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Research Design

The document outlines the importance of research design as a blueprint for conducting research, detailing its purpose in data collection and analysis. It distinguishes between experimental and non-experimental designs, highlighting types such as true experimental, quasi-experimental, and various non-experimental approaches like descriptive and longitudinal studies. The choice of research design is influenced by factors such as research questions, available resources, and the nature of the study.

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0% found this document useful (0 votes)
4 views27 pages

Research Design

The document outlines the importance of research design as a blueprint for conducting research, detailing its purpose in data collection and analysis. It distinguishes between experimental and non-experimental designs, highlighting types such as true experimental, quasi-experimental, and various non-experimental approaches like descriptive and longitudinal studies. The choice of research design is influenced by factors such as research questions, available resources, and the nature of the study.

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taiwopraise32
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NSC 411:

RESEARCH
METHODS IN
NURSING II

Dr. S.J. Ayamolowo


olowoyamolowo@yahoo.com
TOPIC

THE RESEARCH DESIGN


Introduction
• Research design is the blue print of the research.
• It helps the researcher to collect the best evidence to support
the study being conducted.
• The research design is connected with how the sample will be
selected and the data collected.
• Some relevant questions at this stage include:
o “What is the best method to get answers to my research questions?”
o “What is the best method to get data to test my hypotheses?”
Objectives
•At the end of this unit, you should be able to:
oDefine research design
oIdentify the purposes of the research design
oIdentify and describe the different types of research designs
oExplain the differences between experimental and non
experimental designs.
Overview of the Research Design
• A strategy to get the information the researcher wants in a
study.
• Overall plan for answering the research questions or testing
the hypotheses.
• Incorporate the data collection plan, the sampling plan and the
analysis plan.
• Decision of which one to use rests on the researcher and the
nature of the research.
• Each researcher could choose the design deemed most suitable
for the specific research.
Definition and Overview of the Research
Design Cont’d
• The research design (methodology):
o qualitative when the data to be collected will be in words and
o quantitative, when the data would be in numbers (numeric).
• Generally grouped : experimental and non experimental
• Other classifications exist.
Purposes of the Research Design
• Major purposes :
o To enable the researcher focus on the key variables under
investigation
o To facilitate adequate sampling methods
o To ensure that the appropriate data collection method is applied.
o It enhances the data analysis plan.
Choice of Research Design
• Depends on:
o The research question
o The researcher‟s knowledge
o Time available for study
o Resources available
o Availability and commitment of research participants,
Types of Research Designs
• They could be grouped into:
oExperimental designs
oQuasi experimental designs
oEx post facto designs
oNon experimental designs
Experimental Designs
• True experimental design maintains maximum and rigorous
control over the research subjects
• Uses the process of randomization and manipulation in the
implementation of the study.
• Randomization & manipulation constitute the characteristics of
an experimental design.
• Experimental design: a scientific way of determining whether or
not the independent variable has any effect at all on the
dependent variable.
Experimental Designs Cont’d
• Control implies the ability of the researcher to regulate and check all
elements in the research.
• Achieved through the process of randomization:
• process of assigning subjects to the study on a random basis to make the
groups equal, and manipulation.
• Manipulation is the process by which the researcher manages the
independent variable in order to study its effect on the dependent
variable.
• Something is done to a group of the subjects (experimental group) by
the researcher,
• While the other group (comparison group), does not receive
anything.
Steps in Experimental Design
oIdentify the study population
oSelect a sample from the population by simple random
sampling
oRandomly assign the sample to two subgroups, which you
will name experimental and control groups
oObserve and record the characteristics of the two groups
oIntroduce the independent variable to the experimental
group, but not to the control group
oLater observe the dependent variable in both the
experimental and control groups
Steps in experimental design cont’d
o Compare the changes in experimental group with those in the
control group and record the difference.
o Compare these values with statistically computed values to judge
significance of the differences and indicate whether or not the
observed difference could have occurred by chance.
o If the findings are significantly greater than would be expected to
occur by chance alone, a causal relationship would have been
established between the independent variable and the
dependent variable under study
The Quasi Experimental Design
• The quasi experimental design resembles the experimental
design to some extent
• Lacks some of the characteristics of the true experiment.
• The study of intact pre existing groups randomly drawn, and
assigning the whole groups into experimental and control
groups.
• There is loss of randomization and less control.
• Does not allow the researcher to control assignments of
subjects to conditions.
• Weak when compared with the true experimental design
The Ex Post Facto Design
• This design literally means „after the fact‟ design
• It lacks randomization and control.
• There is no treatment either
• But the researcher seeks to establish if a grouping seems to
make a difference on some outcome.
• Design is not applicable in cause/effect types of research
questions or problem statement.
• High risk of contaminating variables.
The Non-Experimental Design
• Involves those studies without deliberate manipulation of the
variables or control over the research setting.
• There may be random sampling of subjects, but the researcher
does not employ randomization to assign subjects to groups.
• It includes those studies with the characteristic questions of
“What is/ what are/ identify”.
• They include:
o Descriptive studies
o Historical research
o Cross sectional designs
o Longitudinal studies
Descriptive studies
• A non experimental research where the researcher may utilize
self report measures that looks at many cases across a few
variables
• It relates one to another but does not demonstrate causality.
• Most often used for research that has to do with beliefs,
attitudes, or emotions.
• Determining and reporting subjects or objects the way they are.
• They could also take the form of exploratory studies, surveys,
and case studies.
Historical research
• A non experimental design that describes causes, effects or
trends that may help explain present events and anticipate
future events.
• They seek to answer why
• The data sources are original correspondences, diaries,
artifacts, witnesses and paper accounts of events.
Cross sectional designs
• The observations are taken at one time, like a snapshot of
participants, especially where the aim is to determine
prevalence.
• Cross sectional design has the advantage of being economical
in time and cost.
Longitudinal studies
• Longitudinal studies are the ones where one or more
participants are studied at several points in time.
• The sample is followed over time to see how they change.
• All the variables are measured within a narrow span of time with
data collected for each variable at each age level.
• The aim is to describe patterns of change, the direction
and magnitude of causal relationships between the variables.
Prospective and Retrospective
• They are non experimental designs
• Prospective designs
o It provide the researcher the opportunity to study a phenomenon over
time as a developmental process unfolds.
• Retrospective designs
o Employed when an event or phenomenon in the present is linked to a
previous event to determine the antecedents.
Differences between Experimental and
Non-Experimental Designs
• Experimental designs are characterized by randomization,
control and manipulation of subjects, while in non
experimental designs subjects are studied as they are, with
much less control, though there may be random selection of
subjects.
• The experimental design is able to determine a cause and
effect relationship, which is not possible by the non
experimental design.
• Experimental design is often more expensive, since the
researcher may need to create conditions that may not be
possible normally for the purpose of the study.
Differences between Experimental and
Non-Experimental Designs Cont’d
• Subject availability may be more with none experimental,
but attrition rate is also higher.
• Experimental designs are not suitable for researches that have
to do with emotions.
• Experimental studies are amenable to replication while it may
not be possible with non experimental designs.
• Prediction of future occurrences is possible with only
experimental design.
Conclusion
• The research design is the blue print of research, and a crucial
step in the entire research process.
• The implementation of the research depends on the design
• Hence, the need for every researcher to understand the
different designs in order to effectively implement research.
Summary
• This unit shows that:
oThe research design is the blue print of the research.
o Major purpose of the design is to ensure that the adequate data
collection method is applied.
oThe experimental and non experimental designs were identified as
two main types of research designs.
oThe experimental design varieties were mentioned as true
experimental, quasi experimental and ex post facto designs.
oThe non experimental designs include the descriptive such as
surveys, exploratory studies, cross sectional, longitudinal,
retrospective, prospective and historical studies.
Summary Cont’d
• Choice of research design by researchers is determined by the
nature of the research, the researcher‟s knowledge, time
and resources among others.
• Differences between experimental and non experimental
designs involve the characteristics of control, randomization
and manipulation applicable to the experimental but not the
non experimental.
• The experimental design is able to establish causal relationship,
and is much more replicable than the non experimental design.
Assignment
• Define and explain the purpose of research design.
• Explain the characteristics of the experimental design.
• What is the major difference between cross sectional and
longitudinal studies?
•Read ahead of next class on:
• Steps in research process

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