Designs – a plan to study for the truth
Reflection on Quantitative as well as Qualitative Research
Two different research approaches are used when trying to find answers to different research questions: qualitative and quantitative. I was able to see the differences in these two approaches through:
- Research goal: Quantitative research focuses on gathering numerical data and then analyzing it with statistical methods. Then, conclusions can be applied to more people. Quantitative research on the one hand is focused upon collecting data that’s not numerical, then analysing it using interpretive techniques to generate insights about the perspectives, meanings, or experiences of participants.
- Data collection. Qualitative research employs structured and standard data collection tools, such as surveys, questionnaires or experiments. While quantitative research utilizes structured data collection tools, such as survey, questionnaires or interviews, qualitative research makes use of unstructured, flexible tools, such as focus groups or observation.
Amazing Study Design
A quasi-experimental design was a category I liked about study designs. It is used in situations where it is ethically or not possible to allocate participants randomly to either experimental or control groups. A quasi-experimental study compares two or more groups with a certain characteristic or intervention. Researchers might compare hospitals with different methods of reducing hospital-acquired infection.
It can be used to study problems in nursing by allowing researchers the opportunity to evaluate real-world effects. This design can help to identify confounding variables, improve generalizability and increase the validity of results.
Research Recommendation
A randomized controlled study, specifically one that is quantitatively designed, seems to be the most appropriate way to address my priority clinical nursing problem, reducing hospital-acquired infection. The random assignment of participants to an experiment or control group and the comparison of their outcomes is called a randomized controlled study. This can establish causality, minimize biases and reduce confounding variables.
This is because a randomised controlled trial provides high-quality evidence that can guide nursing practice as well as inform policy decisions. We can compare the efficacy of various interventions and practices to reduce hospital-acquired infection rates, which allows us to identify the best approaches for clinical implementation.