This document discusses research design in nursing. It defines research design and outlines its purposes and characteristics. The key elements of research design are identified as approach, sampling, data collection/analysis. Quantitative and qualitative designs are examined, including experimental, non-experimental, and other approaches. Specific designs like descriptive studies, correlational studies, true experiments, quasi-experiments, and pre-experiments are defined and their advantages/disadvantages discussed. Factors influencing design choice and current challenges in nursing research designs are also summarized.

1. S. D. Kavitha Devaraj

2. Research Design
 Blue print
 Back bone
 Overall Plan
 Framework
 Master plan
 A Strategy

3. Purposes of Research Design
 Scheme for answering the question
 Control bias
 Organize the study

4. Characteristics of a good design
 Control of bias.
 Capable of obtaining the most reliable and valid data.
 Helps an investigator avoid making mistaken
conclusions
 Control the various threats of validity, both internal
and external.

5. FEATURES OF A GOOD DESIGN
OBJECTIVITY VALIDITY
RELIABILITY GENERALIZABILIY

6. ELEMENTS OF RESEARCH DESIGN
APPROAC
H
SAMPLE&
SAMPLING
SOURCES OF
DATA
COLLECTION
TOOLS
AND
METHODS
DATA
ANALYSIS

7. RESEARCH DESIGNS
RESEARCH
DESIGNS
QUANTITATIVE
QUALITATIVE

8. QUANTITATIVE RESEARCH DESIGN
EXPERIMENTAL
NON EXPERIMENTAL
OTHER METHODS

9. QUALITATIVE RESEARCH DESIGNS
PHENOMENOLOGICAL
ETHNOGRAPHIC
GROUNDED THEORY
CASE STUDIES
HISTORICAL RESEARCH
ACTION RESEARCH

10. OTHER RESEARCH DESIGNS
Methodological studies
Meta- analysis
Secondary data analysis
Outcome research
Evaluation studies
Operational research

11. EXPERIMENTAL RESEARCH DESIGN
True or Classical
Experimental design
Pre-experimental
design
Quasi-experimental
design

12. TRUE EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN
Pre-test post-test control group
Post-test only experimental design
Solomon four group design
Factorial design
Randomized block design
Cross-over design
Latin square design

13. QUASI EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN
Non randomized
/non equivalent
control group design
Time series design

14. PRE – EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN
One- shot case
design
One group pretest
post test design

16. RESEARCH DESIGNS IN NURSING
Descriptive / exploratory
Correlational
True Experimental
Quasi experimental
Pre experimental
Outcome research
Evaluation studies

17. DESCRIPTIVE STUDY
 Picture of a situation as it naturally happens
 Two or more variables
 No manipulation of variables
 Search for accurate information
 More information about the characteristics

18. TYPES OF DESCRIPTIVE STUDIES
USED IN NURSING
• Describe the frequency of occurrence
rather than a study relationship
Uni-variant
descriptive
design
• Investigating the phenomenon and its
related factors about which very little is
known
Exploratory
descriptive
design
• Comparing occurrences of two or more
groups
Comparative
descriptive
design:

19. Advantages of descriptive study
Develop theories
Identify problems with current practices
Justify current practices
Accurate information
Disadvantages
Information collected is very brief and
superficial
Time consuming process

20. CORRELATIONAL /EX-POST FACTO
DESIGN
The researcher examines the
relationship between two or
more variables in a natural
setting without manipulation or
control.

21. TYPES OF CORRELATIONAL RESEARCH
DESIGNS USED NURSING
Prospective
Retrospective

22. TYPES OF CORRELATIONAL
RESEARCH DESIGN
Prospective
design
• Examining
relationship
between
cause to effect
Retrospective
design
• Examining
relationship
between
effect to cause

23. Advantages:
Increase flexibility during examining the
relationship
Effective and efficient method in collecting large
amount of data
Exploring a relationship between variables.
Opens up further research
Disadvantages:
Only uncovers a relationship
Cannot provide reason for relationship
No randomization
Unable to determine causal relationship

24. EXPERIMETNAL RESEARCH DESIGN
Observation under controlled conditions
Conducted with scientific approach
Examining the effect of independent variable on
dependent variable.
Manipulation of independent variable
Testing hypotheses of causal relationship among
variables

25. TYPES OF EXPERIMENTAL
RESEARCH IN NURSING
True or Classical
Experimental design
Pre-experimental
design
Quasi-experimental
design

26. ELEMENTS OF TRUE
EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN
Manipulation
Control
Randomization

27. TRUE EXPERIMENTAL RESEARCH
DESIGN
 Control over extraneous variables.
 Observed effect on dependent variable is only due to
the manipulation of independent variable
 Consists of all three elements control, randomization
and manipulation
 3 types of experimental designs are commnonly used
in Nursing.

28. 3 TYPES OF TRUE EXPERIMENTAL DESIGNS ARE
COMMONLY USED IN NURSING.
Pre- test post test
control group
Post-test only control
design
Solomon –four group
design

30. POST-TEST ONLY CONTROL GROUP
DESIGN

32. ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES
OF TRUE EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN
ADVANTAGES
 Most appropriate for testing cause and effect
relationship.
 Most appropriate for testing the hypothesis.
DISADVANTAGES
 Ethical considerations for human subjects.
 Pre test can affect the post test response.

33. QUASI EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN
 Involves manipulation of independent variable.
 Lack one characteristics of true experimental design.
 Either randomization or control exists.
 Test cause and effect relationship.

34. TYPES OF QUASI EXPERIMENTAL
DESIGN
Non randomized
/non equivalent
control group design
Time series design

35. QUASI EXPERIMENTAL DESIGNS
USED IN NURSING RESEARH
NON RANDOMIZED CONTROL GROUP DESIGN:
 Other name Non-equivalent control group design.
 Identical to pretest posttest control group design
except randomization.
 No random assignment of subjects in experimental
and control group
 Common in Nursing research.

37. Advantages and Disadvantages
Advantages:
 More practical
 Feasible
 Suitable in nursing research
 Able to establish causal relationship.
Disadvantages:
 No control over extraneous variables
 Lack of control over the research setting.

38. PRE EXPERIMENTAL RESEARCH
DESIGN
This design is considered as very weak, as the researcher
has very little control over the experiment
Types
One- shot case
design
One group pretest
post test design

39. ONE SHOT CASE DESIGN
 Single experimental group.
 No random assignment of the subjects
 No control group

41. ONE GROUP PRETEST POSTTEST
DESIGN
 Simplest type
 Only experimental group is selected
 Pre test observation is done prior to the treatment
 No control group

42. ONE GROUP PRETEST POST TEST
DESIGN

43. ADVANTAGES AND
DISADVANTAGES
Advantages
 Very simple
 Convenient
 Suitable for the beginners
Disadvantages:
 Very weak experimental design
 Selection bias
 Higher threat of internal validity

44. OTHER DESIGNS USED IN NURSING
Outcome research
• Involves the care practices and systems.
• To develop evidence based practice
Evaluation studies
• Judgment about success of
programmes, procedures and policies

45. FACTORS AFFECTING RESEARCH
DESIGN
 Nature of the research problem
 Purpose of the study
 Researcher’s knowledge and experience
 Researcher’s interest & motivation
 Research ethics and principles
 Subjects and participants
 Resources
 Time
 Extraneous variables.

46. CURRENT CHALLENGES OF
RESEARCH DESIGNS IN NURSING
FIELD
 Selecting the best research design
 Performing the collection of data without errors
 Use experimental Research
 Use qualitative Research
 Studies to support Nursing practice, education,
administration, health promotion etc..
 Feasible
 Relevant
 Time consuming studies