Research Design

By Aparna Bhaduri
 Definition and Characteristics

Research design
Is a plan or Blue Print for
conducting a study
Indicates basic structure of
the study
Maximizes control over
factors that could interfere
with the validity of the
findings
 Characteristics continued

Guides the researcher in

planning and Implementing a
study
Not specific to a particular
study but must link to the other
steps of the research process
in the study.
Elements of Good Design is
controlling
 Elements Continued

Appropriateness to research question

Absence of bias, precision, Power
Maintain integrity of research design
* Maximize control
* Minimize bias
* Control threats to validity
Concepts relevant to Research
Design
Nursing Research Methods
 Definitions of Research Methods

Qualitative Research: A systematic,

interactive, subjective approach used to
describe life experiences and gives them
meaning ( Burns and Grove)
Quantitative Research: A formal, objective,
systematic process to describe and test
relationships, and examine causes and
atudy effects of intervention s.
 Outcome Research
Scientific methodology that was
developed to examine the end result
patient care, The strategies used in
outcomes research are departure from
traditional scientific style and
incorporate evaluation research ,
epidemiology, and economic theory
perspectives.
 Types of Desgn
Is random assignment used?
Yes No Is there a control group or
multiple measure?
Randomized or

true
experiment

yes no
Quasi experiment pre-experimental or
Non-experimental
 Types of Survey design

Descriptive
Comparative
Correlated
Evaluative
Developmental – Cross
sectional, Longitudinal, trend
study
Survey Design : Descriptive Survey

DESCRI
P
VARABLE 1
TION

VARIABLE 2 DESCRIP
TION

VARIABLE 3 DESCRI
PTION

VARIABLE 4 DESCRI
PTION
Descriptive design
Survey Design – Comparetive Survey

Description
GROUP of variables
1
Compare
the
variables
between
Description group 1 and
GROUP 2
2 of variables
 Comparative Descriptive design

Used to describe differences in

variables in two or more groups in
natural settings
A study is comparative survey if
the researcher takes at least 2
entities now in existence and
compare against known criteria
Survey Design: Evaluative Survey
 Correlation Design

A systematic investigation of
relationships between two or
more variables to explain the
nature of relationships in the
world and not to examine
causes an effect
Correlation Design: Types
 Types of Correlation Design

 Describe Predict relationships Test

theoretically
Relationships between or among proposed
Between / among among variables relationships
Variables

Descriptive Predictive correlation Model Testing

Correlational design design
Design
 Correlation Design

Variable 1

Draw
Relatio
n ship
Among
Variable 2
variable
s

Variable 3
 Application of statistics in correlation
design

Correlation between two variables is

computed by Rank Difference method,
and Pearson Product moment method

If the data are in nominal /ordinal level

association is computed by chi-square

 For computing relationship among

more variables compute multiple
regression
 TIME DIMENTIONAL DESIGN S

 designed within the disciplineof

epidemiology in which occurrences and
distribution of diseases among population
are studied

 designs examine occurrences and sequences

and patterns of change, growth or trends
across time - Dimension of time is an
important factor.
 Cohorts
Within the field of epidemiology the samples in
time
dimensional studies are called COHORTS- means
classifying populations that have relevance in
relation to time include : age, time of diagnosis,
point of entry into treatment protocol, point of
entry into new life style, age at which started
smoking, etc.

Design is usually used to determine risk factors or

causal factors of illness state: called inferred
causality continued next slide
 Strategies used in studying inferred
causality

1 Retrospective: Group of people

who have experienced a particular
event

Prospective: Group of people who

are at risk for experiencing a particular
event
 Developmental studies-Longitudinal

Time 1 Time 2 Time 3 Time 4 Time ….n

Measure Measure Measure Measure Measure

variables Sample Variables Variables
Variables
1variables
Sample 1 Sample 1 Sample 1 Sample 1 Sample 1

Longitudin
al Design
 Cross Sectional design

Time 1 Time 1 Time 1 Time 1 Time 1

Measure Measure Measure Measure Measure

Variables Variable Variables Variables Variables
s
Sample 1 Sample 2 Sample 3 Sample 4 Sample…
n
 Trend Study Design
Time Time Time Time Time
1 2 3 4 ,,,n

Measu Measu Measu Measu Measu

re re re re re
Predictio
Variab Variab Variab Variab Variab
les les les les les ns

Sampl Sampl Sampl Sampl Sampl

e e e e e
1 2 3 4 … n
 Experimental Study Designs

Pre experimental
Examples: One group pretest-post-test designs, One group
post test only design, post test only design with non-
equivalent groups, static group design
True Experimental
Examples : Pretest-post-test control group designs, Post-
test only control group designs, Solomon four-group
design, Factorial design , nested designs
Quasi experimental
Examples:The time series experiment, the equivalent
time samples design, the non-equivalent control
group design
1. The one-shot Case study

X O
Common knowledge comparison- Single group is
studied once
Expose subjects to X, the new teaching method,
Administer test (O),the post test to measure mean
reading speed after exposure to X
There is complete absence of control and no
internal validity
 Pre-experimental Design

2. The one-group pretest-post0test design

O1 X O 2
Advantages: Pre-test provides a comparison between
performances by the same group of subjects before
and after exposure to X .
Provides a control for selection and
mortality variables
 Pre-experimental Design

3. The static group comparison

Here a group which has experienced X, is
compared with one which has not, for the

purpose of establishing the effect of

X.
History , Testing, instrumentation and
regression factors
X are controlled
O1 .

O2
 True Experimental Design

4. Pretest - Posttest Control group Design

Experimental group( R)
O1 X O2
O3 O4
Control group ( R )

R Random assignment
In general , internal validity gains strength in
this design
 True Experimental Design

5. Variation of Design 4 . Pretest- posttest

control Group design

E1 ( R ) O1 X1 O2
E 2 ( R ) O3 X2 O4
Control O 5 O6

X 1 and X 2 are two methods / interventions

 True Experimental Method

6.Randomized Solomon Four-group Design

Pretested ( R ) O1 X1 O2
Pretested ( R ) O1 _ O2
Un-pretested ( R ) _ X1 O2
Un-pretested R) _ _ O2

Greater confidence can be placed on the

findings
 True experimental Designs

7. Randomized control group post- test only

design
 Usually planned where pretest is not necessary,
unavailable, inconvenient, or likely to be reactive
 Controls internal validity factors

E ( R )
X O1
C ( R ) _ O2
 Quasi-Experimental Designs

These designs are suitable for researches which are

taken out of laboratory and into operating situation
8. The Time-series Experiments
The essence of the time-series design is the presence
of a periodic measurement process on some group
or individual and the introduction of an
experimental change into this series of

measurements. Chief potential sources of internal

validity areOHistory
1 O2 O3 O 4 X instrumentation
and O5 O6 O7 O8
Quasi- Experimental Design
9. Equivalent Time Sample Design
A recurrent form of one group
experimentation employs two equivalent
samples of occasions, in one of which
experimental variable is present and in
another of which it is absent, The effect of
the experimental variable is anticipated to
be transient or reversible character

X1O X0O X1O X0O

 The Quasi Experimental Design

10 , The Non Equivalent Control group

Design

O1 X O2
O1 O2
 Control group Time series design

Experimental
group O 1 O 2 O 3 O 4 X O 5 O ^ O7 O8
Control group O ! O 2 O 3 O $ - O 3 O6 O7 O 8-
 Factorial Design

The simplest factorial design permits to study the

effects of the two Xs (treatment) each of which is
varied in two ways, i.e. , levels or values
 Length of periods
 50’ 30’ Mean dif
 Teaching methods
Lecture A 59.0 B 58,0 -1.0

Discussion C 82.0 D 84.0 + 2.0

 Mean difference + 23.0 + 26.0

 Counter-balanced Design

Time 1 Time 2 Time 3 Time4

Group A X1 O X2O X3O X4O
Group B X2O X3O X4O X1O
Group C X3O X4O X 1 O X 2O
Group D X 4 O X1 O X2 O X3O

This is a post test only design where pretests

are inappropriate . Note each treatment
occurs once in each column
 Summary
In essence, the goal of good
design is to maximize ( 1 )
internal validity , ( 2) external
validity and (3 )minimize
error
Key Concepts in Experimental Design

Maximize the experimental

Variance – done by designing

and planning

 Key Concepts - continued

Control the Extraneous

Variance

a) Select homogeneous subjects (b) employ

randomization technique © Build extraneous
variable right into the study (d)Control
extraneous variable by matching (e) Use
appropriate statistics. (
Key Concepts - Continued
END