RESEARCH DESIGN/

RESEARCH APPROACH
INTRODUCTION
Research approach and research design are two
terms that are two terms that are frequently use
interchangeably; however , reseacg design is a
broader plan to conduct a study , and research
approach is an important element of research
design
Research design
A research design is the framework or guide used
for the planning , implementation and analysis of
study.
It is systematic plan of what is to be done , how it
well be done , how the data will be analysed.
definition
The research design is the master plan specifying
the methods and procedures for collecting and
analysing the neede information in a research
study.
definition
Research design can be defined as a blueprint to
conduct a research study , which involves the
description of research approach , study setting ,
sampling size , sampling techniques, tool and
methods of data collection and analysis to
answer specific research question or for testing
research hypothesis.
definition
Research design is a plan of how , when and
where data are to be collecetd and analysed.
ELEMENTS OF RESEARCH DESIGN
The approach
It involves the description of the plan to
investigate the phenomenon under study in a
structured ( quantitative ) , unstructured (
qualitative ), or a combination of two methods .
Population , sample , and sampling
technique
Research design also provide the researcher with
direction about population, sample , sampling
technique that will be used for the study.
The time , place and sources of data
collection
Time ( specifying days , months and years of
study ), location ( study setting) , the sources of
the requisite data are the other imposrtant
constituents essential to ensure effective
planning to conduct a research a study.
TOOLS AND METHODS OF DATA
COLLECTION
THIS element of research design involve the
description of different tools and methods of data
collection .
Methods of data analysis
EXPERIMENTAL RESEARCH DESIGN

Experimental research design are

concerned with examination of the
effect of independent variable on the
dependent variable , where the
independent variable is manipulated
through treatment or intervention ,
and the effect of intervention is
observed on the dependent variable .
1) TRUE EXPERIMENTAL
RESEARCH DESIGN
2) QUASI EXPERIMENTAL
RESEARCH DESIGN
3) PRE EXPERIMENTAL
RESEARCH DESIGN
1. TRUE EXPERIMENTAL RESEARCH
DESIGN
CHARACTERSTICS-
A true experimental research design must
essentially consist of following three
characteristics.
1) Manipulation
2) Control
3) randomization
MANIPULATION
Manipulation refers to conscious control of the
independent variable by the researcher through
treatment or intervention to observe its effect on
dependant variable.
For eg.- a researcher is conducting a study on the
efficacy of chlorhexidine mouthwash on the
prevention of ventilator associated pneumonia
among patient admitted in ICU.
in this example- chlorhexidine mouthwash is
independent variable
Dependent variable –effect on the incidence of VAP
CONTROL
Control refers to the use of control group .
The subject in the control and experimental group
are similar in number and characteristics.
In the control group receive no experimental
treatment
Experimental group receive planned treatment
A comparision made in the control group and
experimental group to observe the effect of this
treatment.
RANDOMIZATION
Randomization means that
every subject has an equal
chance of being assigned to
experimental or control group.
Types of true experimental research
design
1) Post test only control group design
2) Pre test – post test only design
3) Solomon four group design
4) Factorial design
5) Randomized block design
6) Cross over design
7) Latin square design
 1.Post test only control group design
Composed of two randomly assigned group –
experimental and control group.
Treatment is implemented on the experimental
group only.
Post test is carried out on the both groups to
assess the effect of manipulation

EXPERIMENTA
L GROUP POST
TREATMENT
TEST

RANDOM
ASSIGNMENT

CONTROL
POST TEST
GROUP
EG.
To study the effect of an educational
intervention related to urinary
incontinence on the subsequent help
seeking behaviour of older adults.
Pre test post test only design
Subject are randomly assigned to either the
experimental or the control group.
Effect of the dependent variable on both the
groups before the treatment (pretest).
Treatment is carried out on experimental group
only.
After treatment observation of dependent variable
is made on both the group ( post test).
 EXPERIMENTAL TREATME POST
ROUP PRE TEST TEST
NT

RANDOM
ASSIGNMENT

CONTROL PRE TEST POST TEST

GROUP
For eg.
An experimental study to assess the effcetiveness
of cognitive behaviour therapy intervention for
patient with breast cancer.
Solomon four group design
There are two experimental group ( experimental
group 1 and experimental group 2 ) and two
control group.
Randomly assign subject to the four group.
Pretest given experimental group 1 and control
group 1
Treatment only carried out into experimental
group 1 and experimental group 2.
Finaly all the four group receive the post test.
 EXPERIMETAL PRE- POST
GROUP -1 TREATMENT
TEST TEST

CONTROL PRE-
POST
GROUP-1 TEST
TEST
DOM
NMENT
EXPERIMETAL POST
GROUP -2 TREATMENT TEST

CONTROL POST
GROUP-2 TEST
Factorial design
Researcher manipulate two or more independent
variable simultaneously to observe their effect on
the dependent variable.
This design is useful when there are more than
two independent variable called factor to be
tested.
For eg. A researcher wants to observe the effect of
different protocolas of mouth care on prevention
of VAP when performed at difference frequencies
in a day.
FREQUENCY OF MOUTH PROTOCOLS OF MOUTH
CARE CARE
CHLORHEXIDINE A1 SALINE A2

4 HOURLY B1 A1B1 A2B1

6 HOURLY B2 A1B2 A2B2

8 HOURLY B3 A1B3 A2B3

Cross over design
In this design , subjects are exposed to more than
one treatment , where subjects are randomly
assigned to different orders of treatment.
It is also known as repeat measures design.
For eg. When we compare the effectiveness of the
chlorhexidine and saline mouth care protocol , first
we administer the chlorhexidine mouth care
protocol on group 1st and saline mouth care protocol
on the subject of group 2nd , later the treatment is
swapped, where group 1st receive the saline mouth
care and group 2nd receive chlorhexidine.
GROUP PROTOCOLS OF MOUTH
CARE
GROUP -1ST CHLORHEXIDINE SALINE
GROUP -2ND SALINE CHLORHEXIDINE
RANDOMIZED BLOCK DESIGN
When there are a large number of experimental
comparison groups , the randomized block design is
used to bring homogeneity among selected different
groups.
For eg. A researchers wants to examine the effect of
three different antihypertensive drugs on patient
with hypertension. In this example , to ensure the
homogeneity among the subject under treatment,
researcher randomly place patient with primary
hypertension, diabetic patient with hypertension and
renal patient with hypertension.
Types of
antihypertensive
drug
Patient with Diabetic patient Renal patient with
primary with hypertension hypertension ( III)
hypertension( I) ( II )
A A,I A,II A,III
B B,I B,II B,III
C C,I C,II C,III
Quasi experimental research design
Quasi experimental research design involves the
manipulation of independent variable to observe
the effect on dependent variable , but it lacks at
least one of the two characteristics of true
experimental research design: randomization or
control group.
Main characterstics
Manipulation of independent variable to observe
the effect on the dependent variable.
Lack of least one of the two other essential
characteristics of the true experimental .
Types of quasi experimental design
Non randomized control group design
Time series design
Non randomized control group design
It is also known as the nonequivalent control group
design .
This design is identical to the pretest post test
control group design , except that there is no
random assignment of subject in experimental and
control group.
In this design , experimental and control group are
selected without randomization , dependent variable
are observed in experimental as well as control
group before the intervention. Later the
experimental group receive treatment and after that
post test observation of dependent variable is
carried out for both the groups to assess the effect
of treatment on experimental group.
EXPERIMENTAL
PRETES TREATMENT POST
GROUP
T TEST

CONTROL
GROUP PRE
TEST POST
TEST
TIME SERIES DESIGN
This design is useful when the experimenter
wants to measure the effect of a treatment over a
long period of time.
The experimenter would continue to administer
the treatment and measure the effect a number of
times during the course of experiments.
 EXP. TREA
O1 O2 O3
GROU O1 O2 O3 TMEN
P T
ADVANTAGES OF QUASI
EXPERIMENTAL RESEARCH DESIGN
This design is more practical and feasible to
conduct research studies in nursing.
This design is more suitable for real world natural
setting.
It allow the researcher to evaluate the impact of
quasi independent variable under the natural
occurring settings.
It may be able to establish causal relationship .
Disadvantages of research design
There is no control over extraneous variable
The absence of a control group or a lack of control
over the research setting make the result of this
design less reliable and weak for the
establishment.
Pre experimental research design
This design is considered very weak , because the
researcher has very little control over the
experiments.
Types of pre experimental research
design
One shot case design
One group pretest post test design
One shot case design
In this research design , a single experimental group
is exposed to a treatment and observation are made
after the implementation of the treatment. There is
no random assignmnet of subject to the
experimental group and no control group at all.

Experimental treatmen Post test

group t
One group pre test post test design
It is the simplest type of pre experimental
research design where only the experimental
group is selected as the study subject.
Pretest done before the observation
The treatment is administered.
Finally a post test observation of dependent
variable is carried out to assess the effect of
treatment o the group.
 For eg. A study to assess the effect of intervention
on the stress coping resources of associate
degree nursing students.

Experimental Pre
treatment Post test
group test
ADVANTAGES
It is very simple and convenient to conduct these
studies in natural setting.
It is most suitable design for the beginners in the
field of experimental research.
Disadvantages.
A very weak experimental research design to
establish causal relationship .
It has a very little control over a research
NON EXPERIMENTAL RESEARCH
DESIGN
Non experimental research design is one of the
broad categories of research design in which the
research observe the phenomena as they occur
naturally and no external variable are introduced .
In non experimental research , researcher collect
data without making changes or introducing
treatment.
Need of non experimental research
design
The studies in which independent variable can not
will manipulated.
The studies in which it is unethical to manipulate
the independent variable that manipulation cause
physical or psychological harm to subject.
The studies or research situations where it is not
practically possible to conduct experiments.
Descriptive type studies that do not require any
experimental approach.
Types of non experimental research
design
1. Descriptive design
univariant descriptive design
Exploratory descriptive design
Comparartive descriptive design
2. Correlational / ex –post facto design
prospective design
Retrospective design
3. Developmental research design
cross sectional design
Longitudinal design
4. Epidemiological design
case control studies
Cohort design
5. Survey research design
1. Descriptive research design
The purpose of descriptive studies is to observe ,
describe and document aspect of situation as it
naturally occurs.
Main features
It is used to observe , document, describe a
phenomenon occurring in its natural setting
without any manipulation or control/
To gain more information about characteristics
with in a particular field enquiry.
It provide an impression of a situation as it occur
in a natural setting.
It is used to develop theories , identify problems
with current practices , make judgment to
determine other practices in similar situation.
types
 Univariant descriptive design
 Exploratory design
 Comparative design
Univariant descriptive design
To describe the frequency of occurrence of a
phenomenon.
For eg.- a researcher is interested in assessing the
experience of patient suffering from rheumatoid
artharitis.. In this study , the researcher may
describe the frequency of different symptoms
experienced by the patient and the type of
treatment received during the course of disease
Exploratory research design
It is used to identify , explore , and describe the
existing phenomenon and its related factors.
For eg. An exploratory study on the contributing
factor of sleep disturbance among patient
admitted in emergency unit of Nehru Hospital ,
post graduate institute of medical education and
research, Chandigarh.
Comparative design
Comparative design involves comparing and
contrasting two or more samples of study subject
on one or more variable , often at a single point of
time. This design is used to compare two distinct
groups on the basis of selected attributes , such
as knowledge level , perception, and attitude ,
physical and psychological symptoms and so on .
For eg. A comparative study on backache among
nurses working in critical care unit and general
wards of the Victoria Hospital Banglore ,
Karnataka.
Correlational rsearch design
This is an non experimental design where
researcher examine the relationship between two
or more variable in a natural setting without
manipulation or control.

For eg. – this design was used for “ a correlation

study on the effect of smoking on lung cancer
among people in New Delhi.
types
Prospective research design
Retrospective research design
Ambispective research design
Prospective research design
A design in which the researcher relate the
present to the future is a prospective research
design.
For eg.- a prospective correlation study on the
effect of earthquake on migration of people of
Gujarat.
Retrospective research design
A design in which the researcher studies the
current phenomenon by seeking information from
past is a retrospective research design
For eg a retrospective correlation study on the life
style practices of the patient diagnosed with
coronary artery disease admitted in Hero DMC
Heart institute Ludhiana
Ambispective research design
An ambispective study design move both forward
and back ward in time.
For eg. An amispective study to assess
correlation between the physical activities
childhood as well as later age and risk for the
need of hip replacement among adults residing in
selected community in Banglore.
Developmental research design
Developmental research design examine the
phenomenon with reference to time.
Types of developmetal rsearch design
Cross sectional research deign
Longitudinal research design
1. Cross sectional research design
Cross sectional research design is the one in
which researcher collect data at a particular point
of time ( one period of data collection.
Eg. A researcher is interested in assessing the
awareness on swine flu among people of an area.
Here the researcher interact only once to collect
awareness related data among respondents.
LONGITUDINAL RESEARCH DESIGN.
Longitudinal research design is used to collect
data over an extended time period ( long period
study). Its value is ability to demonstrate change
over a period of time.
For eg. A researcher is interested in the perception
of nursing students towards nursing profession
from the beginning of nursing programme to its
end.
Epidemiological research design
Epidemiology is the study to investigate the
distribution and cause of the disease in
population. Therefore , epidemiological studies
are generally conducted to investigate causes of
different diseases in either prospective
approaches ( cause to effect ) or retrospective
approaches ( effect to cause )
Types of epidemiological research
design
Cohort study design
Case control study design
Cohort study design
In this design , a longitudinal approach is used to
investigate the occurrence of a disease in existing
presumed causes . For eg. A researcher
longitudinally observe the smokers for
development of lung cancer.
It is also called as incidence studies.
Case control studies
In this design , cause of a disease are investigated
after the occurrence of a disease .
For eg. A researcher investigate the history of
smoking in patient diagnosed with lung cancer
Survey research design
A survey is a research deign used to collect
information from different subject with in given
population having same characteristics of interest.
If a survey is conducted on a sample of population ,
it is called sample survey, if the entire population
is involved , it is called a population survey , such
as census.
Main features
Survey research is the process of gathering
current required data from the subject so that the
new information can be obtained.
It is a mode of inquiry that relies heavily upon the
validity of verbal reports.
It can be descriptive , exploratory, comparative ,
correlation upon the nature of phenomenon being
used.
Survey data can be collected in number of ways .
The most common method is questionnaire.
Types of survey
1. depending on the nature of phenomenon under
the study
 Descriptive survey
 Exploratory survey
 Comparative survey
 Correlation survey
2. Based on methods of data collection
 Written survey
 Oral survey
 Electronic survey
Advantages of nonexperimental
research design
This design tends to be closest to real life
situations.
This designs are most suitable for nursing
research studies.
There are many research situations in which it is
simply not practical to conduct a true experiments.
Disadvantages of non experimental
research design
In this design result obtained and the relationship
between dependent and independent variables
can never be absolutely clear and error free.
QUALITATIVE
RESEARCH
DESIGNS
INTRODUCTION
Qualitative research approach have some what
short and less well defined plans.
In qualitative research study designs , elements
typically evolve over the course of the project.
Qualitative research as emergent design – the
design for a qualitative study is emergent in
nature , that emerges as the researcher make
ongoing decisions while reflecting on what has
already be learnt.
Characterstics of qualitative research
design
Emerge as study advance
Flexible and elastic
Multiple strategies of data collection
Holistic
Intense researcher involvement
Ongoing data analysis
 1. emerge as study advance- generally it is
believed that qualitative research design emerge
as study advances.
2. Flexible and elastic – they are flexible and elastic,
can be adjusted to the information being
gathered during data collection.
3. Multiple strategies of data collection- qualitative
designs typically merge the various strategies of
data collection .
4. holistic – they tend be holistic , striving for an
understanding of whole.
5. intense researcher involvement- they require
intense researcher involvement that commitment
for longer period in the field of study.
6. ongoing data analysis- qualitative research
design require data analysis for the formation of
subsequent strategies and to determine when
further field work should be done.
Phases of qualitative research design
Orientation and overview phase
Focused exploration
Confirmation and closure
Orientation and overview phase
This is the first phase of qualitative research design .
At this stage , the researcher only presumes the
type of knowledge that is expected to be
obtained by conducting this particular qualitative
study.
Focused exploration
This is the second phase in qualitative research
design . The salient aspects of the phenomenon are
more focused in this phase and then an in depth
exploration of the salient aspect of the phenomenon
is carried out.
In this phase , a variety of people related to the field
are invited to participate in the study and the
questions are asked from them to gather more
information about phenomenon. There fore , at this
stage design , focus is on the exploration of the
salient aspect of the phenomenon under study.
Confirmation and closure
This is the third and final phase of the qualitative
design. Efforts are undertaken to establish that
the findings gather are trustworthy . The
qualitative researcher regroups and discuss their
understanding with the participants of the study.
Therefore , the qualitative researcher confirm their
findings by analyzing and discussing with study
participants about the authencity and correctness
of their findings and finally the study is closed.
Types of qualitative research design
Ethnographic research
Grounded theory
Historical research
Case study
Action research
Phenomenological research
ETHNOGRAPHIC RESEARCH
Ethnography , associated with the field of
anthropology , is a branch of human inquiry ,
which concentrate on the culture of group of
people with an effort to interpret their worldview.
Ethnographic studies are involved in the collection
and analysis of data about cultural groups
It is classified into two types- macro ethnography ,
micro ethnography.
Ethnographic research is a method of conducting
enquiry of a life process by studying individuals or
documents in their natural settings.
characterstics
Ethnographer learn about cultural group.
It is labour intensive and time consuming
endeaver.
Researcher use themselves as instruments in this
ethnographic studies..
Information on three aspects of cultural life is
sought in ethnography studies.
Eg.
An ethnographic study on sociocultural belief of
the people about antenatal , natal ,and postnatal
care of women in selected tribal communities in
Rajasthan.
GROUDED THEORY
Grouded theory is an inductive technique
developed for health related topics by Gloser and
Strauss ( 1967). The term grounded theory means
that the theory developed from the research is
grounded or has its root in the data from which it
was derived.
Grounded theory become an important research
method for the studying of nursing theories of
phenomena relevant to the nurses . It is an
approach to the study of social process and social
structure.
Martin and Jurner (1986) – grounded theory is an
inductive theory discovery methodology that
allows the researcher to develop and theoretical
account of the general features of a topic while
simultaneously grounding the account in the
empirical observation or data.
Characterstics of grouded theory
Overview and phases of grounded theory
Methodology
Sources of data collection
Data analysis
1. Overview and phases of grouded
theory
Grounded theory begins with research situation .
With in that situation , the task of researcher is t
understand what is happening there and how the
players manage their role.
1. Data collection
2. Note taking
3. Coding
4. Memoing
5. Sorting
6. writing
2. methodology
The step of groudwed theoy research occure
simltaneously . An important methodological
technique is grouded theory is constatnt
comparision
3. Sources of data collection
Audio/video tap recording
Diaries
Case studies
Artwork
Participation observation
Document
Formal/informal interviews.
4. Data analysis
Open coding
Axial coding
Selective coding