Quantitative designs involve systematically gathering numerical data to investigate phenomena. They can be experimental, involving interventions, or non-experimental via descriptive, analytical, cohort, case-control, cross-sectional, or ecological studies. Quantitative designs are used to test theories, develop models, and identify relationships between variables through statistical analysis. They provide reliable, generalizable data but require large sample sizes and may not explain behaviors.

1. QUANTITATIVE DESIGNS
GROUP 20

2. BROAD OBJECTIVE
• By the end of the presentation students should acquire knowledge
on quantitative designs

3. Specific objectives
• By the end of the presentation students should be able;
1. Define quantitative design
2. Explain when quantitative design is applied
3. Explain descriptive study
4. Explain analytical study
5. Describe types of analytical studies

4. INTRODUCTION
• Researchers use this quantitative research design to
correlate two or more variables using mathematical analysis
methods.
• Quantitative research design is aimed at discovering how
many people think, act or feel in a specific way.

5. Definition of quantitative designs
• Quantitative designs are a systematic investigation of phenomena by
gathering numerical data and performing statistical maths or
computational technique.
OR
• Quantitative designs is a formed objective, systematic process in which
numerical data are utilized to obtain information about the world.
OR
• Quantitative design is a collection and analysis of numerical data to
describe characteristics, find correlation or test hypothesis.

6. Example of quantitative designs include;
1. Research that consists the percentage of people with cholera in
the lower shire during one of the rainy seasons in Malawi.
2. The survey conducted to understand the amount of time a doctor
takes to tend to the patient when the patient walks to Bwaila
hospital.
3. A survey that concludes that the average time the patient has to
wait in the waiting room to see a doctor at a private clinic in
Mzuzu is two hours.

7. When is quantitative approach applied
 It is applied when one want to test or confirm theories and
assumptions.
 In addition to that, it is also used to develop and employ
mathematical models, theories and/or hypothesis pertaining to
natural phenomena.

8. Characteristics of quantitative designs
1. Quantitative data is represented by tables, charts and graphs for
easy understanding of the collected data.
2. It requires more respondents to collect appropriate data
3. It uses closed ended questions to collect data. These questions
are created per the objective of the research.

9. Characteristics cont…
1. Uses structural tools, involves the use of surveys and questioners
to gather the data.
2. Sample size, quantitative data has appropriate sample to represent
whole population.
3. Prior studies, before collecting feedback from respondents
various factors related to the topic are studied.
4. Generalization of results, in quantitative designs results are
applied by the general population to take an action.

10. Importance of quantitative designs
 It is a quick method of data collection
 It helps collect reliable data
 It is a wider scope of data analysis

11. Descriptive studies
• A type of research that is used to describe and
understand characteristics of a population or phenomena
being studied.
• It is aimed at characterizing phenomena and identifying
association among selected variables.

12. Descriptive cont…
 Descriptive research can be used to;
i. Describe the characteristics of certain groups
ii. Estimate the proportion of people in a specified population who
behave in a certain way
iii.Make specific predictions
 The most common method of descriptive studies includes
surveys, interviews, observations, case studies and portfolios.

13. Descriptive cont...

14. Analytical studies
• Refers to studies done in which action will be taken on a cause
system to improve the future performance of the system of
interest.
For example;
 To identify smokers and non-smokers at baseline and compare
their subsequent incidence of developing heart disease.

15. Analytical cont…
• Analytical studies is categoriesed into two;
1. Experimental studies or intervention
2. Non experimental studies

16. Experimental studies
• Experimental studies intentionally alter one or more factor to
study its effect. Researcher introduces an intervention and study
the effects.

17. Experimental cont…
For example;
• Imagine taking 2 samples of the same plant and exposing
one of them to sunlight, while the other is kept away
from sunlight. Let the one exposed to light be A while
the latter be B

18. Experimental cont…
• If after the duration of the research, we find out that
sample A grows and sample B dies, even though they are
both regularly wetted given the same treatment.
Therefore, we can say conclude that sunlight will aid
growth in all similar plants.

19. Non experimental
• No intervention is introduced but investigator observe without
intervention and only count, record and analyze the results.

20. Non experimental cont…
For example;
• An investigator may be interested in the average age,
sex, most diagnoses and other characteristics of
pediatric patients being transported by air.

21. Types of non experimental studies
1. Cohort studies
 This is a type of research design that follow groups of people over
time (often many years)
 Cohort design is a type of nonexperimental or observational
study design. In a cohort study, the participants do not have the
outcome of interest to begin with. They are selected based on
the exposure status of the individual. They are then followed
over time to evaluate for the occurrence of the outcome of
interest

22. Cohort studies cont...
Cohort studies are categorized into two and this includes;
1. Prospective cohort study
2. Retrospective cohort study

23. Prospective cohort study
• Involves recruiting a group of participants and following them
over time to gather new data.
• A research study that follows over time groups of
individuals who are alike in many ways but differ by a
certain characteristic (for example, female nurses who
smoke and those who do not smoke) and compares them
for a particular outcome (such as lung cancer).

24. Retrospective cohort study
• The researcher analyzes a group of people who already
have certain characteristics
For example;
• interviewing a cohort of people who are HIV positive,
ask about their lifestyle choices and medical history to
study the origins of the disease.

26. Advantages of cohort studies
 There is the ability to study multiple outcomes that can be
associated with single exposure or multiple exposure
 Work well for rare exposures, a researcher can specifically
select people exposed to a certain factor

27. Disadvantages of cohort studies
 It can be very expensive and time consuming
 Need for a larger study group

28. Types of non experimental cont…
2. Case control studies
 This is a type of observational study in which two existing groups
differing in outcomes are identified and compared on the basis of
some supposed causal attribute.
 A study that compares two groups of people; those with the
disease or condition under study (case) and a very similar group
of people who do not have the disease or condition. And this is to
help determine if an exposure is associated with an outcome.

29. Types of non experimental cont…
3. Cross sectional studies
 it involves the analysis of data of variables collected at one
given point in time across a sample population.
 For example; the relationship between income and personal
expenditure.

30. Advantages of cross sectional studies
 Data is collected at a single point in time or all at once
 Relatively cheap and less time consuming

31. Disadvantages of cross sectional studies
 Cannot be used to analyze behavior
 Cannot determine the cause-and-effect relationship
•

32. Types of non experimental cont…
4. ecological studies
 Ecological studies are used to understand the relationship
between the outcome and exposure at a population level, where
population represent a group of individuals with a shared
characteristic.
 It involves the comparison of large groups of people instead of
individuals.

33. Ecological studies cont…
For example;
 Comparing the prevalence of a disease between different regions
at a single point in time
 Demonstrating changes in mortality over time (time series)
• The three main methods used in ecological studies are
observation, modeling and experimentation.

34. Importance of ecological studies
 Can compare phenomena across a wider range of population
 Assess the overall frequency of disease in a series of
populations
 Use existing data sets and rapidly test hypothesis

35. Limitations of ecological studies
• Provides group exposure and group response without knowing
what any individual exposure and response was.

36. Summary
• Quantitative designs are a systematic investigation of phenomena by
gathering numerical data and performing statistical maths or computational
technique. Types of quantitative includes; experimental and non
experimental studies. Quantitative studies are applied when one want to
test or confirm theories and assumptions.

37. GROUP MEMBERS
1. MOLLY NYIRENDA
2. PATRICK JAMES
3. RITA KINGSLEY
4. EMILY BUTAO
5. BLESSINGS KAYIRA
6. PEMPHERO MWIKHOMA
7. MIRRIAM KONDOWE
8. YOUNGSTER GWEDEZA

38. References
• Burns, N., & Grove, S.K (2009). The practice of nursing research; appraisal,
synthesis and generations of evidence. (6th ed). St Louis: Elsevier
• Polit, D. F., & Beck, C.T (2010). Essentials of Nursing Research: Appraising
Evidence for Nursing Practice. (7th ed). Philadelphia: Wolters Kluwer
• KCN module for research
• https://www.djsresearch.co.uk
• https://www.wikpedia.com