Nursing Research –

Introduction, Elements
and Factors affecting
Research Designs
 • Research approach and research
design are two terms – frequently
used interchangeably.

Introduction • Research design – broader plan to

conduct study

• Research approach – important

element of the research design, which
governs it.
 Introduction
• Research design is the framework or guide
used for the planning, implementation,
and analysis of a study.

• Research design – Systematic plan

• What is to be done
• How it will be done &
• How the data will be analysed
 Introduction
Research design –
basically provides an
outline of how the Descriptions of the
It includes
research will be carried research approach
out, and the methods
will be used.

Planned format for data

Dependent and
Sampling design collection, analysis and
Independent variables
presentation
 • It is a methodology for answering
research questions or hypotheses.

• Different types of questions or

Introduction hypotheses demand different types of

research design.

• So it is important for the nurses to

understand different types of research
design available.
 Introduction
• Some times, a single research design may fall
short to answer all the research questions or
hypotheses, therefore investigators or
researchers may use a combination of
different research design.
Definition
• The research design is the master
plan of specifying the methods and
procedures for collecting and
analysing the needed 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 technique, tools
and methods of data collection and analysis to answer specific
research questions or for testing research hypothesis.
 Definition
• Research design is a plan of how,
when and where data are to be
collected and analysed.

• Research design is the researcher’s

overall plan for answering the
research questions or testing the
research hypotheses.
 Research design – Blueprint
to carry out research study.
Elements
of Research design – term used
interchangeably with the
Research term Methodology.

Design
Research design includes six
major elements.
 Elements of Research Design
-
1. 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 the 2 methods (quantitative - qualitative integrated approach).

The approach helps to decide about the presence or absence as well as

manipulation and control over variables.
It helps identify presence or absence of and
comparison between groups.

Primarily on the nature of

The approach of Research phenomenon under study.
study depends on several Conceptual may or may not
factors be incorporated.

Elements of Research Design

1. The Approach
 Elements of Research Design
2. Population, Sample and Sampling Technique

• Research design also provides the researcher with directions

about
• Population, Sample and sampling technique which will be
used for the research study.
 Elements of Research
Design • Time (specifying days, months,
3. The Time, Place and and years of study),
Sources of Data Collection
• Location (Study setting) and the

• Sources of the requisite data are

the other important constituents
essential to ensure the effective
planning to conduct a research
study.
 4, 5. Tools and methods of
data collection
Elements • This element of research design involves
the description of different tools and
of methods of data collection.
• For example, questionnaires, interviews,
Research direct observation or any other methods
Design that suit the particular approach of the
research as well as nature of the
phenomenon under study.
Elements of Research Design
6. Methods of the data analysis
• A research design must also include the
description of the methods of data analysis -
either quantitative or qualitative data analysis
techniques - that helps the researcher to
collect the relevant data, which later can be
analysed as per the research design plan.
Elements of Research Design
6. Methods of the data analysis
• Without a formal plan of data analysis
researcher may collect irrelevant data,
which can later become difficult to
analyse.
 1. Nature of the research problem

2. Purpose of the study

Factors 3. Researcher's knowledge and experience
affecting 4. Researcher's interest and motivation
selection of 5. Research ethics and principles
research 6. Subjects/participants
design 7. Resources, 8. Time
9. Possible control on extraneous variables
10. Uses of the study findings.
Factors affecting selection of research design

1. Nature of the research problem

• Most important factor helps the researcher to
decide about the selection of a research design –
an experimental, quasi-experimental or
nonexperimental approach
Factors affecting selection of research design

2. Purpose of the study

• Study may be conducted for the purpose of
prediction1, description2, exploration3 or correlation4
of the research variables.
• Therefore, the purpose of the research help the
researcher to choose a suitable research design.

1. expectation, 2. explanation, narration 3. examination, investigation 4. association, relationship

Factors affecting selection of research design

3. Researcher's knowledge and experience

Selection of research design - influenced by the researcher’s
knowledge & experience.
They avoid using those designs where in they lack confidence,
relevant knowledge, or experience.
Hence awareness and expertise in existing research designs - -
important
Factors affecting selection of research design

4. Researcher’s interest & motivation

Interest & motivation - help researchers decide research
design(s).
Motivated researchers - analyze most aspects of research
design before selecting one or a combination, while casual1 &
callous2 researchers may choose research design(s) that may
lead to failure.
1. Unplanned 2. uncaring
Factors affecting selection of research design

5. Research ethics & principle

• The incorporation & application of ethical & legal
principles – in the research design are essential.
• This includes moral obligations such as respect for
participants & their rights, informed consent, &
protection from harm, including any adverse effects to
educational progress, health & well-being. Contd…
Factors affecting selection of research design

5. Research ethics & principle

• Selection of a research design is significantly
influenced by the ethics of the research study.
• For example, a researcher may be willing to conduct
a research study through an experimental approach,
but problems of ethical approval may stop the
researcher to do so & may have to settle for another
available possible research design.
Factors affecting selection of research design

6. Subjects/Participants
• The number & availability of study subjects may
influence the selection of research design.
• Few subjects - in-depth qualitative research.
• Large sample opt for qualitative research design.
Factors affecting selection of research design

7. Resources
• Resources are essential for conducting research.
• Like - money, equipment, facilities, & support from
colleagues.
• Therefore, the selection of a research design may be
affected by the availability of resources for the
research
Factors affecting selection of research design

8. Time
• Time is the major deciding factors - selection of
research design.
• For example - To conduct longitudinal studies - need
more time, while cross-sectional studies - conducted
in shorter time.
• Therefore, time is also a significant contributing
factor in selection of a research design.
Factors affecting selection of research design

9. Possible control on extraneous variables

• An efficient design - maximize result, decrease errors,
& control pre-existing or impaired conditions that may
affect the outcome of the study.
• Therefore, possible control over the extraneous
variables may affect the selection of a research design.
Contd…
Factors affecting selection of research design

9. Possible control on extraneous

variables
• For example, a researcher wants to conduct a study
through true-experimental design but because of
inability to have control on selected extraneous
variables, other similar design has to be opted -
quasi-experimental or pre-experimental research
design.
Factors affecting selection of research design

10. Users of the study findings

• A research design also involves various methods of
data collection & data analysis.
• Therefore, while choosing a research design,
researcher must ensure that research design is as
appropriate for the users of the study findings as
possible, so that maximum advantage of the results
can be obtained.