6 September 2009