UNDERSTANDING THE ROLE OF EMPIRICAL RESEARCH

Cochrane Collaboration
-

Produces the largest collection of clinical guidelines

International non-profit organization to develop and disseminate systematic
reviews of health care interventions

U.S. Preventive Services Task Force

-

Primary responsible for developing evidence-based guidelines for health care

(e.g. bed rest for back pain Hagen, Jamtvedt, Hilde, Hinnem)

One response to the nursing shortage has resulted in the recruitment of nurses with
various educational levels. The results of one research study found that the level of
nursing education is critical in caring for certain patients. Therefore, we can conclude
that increasing the number of nurses without concern for educational level has
serious implications for critically ill patients.
TYPES OF RESEARCH STUDIES AND STATISTICS
4 Main Purposes of Empirical Research

Description
Exploration
Explanation
Prediction

2 General Categories of Statistics

Descriptive statistics
- numerical or graphical summaries of data
- charts, graphs, and simple summary statistics (means and standard
deviation)
Inferential Statistics
- Allow conclusions to be drawn about the relationship found among
different variables
- Chi-square test, t-test, one way ANOVA

DESCRIPTIVE STUDIES AND DESCRIPTIVE STATISTICS

Descriptive Studies
-

simply describe situations and events

Descriptive Statistics
-

typically used to analyze data in order to answer questions

EXPLANATORY STUDIES AND INFERENTIAL STATISTICS

Explanatory Studies
-

Elucidate the relationships among variables

Data collected through observational studies
Questions usually more complex often based on established theories from the
research literature
Depend on inferential questions
Does not necessarily attempt to establish causality
Often attempt to understand how variables are related to each other

Inferential Statistics
-

Used to examine how one variable is related to other variables/relationship

among variables

Cross-tabulation table / cross-tab

-

A way to display the relationship between two variables

Chi-square test
-

Indicates they are numbers are not statistically different

PREDICTION AND CONTROL STUDIES AND INFERENTIAL STATISTICS

Prediction and Control Studies
-

Determine which variables are predictive of other variables

Determine causality
Typically collected using quasi-experimental or experimental study designs
(introducing intervention to have better validity, making the causal inference more
solid than with purely observational study designs)
Use inferential statistics to analyze the data and answer research questions
about the relationship among variables

True Experimental Designs

-

Involves random selection and random assignment of study participants to either

the intervention group or to one or more control groups that do not receive the
intervention

Quasi-experimental designs
-

Lack one or more of the following:

o Random assignment to the intervention or control group
o True control group
Often used in health-related research but validity may not be better than of
observational studies

Randomized control trials (RTC)

-

Study participants are randomly assigned to an intervention group or a control

group and followed forward in time to determine if the intervention impacts on a
specific health outcome
Have strict eligibility criteria that those interested in participating in the study must
meet before they are allowed to participate (limiting the external validity of the
study)
Study result may not be generalized to the general population

Experimental Studies
-

Gold standard for causal inference

TEN STEP STUDY PLAN

Study Plan
-

written presentation of how the researcher is going to obtain and analyze the
numerical data needed to answer the research questions
- basis for the parts of the research paper
- good study plan keeps the analysis focused and relevant
1. Statement of the problem and its significance
- Statement of research questions that the study is trying to answer
- Reasons why the study is important and how the study fits into the existing
body of research
- Orients researchers and interested readers to the study
- No more the 2 or 3 sentences
- Should clearly articulate what the study is seeking
2. Theoretical or conceptual framework
- Presents a structured way of thinking about the interrelationships of the
variables.
3. Research question to be answered by the study
- Either very specific or broadly conceptual
4. List of the hypotheses to be tested
- Hypotheses must be very specific provide the guide for the analysis of
data
5. Definitions of key terms and variables
6. Description of the research design
7. Description of the sample and how it was obtained
- Statistical techniques that will be used to test the hypotheses
8. Description of the planned statistical analysis
9. Statement of assumptions and limitations
10. Dissemination plan