The quantitative method is the original scientific method. Quantitative research methods can be subdivided by various designs that researchers use to answer their research questions. In fact, the wording of the research question must match the methodology and may contain the words that indicate the design. Quantitative research identifies what happened, but not why it happened. It identifies causation or relationships.
The relationships in a quantitative research study are similar to those used for a qualitative design. There is still a relationship between the theory, problem, purpose and, now, the research questions, hypotheses, and design. This week, you will continue to expand your understanding of this framework by analyzing and evaluating research questions and hypotheses in quantitative studies. You will also learn about various quantitative research designs that researchers use to answer their research questions.
In addition, you will continue to analyze the interrelated elements of a research study, making the connection among theory, problem, and purpose, and research questions, hypotheses, and design.
For this assessment it is suggested that you build upon the work that you did in the Research Problem and Purpose Statements assessment.
The assessment has two distinct parts:
Part 1: Quantitative Research Question
Relevant Scoring Guide Criteria:
Formulate a quantitative research question and associated hypothesis.
Communicate in a manner that is scholarly, professional, and respectful of the diversity, dignity, and integrity of others and is consistent with expectations for health care professionals.
For this section, you will formulate a research question that is appropriate for a research project that will use quantitative methodologies.
Remember the HAC that you used in your Research Problem and Purpose Statements assessment. Additionally, your research question should align to the problem and purpose statements that you developed at that time.
Keep in mind that a well-written research question should be a single statement.
When examining or creating quantitative research questions, the following checklist may be useful:
Quantitative Research Question Checklist
Does the purpose statement fit logically with the problem statement? Are there similar words, or does it seem to address a different topic?
Based on the problem statement, do the research questions align with the method and design of the study? Do questions seek to describe responses to the variables described in the study?
Do the questions include words like compare, correlate, or other words that indicate a quantitative study?
Do the questions include identification of the independent and dependent variables?
Does the hypothesis fit with the research questions?
Do the questions and hypothesis identify the participants for the research study?
Do the questions and hypothesis specify the participants and the research site?
Part 2: Quantitative Methods and Data Collection
Relevant Scoring Guide Criteria:
Identify relevant quantitative methodologies that will support answering a research question.
Describe quantitative data collection tools or strategies that are appropriate for answering a research question.
Explain the importance of methodologically relevant data collection to a research plan as a whole.
Communicate in a manner that is scholarly, professional, and respectful of the diversity, dignity, and integrity of others and is consistent with expectations for health care professionals.
For this section, you will draw upon your readings about quantitative methods and data collection to first identify specific quantitative methodologies that will enable you to answer your research questions. You will also discuss specific quantitative data collection tools or strategies that are appropriate for this purpose. Questions to consider when looking for strategies and tools include:
What is your research question specifically trying to answer?
How does the specific HAC impact the types of tools and strategies that would work best?
How does the health care setting that the research project will be occurring in impact the types of tools and strategies that would work best?
Lastly, this section should include a review of why it is important to a potential research plan as a whole to ensure that your data collection plan is relevant to your chosen methodology.
This section should be 2–5 pages in length, depending on the level of detail required to fully present your methodologies and data collection tools and strategies.
