The PURPOSE of Unit 3 is to provide information that will enable you to analyze research designs and sampling plans. You will be able to identify the elements of good research design and and sampling. Factors affecting research control in quantitative studies will be examined in detail. Further, the threats to the validity of quantitative designs will be analyzed.
In addition, the ethical context for research will be explored. Historical events, ethical codes, and regulations that guide investigators in the conduct of research are examined. Ethical actions that are necessary in research are analyzed. Last, you will explore the meaning of evidence-based nursing and research utilization.
Be familiar with the following research TERMS, as understanding these will assist you in reading the detailed sections in these chapters.
- Experiment or Intervention
- Characteristics of true experiments--maniupulation, randomization, control
- Quantitative research designs--descriptive (observational), correlational (ex post facto), experimental, quasi-experimental, survey, evaluation
- Qualitative research designs--ethnography, phenomenology, grounded theory, historical, case study
- Meta-analysis
- Outcomes research
- Research design validity--external, internal
- Control
- Control group
- Control factors--homogeneity, blocking, randomization, repeated measures, matching, statistical control
- Bias
- Rival hypothesis
- Triangulation
- Black box
- Population--accessible, target
- Sample
- Sampling
- Sampling designs--non-probability probability
- Sampling plan--sampling framework, eligibility criteria (inclusion and exclusion)
- Sample size terms--power analysis
- Effect size
- Ethics terms--beneficence, respect for human dignity, justice, anonymity, confidentiality, privacy, fair treatment, self-determination
- Informed consent terminology--benefit/risk ratio, institutional review, self-determination and legal competency, permission to participate, full disclosure
- Vulnerable subjects
- Scientific misconduct