Learning Outcomes
1. Examine key concepts relevant to quantitative, qualitative, and epidemiologic research designs.
2. Examine the purpose, structure, strengths, and weaknesses of different quantitative, qualitative, and epidemiologic research designs.
3. Discuss ethical issues related to quantitative, qualitative, and epidemiologic research designs.
4. Evaluate current nursing research literature relevant to the research proposal.

Introduction
Week Three explores key concepts relevant to quantitative, qualitative, and epidemiologic research designs and examines the purpose, structure, strengths, and weaknesses of these designs. A review of quantitative methods will focus on experimental and nonexperimental designs, and a review of qualitative methods will include the four major types of qualitative research designs. We also review the use of epidemiology in nursing practice as well as the use of epidemiological designs in evaluating health outcomes. Ethical issues related to quantitative, qualitative, and epidemiologic designs are addressed. The week concludes with development of an annotated bibliography for three research articles supporting the Research Proposal.

Required Resources
Text
Schmidt, N., & Brown, J. (2015). Evidence-based practice for nurses: Appraisal and application of research (3rd ed.). Burlington, MA: Jones & Bartlett Learning.
• Chapter 6: Key Principles of Quantitative Designs
• Chapter 7: Quantitative Designs: Using Numbers to Provide Evidence
• Chapter 8: Epidemiologic Designs: Using Data to Understand Problems
• Chapter 9: Qualitative Designs: Using Words to Provide Evidence

Articles
Chen, S., Chen, C., & Lin, P. (2014). The effect of educational intervention on the pain and rehabilitation performance of patients who undergo a total knee replacement. Journal of Clinical Nursing, 23(1/2), 279-287. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/jocn.12466
• The full-text version of this article is available in the CINAHL Complete database in the Ashford University Library. This article provides an example of a quantitative research design that you will be required to analyze as part of this week’s first discussion.
Savitz, D., Danilack, V., Engel, S., Elston, B., & Lipkind, H. (2014). Descriptive epidemiology of chronic hypertension, gestational hypertension, and preeclampsia in New York state, 1995-2004. Maternal & Child Health Journal, 18(4), 829-838. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10995-013-1307-9
• The full-text version of this article is available in the CINAHL Complete database in the Ashford University Library. This article provides an example of an epidemiological research design that you will be required to analyze as part of this week’s second discussion.
Skomakerstuen Ødbehr, L., Kvigne, K., Hauge, S., & Danbolt, L. J. (2015). A qualitative study of nurses’ attitudes towards’ and accommodations of patients’ expressions of religiosity and faith in dementia care. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 71(2), 359-369. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/jan.12500
• The full-text version of this article is available in the CINAHL Complete database in the Ashford University Library. This article provides an example of a qualitative research design that you will be required to analyze as part of this week’s first discussion.

Recommended Resources
Multimedia
Jones & Bartlett Learning. (2014). Lesson 5: Key Principles of Quantitative Design [Class lecture slides]. In Nursing Research.
• This presentation summarizes key elements of the week’s textbook readings and will assist you in the week’s assignments.
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Jones & Bartlett Learning. (2014). Lesson 6: Quantitative Designs: Using Numbers to Provide Evidence [Class lecture slides]. In Nursing Research.
• This presentation summarizes key elements of the week’s textbook readings and will assist you in the week’s assignments.
Accessibility Statement
Privacy Policy not available.
Jones & Bartlett Learning. (2014). Lesson 7: Qualitative Designs: Using Words to Provide Evidence [Class lecture slides]. In Nursing Research.
• This presentation summarizes key elements of the week’s textbook readings and will assist you in the week’s assignments.
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Supplemental Material
Ashford University Library. (n.d.). Nursing Research Library Guide. University, College of Health, Human Services, and Science, San Diego, CA.
• The Nursing Research Library Guide is a resource that contains tutorials and other information that will help you search the University Library’s databases. It will assist you with APA style and scholarly writing in this week’s assignment and for assignments throughout the course and program.
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