QUANTITATIVE RESEARCH

APPROACHES:
Types, characteristics,
Advantages, disadvantages
DEFINITION

Quantitative research is a formal, objective and

systematic process for generating information
about the world.

It is conducted to describe new situations, events

or concepts

This is a orderly way of dealing with a research

problem where variables are generally studied
in numerical or quantitative form
PROCESS/ STEPS
Formulation of research problem

Determining study objectives

Review of literature

Developing conceptual
framework

Formulating hypothesis /
assumptions
PROCESS/ STEPS CONTD…
Selecting research approach/
design

Specifying the population

Developing tools for data

collection

Establishing ethical
considerations

Conducting pilot study

PROCESS/ STEPS CONTD…
Sample selection and data
collection

Preparing data for analysis

Analysis and interpretation

of data

Disseminating the research

findings
CLASSIFICATION
 A. EXPERIMENTAL RESEARCH DESIGN

Experimental research designs are concerned

with examination of the effect of
independent variable on the dependent
variable, where the independent variable is
manipulated through treatment or
interventions and the effect of these
interventions is observed in the dependent
variable
CLASSIFICATION CONTD…
 A. EXPERIMENTAL RESEARCH DESIGN
 A1. True experimental design
 Basic true experimental design
 Post- test only control design
 Pre-test Post-test control group design
 Solomon four group design

 Specific true experimental design

 Parallel group design, Split body design, Factorial design,
Randomized block design, Crossover design, Latin square
design
CLASSIFICATION CONTD…
 A2. Quasi experimental design
 Non-randomized control group design
 Non- equivalent control group post test only
design
 Time series non- equivalent control group design
 Time series design
 One group pre-test post-test design

 A3. Pre experimental design

CLASSIFICATION CONTD…
 B. NON- EXPERIMENTAL RESEARCH DESIGN
Commonly known as observational research design,
which involves study of variables without
manipulating them in natural setting for the purpose
of description, exploration, explanation or
identification of correlation between two or more
variables. Need of non- experimental design arise
when independent variables cannot be manipulated
CLASSIFICATION CONTD…
 B. NON- EXPERIMENTAL RESEARCH DESIGN
 B1. Descriptive research design
 Univariate descriptive design (incidence,
prevalence)
 Comparative descriptive design
 B2. Correlational research design
 Cohort research design
 Prospective cohort
 Historical cohort

 Ambispective cohort

 Casecontrol and Analytical cross sectional

design
CLASSIFICATION CONTD…

 B3. Exploratory research design

 Used with a new research and helps to operationally
define the problem and generate hypothesis, may be
used to study qualitative phenomenon also

 B4. Survey research design

 Used to obtain information about prevalence,
distribution and interrelations of phenomenon in a
population such as political opinion polls, customer
survey, health survey
CLASSIFICATION CONTD…
 C. SPECIFIC QUANTITATIVE RESEARCH
DESIGN
 C1. Methodological studies

 C2. Meta analysis

 C3. Secondary data analysis

 C4. Outcome research

 C5. Evaluation studies

 C6. Operational research

SPECIFIC CHARACTERISTICS
 EXPERIMENTAL RESEARCH DESIGN
 True experimental design/ randomized
control trail
Most scientific design, popularly known as
RCT, where researcher manipulates
independent variables to observe the
effect on dependent variables, in the
presence of randomization and control
group for comparison
SPECIFIC CHARACTERISTICS
 EXPERIMENTAL RESEARCH DESIGN
 Specific true experimental designs

Use of allocation concealment and blinding

may also be used to prevent the
selection, performance and measurement
bias.
SPECIFIC CHARACTERISTICS
 EXPERIMENTAL RESEARCH DESIGN
 Quasi experimental design/ non- randomized
controlled trial
 It is a weak experimental design where the
researcher manipulates independent variables to
observe the effect on dependent variable without
presence of randomization and sometimes even
control group for comparison
 Time series has only one experimental group where
series of observations are made in same subjects
over a period of time and after intervention in same
group for a period of time
SPECIFIC CHARACTERISTICS
 NON-EXPERIMENTAL RESEARCH DESIGN
 Correlational research design

 Involves examination of relationship between two or

more variables in a natural setting without
manipulation or control (cause-effect relationship)
 Cohort: observing a cohort from cause to effect

 Case control: observe cases and controls

retrospectively from cause to effect
 Analytical cross sectional: observing relationship in
two or more naturally occurring variables by
observing at single point of time in cases and
controls
SPECIFIC CHARACTERISTICS
 NON-EXPERIMENTAL RESEARCH DESIGN
 Descriptive research design

 Involves accurate description of characteristics of

individual, situation or group and the frequency with
which a certain phenomenon occurs in natural
settings without imposing any control or manipulation
 When observations are described and compared in
two more different groups
SPECIFIC CHARACTERISTICS
 NON-EXPERIMENTAL RESEARCH DESIGN
 Exploratory research design

 Most primitive research design, which is used to

study phenomenon which is not well understood and
improve a research design

 Survey research design

 Provides superficial information on what people do,
eat, seek, health care so on collected through face-
to-face interview, questionnaire, telephone or social
media interview. It provides extension rather than
intensive results
SPECIFIC CHARACTERISTICS
 SPECIFIC QUANTITATIVE DESIGN
 Methodological studies
 Conducted to develop,test and evaluation of
the research instruments and methods

 Meta analysis
 Quantitatively combining and integrating the
findings of the multiple quantitative research
study on a particular topic
SPECIFIC CHARACTERISTICS
 SPECIFIC QUANTITATIVE DESIGN
 Secondary data analysis

 A design in which the data collected in one

research is re-analysed by another researcher
usually to test new hypotheses

 Outcome research
 Involves the observation and assessment of
carepractices and system in place. Used in nursing
to develop evidence based practice and improve
nsg actions
SPECIFIC CHARACTERISTICS
 SPECIFIC QUANTITATIVE DESIGN
 Evaluation studies

 An interventional study that assess the success of

programmes, practices, procedures or policies

 Operational research
 Involves the study of complex human organization
and service to develop new knowledge about
institutions, programmes, use of facilities and
personnel to improve working efficiency of an
organization
ADVANTAGES OF QUANTITATIVE
APPROACH
TYPES ADVANTAGES
True *RCT considered most powerful
experimental design to establish the casual
design relationship between independent
and dependent variables
*Casual relationship between
variables may be established for
explanation
*Conditions not found in natural
setting can be created in
experimental setting where
independent variable is manipulated
by the researcher
ADVANTAGES OF QUANTITATIVE
APPROACH
TYPES ADVANTAGES
True *Greater degree of purity
experiment because of controlled
al design environment
*Randomized experimental
designs remove any
accusations of conscious or
subconscious bias, practically
guaranteeing external validity
*RCTs completely remove effect
of extraneous variables
ADVANTAGES OF QUANTITATIVE
APPROACH
TYPES ADVANTAGES

Quasi *More practical and feasible

experimental *Suitable for real world natural
design/ setting
non- *Allows researcher to evaluate the
randomized impact of quasi-independent variable
controlled trial under naturally occurring conditions
*Helps to establish casual
relationship, wherein some
hypotheses are practically answered
ADVANTAGES OF QUANTITATIVE
APPROACH
TYPES ADVANTAGES
Non- *Tend to be closest to real life situation
experimental
research *Most suitable for nursing research studies
design *Extremely useful to enhance our understanding
about the existing real-world setting
*Numerous human characteristics are inherently not
subject to experimental manipulation (blood type,
personality, health beliefs), therefore effects of these
cannot be studied experimentally
*Fair to carry out in dilemmas of ethical issues
*Cost- effective, time saving
ADVANTAGES OF QUANTITATIVE
APPROACH
TYPES ADVANTAGES
Quantitative *Permits formulation of statistically
research sound hypotheses with no room for
approach emotional design
(as a whole) *Probabilistic inference and prediction
permits sound implementation and
rigourous evaluation
*Enables evaluation of multiple datasets
and hypotheses faster and accurately
*Time consuming manual
implementations of ideas can be
automated
DISADVANTAGES OF QUANTITATIVE
APPROACH
TYPES DISADVANTAGES
True *Results of lab based RCT cannot be
experim replicated in studies on human being
ental due to ethical concerns
design *In some cases because of danger to
physical and psychological health on
human subjects, experiments could
not be done
*Lack of valid measurable criteria or
instruments to measure them
*Difficult to control extraneous
variables
DISADVANTAGES OF QUANTITATIVE
APPROACH
TYPES DISADVANTAGES
True *Often impractical when the effect of
experim independent variable may require a
ental lengthy period before it can emerge a
design response
*Reluctance of participants
to participate in the study
*Small sample size raise question of
generalization of results
DISADVANTAGES OF QUANTITATIVE
APPROACH
TYPES DISADVANTAGES

Quasi *Considered as weak design to

experimental establish casual relationship between
design/ independent and dependent variables
non- because it controls no threat to internal
randomized validity
controlled trial *Lack of randomization increase risk
selection bias
*Poor control to confounding variables
influencing dependent variables
*Absence of control group and lack of
control over the research setting makes
results less reliable and weak
DISADVANTAGES OF QUANTITATIVE
APPROACH
TYPES DISADVANTAGES
Non- *Results obtained and the relationship
experimental between the dependent and
research independent variables can never be
design absolutely clear or error free
*Mainly used for conducting
comparison using non randomly
selected groups which may not be
homogeneous and tend to be dissimilar
in different traits and characteristics that
may affect the authenticity and
generalize ability of the results
DISADVANTAGES OF QUANTITATIVE
APPROACH
TYPES DISADVANTAGES
Quantitative *Requires constant or periodic monitoring of model
research
approach performance to ensure continued compliance with
(as a whole) original hypotheses
*Inadequate quality of training data can lead to
errors or disastrous performance on unseen data
*Requires a deep background in multiple complex
disciplines that are hard to master
*Improper representation of target population
*Lack of resources for data collection
*Inability to control the environment or extragenous
variables
*Time consuming, expensive, limited outcomes
USES OF QUANTITATIVE RESEARCH IN
EVIDENCE BASED PRACTICE

 Assessment and diagnosis of patients

 Interventions based on findings

 Evaluation of outcomes
SUMMARY AND CONCLUSION

 The ultimate goal of research in any discipline is to

develop, refine and expand a body of knowledge.
Quantitative research is a formal, objective and
systemic process to describe new situations, events
or concepts where variables are pre selected and
defined, data collected and analyzed in numerical
form often with the view to establish cause-and-
effect relationship among variables
JOURNAL ABSTRACT
 Harvey K, Kramlich D, Chapman J, Parker J, Blades
E. Exploring and evaluating five paediatric falls
assessment instruments and injury risk indicators: an
ambispective study in a tertiary care setting. J Nurs
Manag. 2010 Jul;18(5):531-41

 Landeiro F, Barrows P, Nuttall Musson E, et al.

Reducing social isolation and loneliness in older
people: a systematic review protocol. BMJ Open: 2017
REFERENCE
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 Sharma SK. Nursing research & statistics. Third edition. New
Delhi: Elsevier publishers; 2018
 Burns N and Grove SK. Understanding nursing research-
building an evidence based practice. Fourth Edition. New
Delhi: Reed Elsevier India; 2007
 Polit D and Beck CT. Nursing Research generating and
assessing evidence for Nursing Practice. Eight Edition. New
Delhi: Wolters Kluwer(India) Pvt Ltd; 2008
 Polit D and Hungler BP. Nursing research Principles and
methods. Fifth Edition. Philadelphia: Lippincott publishers;
1995
 Basvanthappa BT, Nursing research and statistics, 3rd edition.
New Delhi: Jaypee Publications; 2014
 Kaur S & Singh A. Nursing research & Statistics. New Delhi:
CBS Publishers & Distributers; 2015
REFERENCE
JOURNALS
 Landeiro F, Barrows P, Nuttall Musson E, et al.
Reducing social isolation and loneliness in older
people: a systematic review protocol. BMJ
Open: 2017

 Harvey K, Kramlich D, Chapman J, Parker

J, Blades E. Exploring and evaluating five
paediatric falls assessment instruments and injury
risk indicators: an ambispective study in a tertiary
care setting. J Nurs Manag. 2010 Jul;18(5):531-41
REFERENCE
 INTERNET

 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed
 https://bmjopen.bmj.com

 http://scholar.google.com
THANK YOU….