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Understanding Qualitative and Quantitative Research in Nursing: Quantiative Research Information

This LibGuide was created to examine qualitative and quantitative research in the field of nursing. It contains links to articles, websites, and books and more.

About Quantiative Research

Quantitative research consists of information expressed in numbers, variables, and percentages. It seeks to confirm that all problems, dilemmas, or hypotheses have clear, concrete, and objective solutions that can be expressed in a numerical format. This type of research focuses on specific, narrow questions in a double-blind study, usually with a large random group and variables. The data collected can be analyzed with the help of statistics in an unbiased manner with the objective to explain, describe, or predict.

Helpful Website Links on Quantitative Research in Nursing

Quantitative research consist of following elements

  • a hypothesis
  •  a random or specific study group with a common similarity
  •  variables (any element or behavior that can affect or change the outcomes of a study, such as a medication, treatment, or nursing intervention)
  •  outcomes.

 

Quantitative research is usually conducted in a controlled environment, such as a lab or healthcare unit. It can be categorized as follows.

3 Types of Quantitative Research

Correlational research is the methodical investigation of relationships or interactions between two or more variables without determining the cause-and-effect relationship the variables may have on each other. An example is studying two chemotherapy medications for compatibility without studying how the medications can have adverse interactions with food or other common medications.

Quasi-experimental research explores a cause-and-effect relationship among variables. It also evaluates the underlying cause of a problem and studies the effects of variables (such as a nursing intervention) to evaluate their effect on the problem.

Descriptive research offers an accurate representation of the characteristics of a particular individual, situation, or group. Descriptive research is a way of discovering new meaning, describing numerically something that currently exists, determining the frequency with which something occurs, and categorizing information.

 

Quantitative Research and Library Research

To find articles in ERIC click on the advanced search tab. Use the phrase "quantitative research"  as one of your search terms.

Related terms that may be searched:  

Bayesian statistics

Correlation

Effect size

Error of measurement

Factor analysis

Goodness of fit

Hypothesis testing

Item analysis

Least squares

Monte Carlo Methods

Maximum likelihood

Multivariate analysis

Regression (statistics)

Robustness (statistics)

Statistical analysis

Statistical inference

Statistical significance

Hypothesis testing

Markov processes

Also the following may be use, but not restricted to Subject Terms

Experimental design, design of experiments, statistical design, or research design

 

Quantitative Research eBooks