WHAT IS RESEARCH?

The systematic, rigorous investigation of a situation or problem in order to generate new knowledge or validate
existing knowledge.

TYPES OF NURSING RESERACH ACCORDING TO ITS PURPOSE.
Basic (or Fundamental) research is experimental or theoretical work undertaken primarily to acquire
knowledge of the underlying foundation of phenomena and observable facts, without any particular
application or use in view.
To answer a question/ to test a theory/ just for curiosity. ALAMIN

Applied research is also original investigation undertaken in order to acquire knowledge. It is, however,
directed primarily towards a specific practical aim or objective.
Adapt/ apply use research findings/ to solve a problem. GAMITIN
Example: COPAR

EXAMPLES:
1. Effective ways to ensure safety among patients with vertigo = APPLIED
2. How do genes mutate? = BASIC
3. Establishment of criteria to identify an impaired nurse = APPLIED
4. Formulation of guidelines in establishing nurse-client interaction = APPLIED
5. Ways to decrease stress levels = APPLIED
6. Emotional intelligence among preschoolers = BASIC
7. The benefits of a solid father-son relationship. = BASIC
8. Pupils observation of occupational stress in teachers. = BASIC


WHAT ARE THE DIFFERENT EPIDEMIOLOGICAL STUDY DESIGNS?

There are two (2) types of study designs; two basic approaches to assessing whether an exposure is
associated with a particular outcome, these are:

EXPERIMENTAL (INTERVENTION) STUDY DESIGN
NON-EXPERIMENTAL (OBSERVATIONAL) STUDY DESIGN

WHAT IS EXPERIMENTAL STUDY DESIGN?

Involve the active allocation to an exposure or intervention group by the investigators. The group without
exposure or intervention acts as a control group which may be given a placebo or the usual treatment for the
disease or outcome of interest. The occurrence of the outcome or disease is then compared between the
intervention/ control group. Allocation to an exposure can either be done to individuals/communities.
Examples of experiments:
plying a law student with beer to see whether lawyers argue better when drunk;
encouraging bikers in one group to stop smoking those funny-looking cigarettes to see whether they get
less belligerent;
Warning one group of students that you are going to take blood alcohol levels next Monday to test for
alcohol, and comparing their levels to another group that you did not warn.


**PARAMETERS**
Randomization
Manipulation and Control
Pre and Post test Design

TWO (2) STUDY DESIGNS UNDER EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH:

RANDOMIZED CONTROLLED TRIAL
QUASI-EXPERIMENTAL DESIGNS

WHAT IS RANDOMIZED CONTROLLED TRIAL?
Randomized Controlled Trial ("RCT"), or "Randomized Clinical Trial". Goal is to test the efficacy of a
treatment or intervention.
A sample of patients with the condition and who meet other selection criteria are randomly allocated to
receive either the experimental treatment, or the control treatment (commonly the standard treatment
for the condition).
Occasionally, a placebo or sham treatment will be used in the control group, but where there is already an
accepted treatment, it is unlikely to be ethical to use a placebo.
The experimental and control groups are then followed for a set time, and relevant measurements are
taken to indicate the results (or 'outcomes') in each group.
**PARAMETERS**
RANDOMIZATION
BLINDING
INTENTION TO TREAT
ETHICAL



WHAT IS QUASI-EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN?
A quasi-experimental study is a type of evaluation which aims to determine whether a program or
intervention has the intended effect on a studys participants. Quasi-experimental studies take on many forms, but
may best be defined as lacking key components of a true experiment. While a true experiment includes (1) pre-
post test design, (2) a treatment group and a control group, and (3) random assignment of study participants,
quasi-experimental studies lack one or more of these design elements.