Basic Research Designs
Some basics of research designs will be reviewed here to help you critically read the articles. Research is the process of systematically gathering data (Goode, & Bulechek, 1992). And research designs are the methods used to gather data, ranging from descriptive to experimental. The research designs in nursing studies are generally descriptive, which means data are collected to describe clinical situations. Descriptive designs do not use systematic controls or interventions (Burns, & Grove, 1997). The conclusions from descriptive designs are often about associations between what was described. Statistics used in descriptive studies are typically correlations or associations between variables (Nieswiadomy, 1998). For example, there is a correlation between preoperative patient teaching and positive postoperative outcomes.
Nursing researchers use experimental designs less often. Experimental designs systematically control as many variables in a study as possible. As a result, conclusions about “cause and effect” can be interpreted from the data. An example is providing a new nursing intervention to an experimental group of patients but not to those in a control group. Then “statistical” differences such as t-tests or chi-square comparisons are made between the experimental and control groups. Statistical inference is a phrase used to describe the interpretation of data that has been tested through statistical analysis. Researchers are able to "infer or explain" when the findings are statistically significant (results that do not occur by chance).
Other types of experimental research designs use “historical controls” in clinical settings where there can be no actual controls. Historical controls compare previously collected data with the data being collected during the study.
An example, is a study comparing patients from before and after a home monitoring system (experimental group) was used when congestive heart failure patients are discharged (Heidenreich, Ruggerio, & Massie, 1999).
Burns, N., & Grove, S.K. (1997). The Practice of Nursing Research: Conduct, Critique, & Utilization. Philadelphia: W.B. Saunders.
Goode, C.J., & Bulechek, G.M. (1992). Research utilization: An organizational process. Journal of Nursing Care Quarterly, 27-35.
Heidenreich, P.A., Ruggerio, C.M., & Massie, B.M. (1999). Effect of a home monitoring system on rehospitalization and resource use for patients with heart failure. American Heart Journal, 138, 633-640.
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