This document outlines and provides examples of 8 specific types of quantitative research designs: 1) clinical trials, 2) evaluation research, 3) outcome research, 4) operational research, 5) methodological research, 6) secondary data research, 7) meta-analysis, and 8) ecological studies. Each type is defined and an example is given to illustrate how that particular design is used in research.

1. Specific types of
Quantitative Research Design
Prof.Dr.Chinna Chadayan.N
RN.RM., B.Sc (N)., M.Sc (N)., Ph.D (N).,
Professor,
Enam Nursing College – Savar,
Unit 13c
Specific Quantitative Research
Design

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3. Specific types of Quantitative Research Design
1) Clinical trials
2) Evaluation Research
3) Out come Research
4) Operational Research
5) Methodological research
6) Secondary data Research
7) Meta-Analysis
8) Ecological Studies

4. 1.Clinical trials
A clinical trial is a type of patient-oriented clinical research study which
prospectively assigns a participant, also known as a human subject, to one or more
biomedical or behavioral interventions to evaluate health-related outcomes.
Types of clinical trials
• Pilot studies and feasibility studies.
• Prevention trials.
• Screening trials.
• Treatment trials.
• Multi-arm multi-stage (MAMS) trials.
• Cohort studies.
• Case control studies.
• Cross sectional studies.
•For example, investigators may give a drug or treatment to participants who have high blood
pressure to see whether their blood pressure decreases. Clinical trials used in drug development are
sometimes described by phase. These phases are defined by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

5. 2.Evaluation research
The evaluation of nursing research results consists of the examination and
determination of the scientificity, creativity, and scientific value of these
results and the assessment of the specific quality and benefits of these
results.
Methods of evaluation in nursing
The three main types of evaluation methods are
goal-based,
process-based
and outcomes-based.
Example :Evaluation research, also known as program evaluation, refers to
research purpose instead of a specific method. Evaluation research is the
systematic assessment of the worth or merit of time, money, effort and
resources spent in order to achieve a goal.

6. 3.Outcome research
Outcomes research seeks to understand the end results of particular health care
practices and interventions. End results include effects that people experience and
care about, such as change in the ability to function.
An outcome is defined as a measurable individual, family, or community state,
behavior or perception that is measured along a continuum in response to nursing
interventions. The outcomes are developed for use in all clinical settings and with all
patient populations.
Examples of some outcomes that can be measured are cure rates for certain
diseases, patient functional status and activities of daily living, respiratory function,
or the rate of hospital admission or outpatient visits.

7. 4.Operational Research
It involves research into the problem using principles of epidemiology. It tests more
than one possible solution and provides rational basis, in the absence of complete
information, for the best alternative to improve program efficiency. It requires close
interaction between program managers and researchers.
For Example: The researcher evaluates every possible option by weighing each
option's pros and cons. For example, in order for making Staff Rotation / Routine to
have a master Roster plan, Nursing Superintendent has to decide which nurse should
be sent where, when, and how much they should charge for their work time according
to their qualification and experience.

8. 5.Methodological Research
Methodological studies – studies that evaluate the design, analysis or reporting of
other research-related reports – play an important role in health research. They help to
highlight issues in the conduct of research with the aim of improving health research
methodology, and ultimately reducing research waste.
Approaches
There are two general research methodology approaches when collecting and
analyzing data; these approaches are quantitative and qualitative.
For Example: Interviews (which can be unstructured, semi-structured or
structured) Focus groups and group interviews. Surveys (online or physical
surveys) Observations to improve the methodology

9. 6.Secondary data Research
Secondary Research: This is when an author of the source you are using gathers
existing data, usually produced by someone else, and they then report, analyze or
interpret that other person's data.
Sources include administrative data, claims-based datasets, electronic health records
health surveys, patient or disease or both registries, quality improvement initiatives,
as well as data from existing trials.
Example: Secondary data is research data that has previously been gathered and can
be accessed by researchers. The term contrasts with primary data, which is data
collected directly from its source.

10. 7.Meta-Analysis
Meta-analysis is a statistical process that combines the data of multiple studies to find
common results and to identify overall trends.
Example: The subjects from all eight studies (total: 860 subjects) were pooled and
statistically analyzed to determine the effect of the relationship between wearing
sunscreen and melanoma. This meta-analysis showed a 50% reduction in melanoma
diagnosis among sunscreen-wearers.

11. 8.Ecological Studies
Ecological studies are used to understand the relationship between outcome and exposure at a
population level, where 'population' represents a group of individuals with a shared characteristic
such as geography, ethnicity, socio-economic status of employment
For example, The study by John Snow regarding a cholera outbreak in London is considered the
first ecological study to solve a health issue. He used a map of deaths from cholera to determine
that the source of the cholera was a pump on Broad Street. He had the pump handle removed in
1854 and people stopped dying there
Purposes: Ecologic studies assesses the overall frequency of disease in a series of populations
and looks for a correlation with the average exposure in the populations.
The advantages of the ecological studies include the large number of people that can be included
in the study and the large number of risk-modifying factors that can be examined.

12. Thank you