Essay - Quantitative Research Experimental, Quasi-experimental, and Non-experimental Designs are all Utilized...

Quantitative Research

Experimental, quasi-experimental, and non-experimental designs are all utilized in nursing research. An example of an experimental design is found in a study by Bird, Jones, Korten and Smithers (2007). These researchers explored the outcomes of a predomin*****ntly psychosocial approach to the treatment of dementia. The intervention group received ***** that focused on problem behavior from a psychosocial angle along with medication, while the control group did not receive th***** treatment and only received psychopharmacological *****. The results indicated ***** the ***** (psychosocial approach) was effective in treating *****, and allowed ***** treatment group to reduce medication levels.

***** example of a quasi-experimental design is found in a ***** by Mounir, Mahdy, and Fatohy (2003). This study assessed whether a reproductive health education program could impact the knowledge and attitude ***** Egyptian women. S*****ce it is not practical to r*****omly sample the entire female Egyptian population, the researchers sampled female students at Alexandria Univers*****y, and conducted a quasi-experimental ***** using pre-post testing ***** group. An example of a ***** design is found in a study by Mon*****a, Falzetti, Firetto, Mariani, ***** Caputi (2006). *****se researchers analyzed an ex*****ting relationship between subjective *****d objective measures ***** pain through an observational correlational *****.

The results yielded by experimental designs allow researchers to infer true cause and effect due to ***** manipulation of an independent variable in order to observe ch*****ges in a dependent variable. Quasi-experimental designs yield trends. The decision to use an experimental vs. quasi-experimental research design hinges on certain fac*****rs. Matching instead of r*****domization necessitates a quasi-experimental design, as does the measurement ***** concepts that are ***** concrete, such as quality of life or context.

Non-experimental designs may provide ***** first step in the exploration of possible causes of phenomena through the identification of a correl*****tional relationship. Causation cannot be inferred from non-experimental *****, only *****s. This type of design allows *****ers to observe how ***** factors co-exist in a natural environment, without any experimental intervention. ***** allows researchers a first step in testing hypotheses and theories as to what causes a certain phenomenon.

***** a study is lacking in internal validity, it means that confounding variables w*****hin the study were not successfully eliminated. In other words, certain ***** are present in the study that puts in***** question ***** or not the ***** be*****g measured or observed are really due to the manipulated variable or the condition under study. When a study is ***** in extern*****l validity, the f*****dings ***** the study can not be readily generalized to the population at large. Th***** may be due to a lack of randomiz*****ion in ***** sample used for the study. ********** and external validity are inextricably intertwined, and affect each o*****r. *****e presence or absence of internal validity ***** especially influence the degree ***** which a study demonstrates a high level of extern*****l validity. In order to balance out the demands of ***** and external validity, ***** must work diligently to ensure that the ***** under ***** is truly due to