Understanding Nonexperimental Research Designs in Nursing
Nonexperimental research designs in nursing focus on describing phenomena without manipulating variables. Nurse researchers often use survey, correlational, and comparative studies to gather self-report data on various health-related topics. These studies help in understanding client perceptions, health needs, and care quality, without establishing cause-and-effect relationships typical of experimental research. Surveys are commonly used to collect data through questionnaires and interviews, either cross-sectionally or longitudinally, to study populations over time.
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Research design Unit 6 part 2 NONEXPERIMENTAL DESIGNS
All nonexperimental researchs are because there is no manipulation or control of variables, and the researcher can describe the phenomenon only as it exists. Although the researcher cannot talk about a cause- and effect relationship in nonexperimental research, it is important to obtain valid study results in this type of research. Nurse researchers have nonexperimental research experimental research cannot be conducted with human beings because of ethical reasons. descriptive made designs. great use of the Many times,
The researcher must attempt to control for extraneous variables through such means as careful selection of Threats to internal validity and external validity are terms that are reserved for use in discussing experimental studies. However, in nonexperimental extraneous variables or study limitations must also be considered. the study sample. research,
Example : In trying to determine clients perceptions of pain, the only way to obtain this information would be to ask these clients about their pain. An experimental study would not be appropriate
Types of nonexperimental research 1. Survey 2. Correlational studies 3. Comparative studies 4. Methodological studies 5. Secondary analysis studies 5
Types of nonexperimental research 1- Survey Studies Survey studies are investigations in which self-report data are collected from samples with the purpose of describing populations on some variable(s) of interest. Surveys generally ask subjects to report their attitudes, opinions, perceptions, or behaviors. A nurse researcher might use a survey to gather data on the health needs of clients, their sleep patterns, or their perceptions of the nursing care they have received.
Surveys may be conducted by phone, mail, the Internet, or through personal contact with the subjects. The most common data collection techniques used in survey research are questionnaires and interviews. In surveys, participants may be studied using a cross- sectional or a longitudinal approach . In a cross-sectional survey, subjects are studied at one point in time. Longitudinal surveys follow subjects over an extended period of time.
One of the chief benefit of survey research is its ability to provide accurate information on populations, using relatively small samples. Another advantage of survey research concerns the large amount of data that can be obtained rather quickly and with minimal cost. However, self-report responses may be unreliable because people may provide responses. socially acceptable
2-Correlational Studies In correlational studies, the researcher examines the strength of relationships between variables by determining how changes in one variable are 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? In a simple correlational study, one group of subjects is measured on two variables (X and Y) to determine if there is a relationship between these variables. Other correlational studies may examine the relationship among more than two variables.
The magnitude and direction of the relationship between two variables correlation coefficient. Correlation coefficients may be positive (+) or negative ( ) and range from 1.00 (perfect negative correlation) to 1.00 (perfect positive correlation). If the correlation coefficient has no sign in front of it (e.g., .80), a positive relationship is indicated. A negative correlation coefficient is preceded by a negative sign (e.g., .80). A correlation coefficient of .00 indicates no relationship between variables. is indicated by a
Correlation coefficients are reported through various statistics such as the Pearson s correlation (more commonly called the Pearson r) and the Spearman rho
A positive relationship, or direct relationship, means that as the value of one variable increases, the value of the other variable increases. A negative relationship, or inverse relationship, means that as the value of one variable increases, the value of the other variable decreases.
Example : Suppose data are gathered on age and assertiveness levels of registered nurses. coefficient of .80 would indicate a fairly strong positive relationship between age and assertiveness levels of registered nurses. The older the nurse, the more assertive she or he is. Conversely, a correlation coefficient of .80 would indicate a strong negative relationship. The older the nurse, the less assertive she or he is. A correlation
The identification of an independent and a dependent variable may not be appropriate in some correlational studies. Generally, however, the independent variable is that variable that comes first in chronological order and that influences the other variable. For example, if you were trying to determine if there is a correlation between age and assertiveness levels, the independent variable would be age, and the dependent variable would be assertiveness levels.
3- Comparative Studies Comparative 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 researcher s ability independent variable. In comparative studies, there is no manipulation of the independent variable. Frequently, the independent inherent characteristic of the subjects, such as personality type, educational level, or medical condition. studies examine the differences to manipulate the variable is some
There are many reasons for the choice of a comparative research involves the ethics of research. When human subjects are studied, the manipulation of the independent variable may not be possible. A researcher could not examine child abuse as an independent variable in an experimental study design. One reason
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. However, the researcher could choose a group of children who had experienced abuse during their life and compare them with a group of children who had not been abused. The dependent variable might be self-esteem.
Comparative studies are frequently classified as retrospective or prospective. In retrospective studies, the dependent variable (effect) is identified in the present (a disease condition, for example), and an attempt is made to determine the independent variable (cause of the disease) that occurred in the past.
In prospective studies, the independent variable or presumed cause (high cholesterol blood levels, for example) is identified at the present time, and then subjects are followed in the future to observe the dependent variable (incidence of coronary artery disease, for example).
Retrospective studies are frequently called ex post facto. In ex post facto studies, data are collected after the fact. Variations in the independent variable are studied after the variations have occurred, rather than at the time of the occurrence. For example: A researcher might be interested in the fear responses of children during physical examinations. A study might be conducted to examine previous unpleasant experiences during physical exams that might have influenced the children s present behaviors. These previous experiences might be considered the cause, and the present fear responses might be the effect.
A retrospective study starts by examining an effect and then looks back in time to determine the cause; a prospective study starts with the determination of a cause and then looks forward in time to determine the effect on subjects. Prospective studies may use an experimental approach, whereas retrospective studies would never use this type of design.
In prospective studies, the researcher might manipulate the independent variable, or the cause, and then observe study participants in the future for the dependent variable, or the effect. Prospective studies are costly, and subject dropout may occur. These types of studies are less common than retrospective studies.
4- Methodological Studies Nurse researchers instruments in research projects that are valid and reliable measures of the variables of interest. Methodological studies are studies that (evaluate the design, conduct, analysis or reporting of other studies in health research); As a result, methodological studies can help to identify knowledge gaps in the methodology of health research and strategies for improvement in research practices. must be sure to use
There is a growing interest in methodological research. Nurses frequently use researchers in other disciplines. If these tools are appropriate for nursing research, they definitely should be used. Frequently, however, tools are used because of their availability rather than for their appropriateness to measure the variables of the study. tools developed by
5- SecondaryAnalysis Studies Sometimes researchers gather a lot of data in a study. They may not actually analyze all of the data that were gathered. In secondary analysis studies, data are analyzed that were gathered in a previous study. Researchers may test new hypotheses or ask new research questions. This type of study is efficient and economical,
Reasons for Undertaking Nonexperimental Research: 1- One reason for using a non experimental design is that a vast number of human characteristics are inherently not subject to experimental manipulation (e.g., blood personality, health diagnosis);the effects of these characteristics on other phenomena experimentally. type, beliefs, medical cannot be studied
2-Asecond issue is that in nursing research, as in other fields, there are many variables that could technically be manipulated manipulated ethically. independent variable could cause physical or mental harm to subjects, then the variable should not be controlled experimentally. For example, if we were studying the effect of prenatal care on infant mortality, it would be unethical to provide such care to one group of pregnant women while deliberately depriving a second group. but manipulating could not be the If
3- Third, 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, or lack of adequate funds. 4- Fourth, there are some research questions for an experimental design is not appropriate. This is especially true for descriptive studies, which seek to document the characteristics, prevalence, intensity, or full nature of phenomena. which
Advantages of nonexperimantal researches Nonexperimental research designs tend to be closest to real-life situation. Non-experimental research designs are most suitable for the nursing research studies Numerous human characteristics are inherently not subject to experimental manipulation (e.g. blood type, personality, health beliefs, medical diagnosis, etc.) There are many variable that could technically be manipulated, but manipulated is forbidden on ethical grounds
Disadvantages of Nonexperimental Research The result obtained and relationship between the depended variable and in depended variable can never be absolutely clear and error-free. Nonexperimental study for comparative purpose using nonrandomly selected groups which may not be homogeneous and tend to dissimilar in deferent traits or characteristics, which may affect the authenticity& generalizability of the study
Finally, nonexperimental research is usually needed before an experimental study can be planned. Experimental developed on the basis of nonexperimental research documenting the scope of a problem and describing critical relationships between relevant variables. interventions are
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