Nursing Research Design Overview

The degree to which study results can be generalized to other people and other settings.

Variables that are not the focus of the study but that could influence the outcome.

Occurs when the study results are incorrectly attributed to the experimental treatment rather than to pre-existing differences between the participants.

The goal is to establish a cause-and-effect relationship between an independent variable (cause) and a dependent variable (effect).

A controlled experiment is considered the gold standard for obtaining reliable evidence about causes and effects.

The variable that is manipulated or changed by the researcher. It is the presumed cause of the effect.

The variable that is measured or observed in the study. It's the effect that is being studied.

The degree to which the study findings are truly due to the independent variable and not other factors.

A research design where the researcher manipulates the independent variable (IV) to see its effect on the dependent variable (DV), while controlling for other factors.

The researcher actively changes the IV, like giving a new treatment to one group.

The researcher assigns participants to groups randomly, ensuring that each group has an equal chance of having specific characteristics.

A group in a study that does not receive the experimental treatment. Used as a baseline to compare against the treated group.

A group that receives a standard or usual treatment or care, allowing for comparison with the experimental group.

A group given a fake treatment (like a sugar pill) that looks like the real treatment. Used to see if the results are due to the treatment or expectation.

A group given attention or care, but not the active ingredient of the intervention. Used to separate the effects of attention alone from the real treatment.

A group that receives the treatment at a later time, allowing researchers to compare their outcomes to the group that received the treatment earlier.

A statistical technique used to assess the strength and direction of the relationship between two variables.

A type of correlation where both variables increase or decrease together.

A type of correlation where one variable increases while the other decreases.

A research method that gathers data through surveys and interviews.

A tool used in survey research to collect data from a large group of people.

A tool used in survey research to collect data through one-on-one conversations.

Data gathered from surveys or interviews may not be completely accurate because people may try to present themselves in a positive light.

A research method that aims to understand the relationship between variables, but does not prove cause and effect.

A measure of the association or relationship between two variables.

A statement acknowledging that a correlation between two variables does not automatically prove that one causes the other.

A research approach comparing differences between existing groups on a specific variable of interest. It's used when manipulating the independent variable is not possible.

A type of comparative study where the effect is identified in the present, and researchers try to find the cause that happened in the past.

A type of comparative study where researchers track groups over time to examine the development of a potential effect.

Researchers manipulate the independent variable (cause) to see its effect on the dependent variable (effect).

A special type of prospective study where the independent variable is applied to a group and its effect is observed over time.

Data collected after the event has occurred, meaning the researcher observes what has already happened.

Participants in a study drop out over time, potentially impacting the study's results.

This refers to studies where subjects are not randomly assigned to groups, meaning the researcher uses pre-existing groups for experiment and comparison.

This happens when a study utilizes existing groups or intact groups for the experimental and control groups, instead of randomly assigning participants.

A technique used to control for differences that might exist between groups before the start of an experiment. It helps to ensure that any observed differences are due to the intervention, not pre-existing biases.

This is where a researcher takes repeated measurements of a variable, with the intervention being introduced between these measurements. It allows you to observe the effect of the intervention over time.

A major concern in time series designs. It refers to external events or factors that could influence the outcome of the study, especially when measurements are taken over time.

Another concern in time series designs. It refers to the changes in the subjects themselves over time that may influence the results, like getting older or more skilled.

This threat to validity arises in studies with both pretests and posttests. It refers to the possibility that taking the pretest itself might influence the results of the posttest, making it difficult to isolate the true intervention effect.

A concern in studies where instruments or measurement methods are used. It occurs when there are changes in the instruments or the way they are used over time, leading to potentially inaccurate results.