This document provides an overview of nonexperimental research design. It begins with definitions of nonexperimental research as research that observes phenomena as they naturally occur without introducing external variables or controlling settings. The document then discusses reasons for using nonexperimental design such as when variables cannot be ethically or practically manipulated. It also outlines various types of nonexperimental research design including surveys, Delphi surveys, correlation design, methodological studies, and comparative studies.

1. NONEXPERIMENTAL
RESEARCH DESIGN
under supervision of:-
Prof . Bassamat Omar Ahmed

2. At the end of this session the candidate will be able to :-
DEFINE NONEXPERIMENTAL RESEARCH DESIGN
LIST TYPES OF NONEXPERIMENTAL RESEARCH DESIGN
IDENTIFY THE REASONS FOR SELECTIONG
NONEXPERIMENTAL RESEARCH DESIGN
DISCUSS TYPES OF NONEXPERIMENTAL RESEARCH DESIGN
Differentiate between method and methodology:
objectives

3. Introduction.
Definition
Reasons for Undertaking Non experimental Research.
Types of non experimental research design.
Delphi survey
Survey study
Correlation design
Methodological studies
Comparative studies
outlines

4. Many research problems cannot be addressed with
an experimental or quasi-experimental design.
In non experimental research, researchers collect
data without making changes or introducing
treatments.
introduction

5. Definition
Non experimental research design is one of the broad
categories of research designs, in which the researcher
observes the phenomena as they occur naturally, & no
external variables are introduced.
It is a research design in which variables are not deliberately
manipulated, nor is the setting controlled.

6.  Non experimental research designs are used in
descriptive studies in which there is no manipulation
or control of variables & the researcher can only
describe the phenomenon as it exists.
Definition

7. A design in which the researcher is a passive agent,
who observes, measures, and describes a
phenomenon as it occurs or exists.
Definition

8. Example
The effect of widowhood on health status.
we cannot manipulate widowhood
taking two groups (widows and non widows)
naturally occur
widowhood versus non
widowhood
independent
variable
observation

9. Example
Do birthweights under 1,500 grams cause developmental
delays in children
Independent
variable
Babies’ weights
 cannot manipulate birthweight
 taking two groups
 naturally occur
observation

10. Most studies involving human subjects, including
nursing studies, are non experimental.
Reasons for Undertaking Non experimental
Research

11. There are number of human characteristics are
inherently not subject to experimental manipulation
(e.g., blood type, personality, health beliefs, medical
diagnosis); the effects of these characteristics on
other phenomena cannot be studied experimentally.
(1)

12. in nursing research, as in other fields, there are many
variables that could technically be manipulated
but could not be manipulated ethically.
(2)

13. the effect of prenatal care on infant mortality
example
independent
variable the variable should not be
controlled experimentally
If manipulating the independent variable could cause physical or mental harm to subjects.
It would be unethical to provide such care to one group of pregnant women while deliberately
depriving a second group (two groups).
need to locate a naturally occurring group of pregnant women who had not received prenatal
care. Their birth outcomes could then be compared with those of women who had received
appropriate care

14. The problem, however, is that the two groups of women are
likely to differ in terms of many other characteristics, such as
age, education, nutrition, and health, any of which
individually or in combination could affect infant mortality,
independent of the absence or presence of prenatal care.
This is precisely why
experimental designs are so strong in demonstrating
cause-and-effect relationships.

15. there are many research situations in which it is
simply not practical to conduct a true experiment.
Constraints might involve
insufficient time.
lack of administrative approval.
excessive inconvenience to patients or staff.
lack of adequate funds.
(3)

16. there are some research questions for which an
experimental design is not appropriate. This is
especially true for descriptive studies, which seek to
document the characteristics, prevalence,
or full nature of phenomena.
(4)

17. Non experimental research is usually needed before an
experimental study can be planned. Experimental
interventions are developed on the basis of non
experimental research documenting the scope of a
problem and describing critical relationships between
relevant variables.
(5)

18. a number of independent variables, such as height
and gender, are not amenable to randomization;
(6)

19. Survey study
Delphi survey
Correlation design
Methodological studies
Comparative studies
Types of non experimental research

20. . Surveys: Studies in which information is obtained
from a population or sample of individuals by means
of self-report.
Self reporting means that the subjects responses to a
series of questions posed by the researcher.
Survey study

21. Survey generally asks subjects to report their
attitudes, opinions, perception, or behaviors.
Nurse might use survey to gather data from patients,
as patients' health needs, their sleep pattern or their
perception of the nursing care they have received.

22. In surveys, participants may be studied using:
Cross-sectional approach:
 subjects are studied at one point in time.
Longitudinal approach:
follow subjects over an extended period of time.

23. For example:
"The sleeping patterns among X
population …. ".
Breakfast – eating habits among students of university
(lack of time to eat was listed by 65%
While 28%stated that they did not want to eat early in the
morning).

24. Data collection methods for surveys:
Personal interviews.
Telephone interviews.
Questionnaires

25. Strengths of survey
Applied to a population or a real big sample.
Focus on a wide range of topics, i.e., too many variables.
Data collected by surveys can be used for many purposes.
In most cases, a lot of information is gathered with a
relatively short period of time.

26. Limitations of survey
The content of survey researches is limited by the
extent to which respondents are willing to report on
a topic .
It needs a lot of time for analysis of data

27. The Delphi technique is a widely used and accepted
method for gathering data from question a panel of
experts .
 The technique is designed as a group
communication process which aims to achieve a
convergence of opinion on a specific issue.
Delphi survey

28. The Delphi technique is a widely used and accepted
method for gathering data from question a panel of
experts .
 The technique is designed as a group
communication process which aims to achieve a
convergence of opinion on a specific issue.

30. Initial questionnaire focusing on the identified problem is
developed by expert panels.
Appropriate expert group is selected and questionnaire is sent
to them .
Each participant answers the questionnaire independently.
 the questionnaire responses are summarized.
Basic Delphi method process

31. Feedback summary and a second questionnaire is developed .
After reviewing the feedback summary,
respondents independently rate priority ideas.
The process is repeated until process committee feels
agreement on atopic is reached .
A final summary report is made and distributed.
Basic Delphi method process

32. The researcher examines the strength of relationship
between variables by determining how changes in variable
associated with changes in another variable.
-A correlation indicates the extent to which one variable
(x) is related to another variable (y).
-As (x) increases, does (y) increase or decrease?
Correlation design

33. Increased flexibility when investigating complex relationships
among variables
Efficient and effective method of collecting a
useful to describe data large amount of data
Potential for practical application in clinical settings
useful to clarify relationship between variables.
Advantages of correlation design

34. can not be used to establish causes and effect
relationship
dose not allow for manipulation of variables
Generalizability decreased as dealing with preexisting
groups
Unable to determine a causal relationship because of the
lack of manipulation, control.
Disadvantages

35. A relationship between two variables such that as
one increases or decreases the other does the same.
On a graph, a positive correlation will have a positive
slope.
positive correlation

36. -A relationship between two variables such that as
one increases the other decreases or vice versa. On a
graph, a negative correlation will have a negative
slope.
negative correlation

37. Examples
You could expect to see a strong positive correlation between height and
weight since taller people tend to weigh more than shorter people as seen on
a Body Mass Index chart. You could expect to see a weak or non-existent

KEY CONCEPTS EXPLAINED
Positive Correlation - as values on one variable increase, the values on
the other measure also increases.

Example - As height goes up, weight goes up.
Negative Correlation - as values of one variable increases, the value of
the other decreases.


39. Coefficient of Correlation- a number (the measure of correlation) that
indicates the size and direction of the relationship between two variables.
Example:
A correlation of .15 suggests a weak relationship and .75 suggests a very
strong relationship. A correlation of +.15means it is a positive correlation
and, -.75 indicates a negative correlation.
Correlation Equal Cause? Although a correlation indicates t he size and
direction of the relationship between variables, it does not indicate that one
causes the other.

40. 1.A science of studying how research is done
scientifically • A way to systematically solve the
research problem by logically adopting various steps
2. Methodology helps to understand not only the
products of scientific inquiry but the process itself
Research Methodology

41. • Methodological studies are concerned with the
development, testing and evaluation of research
instruments and methods.
Methodological studies

42. Method is simply a research tool, a component of
research–say for example, a qualitative method such
as interviews.
Methodology is the justification for using a particular
research method.
Difference between method and
methodology

43. 1. Advancement of wealth of human knowledge
Benefits of Research Methodology

44. Develops a critical and scientific attitude, disciplined
thinking or a ‘bent of mind’ to observe objectively
(scientific deduction & inductive thinking); Skills of
research will pay-off in long term particularly in the
‘age of information’ (or too often of misinformation)

45. 3. Enriches practitioner and his practices; Provides
chance to study a subject in depth; Enable us to
make intelligent decisions; Understand the material
which no other kind of work can match
Benefits of Research Methodology

46. 3. As consumers of research output helps to inculcate
the ability to evaluate and use results of earlier
research with reasonable confidence and take
rational decisions
4. Doing research is the best way to learn to read
and think crucially

47. In the methodological part, the work plan is
described to show how the project will be
implemented to meet its objectives. In case of
research project, this will contain details about how
the research will be conducted.

48. For example, the name of design, the sample, the
kind of data to be collected to answer the research
question, and how data will be collected and
analyzed. Followed by this, the expected limitations
may be demonstrated. Then, available facilities and
equipment are described.

50. Comparative studies Examine the differences
between intact groups on some dependent variable
of interest. This description may sound like the aim
of many experimental studies.
The difference between comparative studies and
experimental studies lies in the researchers ability
to manipulate the independent variable .in
comparative studies, there is no manipulation of the
independent variable.
3-Comparative studies

51. Ex: A researcher could not examines the effect of child abuse
as an independent variable on self-steem as an dependent
variable in an experimental study. It would not be ethical to
select one group of children who would receive abusive
treatment and another group of children who would not
receive abusive treatment.
While in comparative studies, the researcher would choose a
group of children who had experienced abuse during their
life and compare them with group of children who hadn't
been abused .

53. Comparative studies are frequently classified as
prospective or retrospective.
In prospective studies :
The independent variable or presumed cause (high
blood cholesterol levels)is identified at the present
time, and then subjects are followed in the future to
observe the dependent variable (incidence of
coronary artery disease).

54. the dependent variable (effect)is identified in the
present (disease condition ,for example). And an
attempt is made to determine the independent
variable (cause of the disease) that occurred in the
past.
-Retrospective studies are frequently called ( ex
post facto )
In retrospective studies

55. Data are collected “after the fact”.
variations in the independent variable are studied after the variations
have occurred rather than at the time of occurrence.
Ex :a researcher might be interested in the fear responses of children
during physical examination . A determination would be made of
previous unpleasant experience during physical exam that might have
influenced the children's present behavior.
Ex post facto studies

56. Strengths and Weaknesses of prospective studies
Quality of data is high
Completeness and
accuracy of collected
data
Weaknesses
Time consuming and
very expensive
Not suitable for
diseases with long
latency
Require very large
sample
Strengths

57. Strengths and Weaknesses of retrospective studies
Strengths
Very time efficient.
Elegant way of
answering new
questions with
existing data.
Weaknesses
one has no choice
other than to work with
what has been
measured in the past.

58. DENIS FPOLIT ,NURSING RESEARCH PRINCIPLES AND
METHODS ,SEVEN EDITION
https://study.com/academy/lesson/non-experimental-and-
experimental-research-differences-advantages-
disadvantages.html
http://open.lib.umn.edu/psychologyresearchmethods/chapter
/7-1-overview-of-nonexperimental-research/
REFERENCE:

59. Objectives