NUR-590 Topic 4: Data Collection and Data Analysis
Objectives:
- Select a research design for the evidence-based project proposal.
- Select a statistical test for the evidence-based project proposal.
CAT: What is the difference between a qualitative and a quantitative research design?
Research designs are the strategies that help integrate study components to logically and coherently address a research problem. Strijker et al. (2020) note that research dictates data collection, measurement, analysis, and dissemination. The research design is influenced by the study’s research questions and objectives. Qualitative and quantitative research studies vary based on these parameters. Qualitative research designs are subjective inductive processes, while quantitative research designs are deductive objective research studies. Due to their nature of testing, quantitative studies have statistical data and thus utilize data analysis tools and statistical tests. Qualitative research designs utilize thematic and content analysis because they deal with textual data, while quantitative studies use numeric data (Mehrad et al., 2019). Qualitative research designs are explorative, while quantitative ones are often conclusive. These are the significant differences between qualitative and quantitive research designs
Reference
Mehrad, A., & Zangeneh, M. H. T. (2019). Comparison between qualitative and quantitative research approaches. Social Sciences. International Journal For Research In Educational Studies, Iran, 1-7.
Strijker, D., Bosworth, G., & Bouter, G. (2020). Research methods in rural studies: Qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods. Journal of Rural Studies, 78, 262-270. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jrurstud.2020.06.007
Assessments
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Topic 4 DQ 1
Start Date
Sep 02, 12:00 AM
Due Date
Sep 04, 11:59 PM
Points
5
Status
Upcoming
Assessment Description
Explain whether you would select a qualitative or quantitative design to collect data and evaluate the effectiveness of your evidence-based practice project proposal. Identify which data collection tool you would specifically use and explain why this design is best for your evidence-based practice project proposal.
Example Topic 4 DQ 1 Response
The nursing practice of interest is medication errors, and the evidence-based intervention selected is Barcode Medication errors. Prevalence and burden data are quantitative and are based on the number of medication errors. Any research study’s objectives and research questions influence the design because studies attempt to answer study questions and meet the research objectives.
The study’s objectives can only be studied using statistical means by evaluating data from the hospital database. The prevalence of medication administration errors compared to other medication errors and the changes in these errors will be vital in determining the effectiveness of BCMA (Williams et al., 2021). The data will thus require statistical evaluation, hence the need for a quantitative research design.
Bloomfield and Fisher (2019) state that a correlational quantitative research design is best suited to determine the relationship between variables and is thus best suited for this study. Data collected for this project will include medical records on medication errors in the facility and the collection of raw data (medication errors, including near misses and sentinel events) related to medication administration collected throughout the project. For this project, a quantitative design will be the most suitable to help collect data and evaluate the proposed project’s effectiveness. Data for this project will be quantitative hence the design’s selection.
Document review/secondary data collection methods and surveys utilizing quantitative research designs will collect and analyze data for the project. Document reviews utilizing healthcare records help professionals avoid time and resources wasted in data collection because the data is readily available (Melnyk & Fineout-Overholt, 2022). Data from the healthcare database on medication errors is the best to use in this quasi-experimental study and results in medication administration error differences pre-an post implementation of barcode medication administration technologies. Selecting the right research design will help with objective achievement through adequate planning.
References
Bloomfield, J., & Fisher, M. J. (2019). Quantitative research design. Journal of the Australasian Rehabilitation Nurses Association, 22(2), 27-30. http://dx.doi.org/10.3316/informit.738299924514584
Melnyk, B. M., & Fineout-Overholt, E. (2022). Evidence-based practice in nursing & healthcare: A guide to best practice. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.
Williams, R., Aldakhil, R., Blandford, A., & Jani, Y. (2021). Interdisciplinary systematic review: does alignment between system and design shape adoption and use of barcode medication administration technology? BMJ Open, 11(7), e044419. http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2020-044419
Topic 4 DQ 2
Start Date
Sep 02, 12:00 AM
Due Date
Sep 06, 11:59 PM
Points
5
Status
Upcoming
Assessment Description
Identify which statistical test you would use in conjunction with your selected research design from DQ 1 to evaluate the outcomes for your evidence-based project proposal and explain why you selected this test. What kind of information will this test provide about your outcomes?
Example Topic 4 DQ 2 Answer
The primary interest of the project is to determine changes in medication errors. Statistical tests in research are selected based on the objectives. Statistical. Data evaluating the relationship between variables (causal effects), data changes over time, and hypothesis testing require specific statistical tests. Tests such as ANOVA, t-test, and chi-squares help understand the variables’ changes and their relationships (Rebekah & Ravindran, 2018).
Zheng et al. (2021) note that the BCMA technology targets medication administration errors by confirming all medication administration rights at the dispensing point. The technology may affect other medication errors at dispense and prescription, but the primary interest is medication administration errors. The interest statistical test must be able to test changes in variables of time/ at different times.
The selected statistical test is the ANOVA test. The test helps evaluate the changes in variables concerning each other. They test the significance of results and thus help reject or accept the null or alternate hypothesis. The project aims to determine if barcode medication administration reduces medication administration errors. The statistical cost interest should help determine the relationship between BCMA administration and changes in medication errors. Data before and after BCMA should be compared to determine their similarities and differences.
The ANOVA test will be vital because data will be collected and analyzed at different times. The analysis will help determine the differences in medication (Rebekah & Ravindran, 2018). The ANOVA test is used when testing a hypothesis and evaluating the effectiveness of interventions. The ANOVA will help test the changes in the various variables over time. The changes in the variables, medication error rate, and their relationship to other medication errors will help evaluate the effectiveness of the interventions.
References
Rebekah, G., & Ravindran, V. (2018). Statistical analysis in nursing research. Indian Journal of Continuing Nursing Education, 19(1), 62. https://www.ijcne.org/text.asp?2018/19/1/62/286497
Zheng, W. Y., Lichtner, V., Van Dort, B. A., & Baysari, M. T. (2021). The impact of introducing automated dispensing cabinets, barcode medication administration, and closed-loop electronic medication management systems on work processes and safety of controlled medications in hospitals: A systematic review. Research in Social and Administrative Pharmacy, 17(5), 832-841. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sapharm.2020.08.001
